Students in theater 1, 2, 3, and 4 classes are getting hands-on, designing and creating masks for their upcoming production, The King Stag. The masks are inspired by commedia, a form of theater that uses exaggerated expressions to help tell a story but with a modern twist.

“In commedia, actors typically wear masks that accentuate certain features or traits of their characters. These masks help the audience understand who the actors are playing,” senior Lexi Holding said. “Since The King Stag is being done in a comic-book style, we took that comedic element and created superhero-inspired masks. We’re combining the two worlds to make a play that feels both old and new. The fun part is that actors not only perform with the masks, but also learn how to make them and study the history of comedy as part of the process.”

For many students, the experience goes beyond just making a prop: it changes how they communicate and perform on stage. 

“I think it was a really interesting experience,” senior Anagha Konuru said. “It was kind of funny because when I had the mask on, I started communicating non-verbally with hand signals. I’d even respond to conversations happening across the room. I also really liked seeing the final product. It didn’t look exactly like me, but it had all my features, which was really cool. I’m excited to use the plaster to create my mask.”