The rallying cry is so common that it has been featured in everything from pop songs to movies since teen angst hit the spotlight.
And now it lands center stage via Columbus East High School’s weekend production of the comedy “Somewhere, Nowhere” by Lindsay Price. She’s a writer specializing in high school-related shows for teen thespians.
This one features students grappling for a perspective on their hometown. Some dream of gleefully kissing it goodbye. Director and East alumnus Kevin Welsh was among those in real life locally about 30 years ago.
“Oh, yeah,” said Welsh, who left Columbus for college and then theater gigs in Seattle for eight years before eventually deciding to return home. “Talking about leaving was something almost everybody said back then.”
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The character of Pete, played by Max Bright, is somewhat like Welsh — but with a decidedly more dramatic twist. Pete feels he must leave town after graduation.
But, fraught with fear over possible future failure at prestigious California-based Chapman University and an upcoming internship at Pixar Animation Studios, he feels ready to take drastic measures.
By jumping off the roof of the school with shaving-cream-filled egg cartons fastened to his body. New-girl-in-school Josie, played by Marisela Miranda, finds him literally on the building’s edge.
“I kinda want to know what you’re doing,” Josie says.
“You’ll think I’m crazy,” says Pete.
“Too late,” says Josie.
“I am not woo woo!” Pete insists.
“Said the man in the egg carton suit,” she responds.
The production focuses on yearnings tainted by insecurity, and emotions torn between loving home and hating home all at the same time.
Miranda, a junior enjoying her first big role, acknowledged that it’s dramatically different to present such an unknown work after East’s lavish last show — Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” which attracted about 1,900 people in April.
Yet, Welsh mentioned that he purposely aims to present a good number of well-done, unknown works “worthy of discussion.”
“It’s one of those plays that’s very real and very relatable,” Miranda said. “And it’s very modern.”
She herself certainly has heard the stay-or-go argument about Columbus among her peers. She sees elements of both sides and likes keeping options open.
“If after high school there are good opportunities to still live here, then I would really like that,” Miranda said. “But then, if there is a good opportunity to move somewhere else, I could like that, too.”
Welsh loves the idea of using material written specifically for students. Having been a student actor in the past and a student director now, he understands the challenge of asking young people with limited life experience to present something like a multi-layered Neil Simon comedy.
“Generally speaking, students just are not going to access that kind of show as easily as they will something like this one,” he said.
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What: Columbus East High School Theatre Department’s presentation of the comedy, "Somewhere, Nowhere." The production consists of four one-act plays highlighting the characters’ dilemma: Do they stay close to home at the end of high school, or do they get as far away as possible? What if they want to do both at the same time?
When: 7 p.m. today and Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Where: Clarence Robbins Auditorium at Columbus East High School, 230 S. Marr Road.
Tickets: $6, available at columbuseasths.seatyourself.biz or at the door.
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