By Aditi Chilukuri ’27, Arts and Entertainment Writer

On November 6, 7, and 8 at 7 p.m., the students in the fall production of Our Town took the stage in the Coraci. The classic American play captures the beauty of ordinary life in the small town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire. It is told through the narration of the Stage Manager as it dives deep into the lives of two neighboring families, the Gibbs and the Webbs, over the course of 12 years. They seem to be ordinary people living ordinary lives, but the play ultimately explores the true meaning of every moment.

Our Town examines the townspeople’s everyday lives, young love, marriage, and eternity through death. The story unfolds across three distinct acts. As the characters move through life, the play explores romance and loss. As the audience follows the characters through their routines, joys, and sorrows, Our Town reveals the extraordinary meaning hidden within ordinary moments. With its minimal, unique set design and timeless themes, the production serves as a reminder to slow down and appreciate the small things that make life beautiful.

The production featured senior Alexa Fastov ’26 as Emily Webb and sophomore Avery Sampson ’28 as George Gibbs. Beautifully portrayed, their relationship is at the heart of the play, illustrating the innocence of young love, the excitement of growing up, and the bittersweet nature of loss.

When asked about her experience, Alexa shared, “Playing Emily Webb has really changed how I see everyday life. At first, Our Town seems like a simple story about small-town people, but as Emily, I realized it’s really about how fragile and precious every ordinary moment is. There’s so much beauty in things we usually overlook, like simply eating breakfast with your family, talking to a friend, or even watching the sun come up,” she said. “What I love most is that Emily doesn’t understand how special her life was until it’s too late, and that feels so human. We all move through life so quickly, thinking about what’s next instead of what’s happening right now. This play makes you stop and notice, and that’s something I’ll honestly carry with me for the rest of my life.”

For Avery, Our Town marked his first year performing in a school production. He said, “I could not be enjoying the play any more. I’m loving every second of each rehearsal and making new connections with fellow students every day. The show is almost here, and I am super excited to show what we’ve been working on for the past two months. I can’t wait to finally perform for a community I care about so much.”

Under the direction of Ms. Rachel Shapiro Cooper, the cast and crew worked tirelessly from early September to November to bring Grover’s Corners to life. The play was a magnificent success, proving incredibly popular and well enjoyed by students and staff alike. One student, Peyton Fischer ’27, stated, “It revealed a lot to me about growing old and not taking advantage of life as I live it.” From lighting and set design to costume work and stage management, every student involved played an essential role in making this production special—an astonishing show that will go down in NA history.