A Final Curtain Call
The 2026-27 Senior Thespians
Years of rehearsals, performances and competitions have made theater a defining part of life for Maclay’s senior thespians. As the year unfolds, they are balancing their last opportunities to perform together with the bittersweet reality of graduating from the community that has greatly shaped their high school experience. From winning titles to building countless friendships, the thespians look back fondly on what they’ve gained and what they'll miss. Some of the senior thespians who’ve been a part of the program for years are Ella Pike, Alexandra Holland, Allie Wood, Ellie Mazziotta, Campbell Ruff and Julian Seiler.
Over the past four years, Maclay’s theater program has put on many impressive productions. They have staged beloved musicals like “Matilda,” “No No Nanette” and “The Little Mermaid.” They have acted in plays like “Blue Stockings.” This year, they are preparing for the fall play, “The Election,” and the spring musical, “Brigadoon,” which will bring many memories before graduation.
The troupe has earned numerous accomplishments at both district and state competitions throughout the seniors’ time at Maclay. In fall 2023, students received six Superior and eight Excellent ratings at districts, along with Critics’ Choice for their large-group musical. The next year the troupe earned 11 Superior and five Excellent ratings, as well as Critics’ Choice and Best in Show for its large-group musical. That recognition let the seniors perform at the state competition’s opening ceremony as sophomores in front of tens of thousands of people in spring 2025. At the spring 2026 state competition in Tampa, Maclay students earned three Excellents and three Superior ratings.
“My favorite memory ever was sophomore year,” Ruff said. “We won Best in Show for District One, which is everything that's in the panhandle [excluding] Jacksonville. Performing at the opening ceremony was so cool.”
Beyond the awards, the theater department has given students opportunities to challenge themselves through unfamiliar roles, demanding choreography, and live improv. Preparing for a performance means hours of rehearsals until the evening, memorizing scientific lines and long ballads, and learning to adapt, even through British accents. Through theater, the seniors have developed skills that will help them during their next chapter.
“My proudest moment was probably [acting] in “Into the Woods,” Seiler said. “Someone who did photography knocked my crown off and I improvised to get it back. And I was like, yes!”
The seniors have moved from simply learning the ropes to becoming role models for younger thespians. Their involvement extends beyond productions through showcases and the International Thespian Society. Many seniors hold board positions so they take on even more of a leadership role in advocating for the department. The seniors are leaving behind the example they’ve set for students continuing the program.
“I think [my experiences] taught me that the right people matter so much more than you think,” Pike said. “The underclassmen are so sweet and wonderful and I love them so much. And the program itself is great. We’re always doing super cool stuff. The Seckels and my fellow thespians are no doubt what I'm going to miss the most.”
The friendships formed through their time shared together was the most impactful and lasting part of theatre. Time spent together backstage and on trips has made the students grow very close. Performances created the opportunity to connect and relate. Seniors who initially joined just to try something new have now experienced years of a much bigger impact.
“There was this one time at state where I went off with a few of my friends during the lunch break and we randomly harmonized a song and performed it for as many people as possible,” Wood said. “It was a great reminder that music has a way of bringing total strangers together. I made a lot of friends that day.”
For the seniors leaving theater behind means missing their go-to group. The program has helped students find their people and become more comfortable expressing their authentic selves. They look back to their seniors with love and feel it’s crazy they’re now them.
“My experience in theater changed from when I first joined,” Holland said. “I used to look up to the upperclassmen and now, I get to be the one that others look up to.”
The seniors’ final year lets them celebrate their individual growth too. The senior showcase in May allows them to choose their own solos, monologues, and other performance pieces, reflecting the different experiences they learned. Along with remaining performances and competitions, the showcase will let them have a final opportunity to take the stage at Maclay.
As graduation lingers, the seniors are beginning to consider how they’ll carry their experiences into college. Although they won’t meet for rehearsals or perform in Maclay’s troupe, the confidence, friendship and memories will remain forever.
“[I feel] heartbroken,” Pike said. “[But] I can’t be that sad because [the program has] given me so much. I've had such a great four years. But unfortunately [because of that] I'm very sad. I think these two shows are fantastic to end on. [Maclay theater] will be fine. I'll be very sad. But Maclay Theater has grown so much and it's going to keep growing and it's going to be wonderful.”
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