In their final high school production, Revere Players seniors delivered a performance that showcased years of growth, leadership and creative collaboration.
The Revere Players’ latest production, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, marks the end of the seniors’ experience in high school theatre. For many seniors, this show marked a full-circle moment, blending years of onstage experience with newfound responsibilities behind the scenes. Two seniors in particular have been on the front lines on both the stage and the backstage.
Among those taking center stage — both literally and figuratively — was Revere Players President Bane Thurman, whose plans and passion for performing arts have been a driving force in his life.
“I see a future in performing. I am going to a school in New York City called The New School. I am going to their college of performing arts, which will be my major, specifically a BFA in performing arts. So yes, I am absolutely sure I’m going to do performing arts in my future,” Thurman said.
Thurman’s passion for the performing arts is apparent in his post-secondary plans and how he speaks about his past experiences. His decision to attend The New School’s College of Performing Arts underscores a focused commitment to his craft. Thurman identifies the formative moments and people who encouraged him to pursue performing at a higher level. One key influence was a teacher who played a crucial role in guiding and inspiring his creative ambitions.
“Revere Players has had such a crazy large influence on me; it has been the only driving force for me to invest more in performing. I specifically want to call out Ms. Pine for being a wonderful and creative director to work with. She has been nothing but supportive of my creative ventures as well as other people’s performances,” Thurman said.
Thurman’s gratitude for director Sarah Pine speaks volumes about the impact a passionate mentor can have on a young performer. While his natural talent and dedication have driven his success, the consistent support and creative direction offered by Pine helped shape his potential into real performance excellence. This mutual respect has helped performers like Thurman become collaborators and students. Their relationship has gone beyond just teacher and student, evolving into one of mutual inspiration, which, in turn, has strengthened the entire Revere Players ensemble.
“My interactions with the other performers have grown and become far better over the years. Not only is it helping me as a performer, but I also believe it is helping others become better performers. Acting is reacting, and everyone has their different approaches to a role, so learning to bounce off of everyone and trying to navigate my way around someone’s performance only makes me better,” Thurman said.
This evolution in collaboration marks a turning point for many student performers. As Thurman explains, theater is about the relationships and chemistry that happen onstage and off. Over the years, he has grown more attuned to the dynamic nature of ensemble performance, where each actor’s style and energy influences the whole production. Learning to adapt, respond and build off others’ choices is a hallmark of mature performance, and Thurman’s comments reveal just how much he has internalized this.
“It’s really easy to make people feel at home in Revere Players. Everyone is dedicated to their craft and ensuring everything is to the best of their ability, bringing out the best in the newcomers. I especially believe ensuring the freshman or new performers feel welcome has always been important. That was one of my primary goals as captain, to make sure everyone was happy and mentally prepared to be on set,” Thurman said.
Creating a welcoming atmosphere is a leadership trait that Thurman has expressed his investment in. In a space like a theater — often filled with nerves, vulnerability and high stakes — that emotional awareness can transform an entire cast’s experience. His role as president was not just about organizing or performing well, but about cultivating a sense of safety and inclusion for everyone involved. By emphasizing the well-being of new members, he helped build a culture of encouragement and high standards.
“Last year, I had the experience of being co-president with Gianna Kosir, and this year, I am president with Nicky Ghiorghie. Through those last few years, I really learned that it is ok, and honestly really important, to learn through mistakes. Those mistakes will carry on through my time in Players and into college as a blueprint of what to do and what not to do in the future,” Thurman said.
Thurman’s reflections on leadership growth show humility and insight that often only come through experience. Being in charge of a student-run group comes with unique challenges: coordinating people, managing expectations, and learning how to recover from setbacks. Thurman’s journey from performer to leader is not just a testament to his personal growth but also to the structure and mentorship offered within the Revere Players.
“I personally think this is one of the best shows we’ve done, if not the best musical we’ve done during my time in Revere. The only other production that comes close is A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which really only worked because of Ms. Pine’s creative directing skills. But, ultimately, How to Succeed in Business has seriously felt like the accumulation of all my performing and readership skills rolled into one play. Not to mention it is one of our most ambitious productions, it is three hours long and the sets are so open. I won’t go on forever but it is everything I would want out of a final production,” Thurman said.
Thurman’s sense of fulfillment in this final production mirrors the kind of full-circle moment many performers hope for. With How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, he found a stage that allowed him to combine years of acting, leadership, and creative exploration into one ambitious project. The length, complexity, and design of the show represented not just a theatrical challenge, but a personal milestone.
Personal milestones have also been the primary topic of Evie Brackett’s senior year. The backstage crew senior has finally achieved the role of Stage Manager after contributing to Players in one way or another since the sixth grade. The role is not something she takes lightly, as it has what she has been striving for her entire high school career.
”This show hasn’t made me feel like I’ve left anything behind. Prior during other shows, a lot of my senior friends were leaving and that was incredibly heartbreaking. Now it is weird because I am the senior leaving, and being put in that position is not as emotionally heartbreaking as it has been in the past,” Brackett said.
