Dryden High School students to perform summer show

Dryden High School students are taking the chance to showcase their talents on stage this summer.

Led by Dryden High School graduate Emma Park-Miller and supported by the Dryden Drama Boosters Club, 10 cast and eight crew members are putting together a musical play called “The Theory of Relativity.”

The show is on Friday and Saturday, July 12-13, at the Dryden High School auditorium. Both shows begin at 7 p.m. and cost $10 at the door.

According to a description of the show, it is a song cycle of music “interspersed” with skits and monologues. The show explores themes of connection, good and bad. It includes heartwarming and hilarious themes, along with mature and heavy themes.

Park-Miller, a sophomore at Boston University who studies film and television with a minor in theater, has enjoyed leading the production as the show’s director.

“One night, I had a dream and someone asked me what I do for a living,” Park-Miller said. “I told them I was a theater director. I figured if that’s not a sign, what is? So, I dipped my toes in the water to see what happens.”

A majority of the show’s songs are solo performances, with a couple of duets included. Park-Miller said that the show dives into the classical music genre, but one song involves a “heavy song about an abusive relationship.” It’s why, Park-Miller added, the show is PG-13.

“It’s basically a story about someone’s life and you put a melody to it,” Park-Miller said. “Throughout the show, there’s a lot of different snippets and monologues from different characters into a portion of their lives. The thing that brings them altogether is the theme of connection. It shows how we all interact with each other and how we can relate to each other’s lives and how we can take from our experiences. It’s about working with others and being better human beings.”

Natalie Warwick, a junior at Dryden High School, plays Mira in the show. Warwick has been involved in theater since the sixth grade. Since then, she’s been part of every school production.

“When I heard Emma wanted to do a summer show, I said to myself, ‘Well, why not?’ I thought it’d be a good way for me to grow in my theater journey and support the show,” Warwick said.

Warwick said that Mira “isn’t as happy” as the other stories due to the emotional aspects of hers. Warwick said Mira has had a ton of “rough spots” in her life, but added that Mira realizes there is more to loss and grief and learns to grow from it. 

Park-Miller noted that the show could potentially help people relate to their own experiences or to those of friends and family. The goal, Park-Miller said, is to have an image for people to establish an emotional connection.

“[It shows that] you’re not alone in life in different ways, but people struggle with the same things,” Warwick said. “You don’t know that until you learn about them.”

Warwick is hoping that the community will come out and see what a “hard-working, close-knit” group those involved have become in preparation for the show.

“I’m hoping people will come not just to support Dryden Drama Boosters, but also to enjoy what we’ve been working on,” Warwick said. “There’s a lot of deeper things in the show that people catch on and think about for themselves and their own lives.”

Dryden Dispatch appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Town of Dryden’s ‘Music on the Hill’ series starts today

The “Music on the Hill” series, presented by the town of Dryden, starts today, July 10.

The series’ first show includes Tailor Made. The show begins at 6 p.m. and will be held at the Dryden Veterans Memorial Home at 2272 Dryden Rd.

The rest of the series’ lineup is as follows, with each show beginning at 6 p.m.:

• July 17: The Tarps
• July 24: Crystal Vision
• July 31: Ghost Train
• Aug. 7: Sydney Irving

Food and beverages will be available at each show.

Yoga for Life held every Wednesday in Freeville

Village of Freeville resident Michelle Dardia hosts a Yoga for Life session every Wednesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Freeville United Methodist Church at 37 Main St.

The drop-in fee for the session is $10. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Some experience is helpful but not required, as the sessions are committed to being accessible.

Variations and modifications are offered, and extra mats and blocks will be available at each session.

For information or questions, contact Dardia at dollysdaughter@hotmail.com or 607-279-4785.

Lineup for Dryden Recreation’s summer music series

The Town of Dryden Recreation Department’s “Music in the Hollow” summer series continues into the month of July.

Each show will be free of charge, with a 6 p.m. start time at the Ellis Hollow Community Center at 111 Genung Rd. in Ithaca.

The summer lineup is as follows:

• July 16: The Small Kings
• July 23: Ariel Arbisser
• July 30: Joe Crookston
• Aug. 6: The Notorious String Busters
• Aug. 13: Terrapin Station
• Aug. 20: Scuba Jerry
• Aug. 27: Common Railers