During Fall Family Weekend, the curtain will rise in Forbes Theater on the St. Andrew’s October 24 and 25 production of Neil Simon’s play Rumors. The famous farce features a mix of newcomers and experienced thespians—but they have come together to form a family, according to their director, Arts Department Chair Ann Taylor.

The cast includes two ninth-graders, as well as some older students. Of the seniors in the cast, some are performing in third and fourth productions with the school, and others are taking the stage for the first time.

“They're just immediately part of the family,” Taylor says of newer actors. “I had a conversation with the older, more experienced cast members about ways in which we needed to support and lead by example for the younger students. We never, ever, ever want to be elitist about this craft. We always want to be inviting more people in.”

Choosing Rumors was meant to be inviting, too—because it’s a comedic show with a fast pace and roles for a variety of actors. The play requires sharp timing, in both its staging and its wit. Taylor started the cast with rehearsals for Act Two, the toughest portion of the show to memorize because of its exceptional quickness. Taylor’s goal is to help more experienced actors hone their craft, and help newer performers develop fundamental skill and confidence onstage.

Throughout the ups and downs of a rehearsal process, the students have encouraged each other through every challenge. From building each other up for skill-testing scenes to finding patience and fun through hours of slower, detail-oriented work, the Forbes Theater family keeps one another grounded.

“We’re all in it together,” Taylor says. “There are moments when the work is difficult and moments when it's fun and silly, but in order to get the best result and the biggest reward, you have to feel some frustration along the way. There's a quote in my studio here where an actor compares the work to ditch digging. It can be really, really hard, but once you do it … you put in the work and then suddenly you get to live in this place of creative freedom. And nothing compares to that.”