Brackett’s perspective offers a contrasting but complementary view of this final production. While the emotional weight of senior year is undeniable, her response suggests a sense of closure and peace. Rather than feeling loss, Brackett seems to feel a sense of continuity, as if she’s completed her part in something larger and is ready to let others step in. This emotional maturity reflects how deeply invested Brackett has been in the community, not just in the technical work backstage, but in the shared experience of theater.
”This is the first year I’ve been stage manager but the second production I have done as stage manager. This musical was much more difficult though, because it was so long and because there are so many little switch up moments, we had to be constantly looking at the script. Overall though, just like everyone else in the stage crew I am incredibly happy with the musical. It was far more difficult than anything we have done so I am so proud to have pulled it off,” Brackett said.
While actors work from the stage lights, stage crew members work under them — quietly and precisely ensuring that each cue, transition, and technical detail is handled perfectly. The difficulty of this particular production, with its length and intricate scene shifts, pushed the entire crew to new limits. And yet, Brackett doesn’t just express pride in pulling it off — she expresses pride in the collaboration itself. This underscores one of the core values of theater: every person, regardless of their visibility, plays a role in the final performance’s success.
“I started out doing state crew back in 6th grade with Joseph’s Technicolor Dreamcoat, and I always knew that’s what I wanted to do, is try to do stage crew. Then in high school I went right in with the intent to become as involved as possible. I tried to get to know all of the seniors, all of the juniors, I tried to make myself known and a part of the group. So, by the time we had to choose a stage manager, people just went to me,” Brackett said.
Brackett’s early interest and dedication to stage crew highlight the importance of growth through involvement. From middle school beginnings to becoming the go-to person for a vital leadership role, her journey is a testament to persistence and relationship-building. Unlike roles that rely on casting, crew leadership is often earned through trust, experience, and presence.
”A big challenge for me was trying to take charge and become a leader for the entire stage crew. As the stage crew we do not much work with Ms. Pine or any of the directors, we are mostly on our own. But it was not so difficult that I could not do it, everyone wanted to work together so the collaboration itself came naturally,” Brackett said.
Brackett’s account shows how self-management can create space for both responsibility and creativity. It also reinforces how peer-driven collaboration is a defining feature of the Revere Players. While Pine guides the actors on stage, it’s students like Brackett who manage the orchestration backstage, ensuring that every set change and cue happens flawlessly. This balance of independence and support gives students authentic leadership experiences, preparing her for both college and professional settings. And for Brackett, the experience seems to have cemented not just her skills, but her confidence in working with others toward a shared vision.
”In the future, I can see myself participating in college productions at Ohio State University, but I think it’ll be a sort of socialization thing. It certainly will not be anything professional, or a focus in my college career,” Brackett said.
Brackett’s view of the future is grounded and honest. While her passion for theater is evident, she also recognizes that not every passion has to become a profession. Her continued interest in participating in college productions, reflects how meaningful this experience has been. For many students, high school theater becomes a lifelong point of pride, a creative outlet that builds friendships and memories, even if it doesn’t evolve into a career.
The stage director, Sarah Pine has some strong views regarding the seniors’ leave as well. Not only has she been directing them in a lengthy and self-described ambitious show, but this class has been the first class she has taught through their entire four years.
“I, of course, thought it was an excellent show. I am always very proud of my performers, and this show was an endurance test for sure, so it was much more difficult. But regardless I am still extremely proud of them no matter what. They really learned so much choreography and so many lines and songs, it’s far more than what we’ve done before, especially in this senior class’ tenure,” Pine said.
She has watched them grow not only as individual performers but as a collective, rising to the occasion of an especially demanding production. This particular show, described as an “endurance test,” brought together years of lessons, challenges, and hard work into a single, defining performance. From choreography to line memorization to emotional stamina, the seniors proved that they were capable of tackling something truly complex. Ms. Pine’s reflections serve as a reminder of how much growth takes place during each production
”These guys are my first class that I’ve gone through a full four years with, which has certainly made this year far more emotional to end. But what’s really nice is our relationship as director and performers has been excellent. It has really made their performances and even my director skills much better over the years. All of them have done at least six shows, and with how involved Revere Players is, that’s a lot of time to be spending together,” Pine said.
Having led this group from freshmen to seniors, Ms. Pine has witnessed firsthand the transformation that happens with sustained dedication and mentorship. This class holds special meaning to her — not just for their talent, but for the long-term relationship they’ve built. With each show, trust was deepened, creativity expanded, and expectations raised. The collaborative spirit they’ve shared has not only shaped the students into confident performers but also helped Ms. Pine evolve as a director.
”It’s been a lot of work and a lot of time, but overall the time I have spent with these seniors has been absolutely amazing. I loved being able to shape my own skills around the performer’s skills. These students have molded me into the director that I am today and I hope to carry that with me throughout the rest of my career,” Pine said.
Revere Players’ commitment to the performing arts reflects the heart of this production and a celebration of purpose, mentorship, and the transformative power of theater.
