The Shadow Hills High School theater department will explore a tragic piece of American history in its fall play, “Triangle,” running from Oct. 22-26.
The play, directed by drama teacher Thomas McMahon, revisits the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, a disaster in which more than 150 underage girls who worked in poor conditions lost their lives.
McMahon said he chooses plays that will challenge his actors and provide meaningful roles for them.
“I’m confident that those who are new to theatre will learn from those who are more experienced and also learn from me,” McMahon stated. “You know, every play I have ever done always works out. So, you just have to have faith in the artistic process.”
Junior Zoe Fitch-Salas, who landed her first-ever lead role, said she is excited to show the campus what she is capable of. To get the part, Fitch-Salas had to perform a highly emotional reading.
“I really dove into the inner workings of my mind and thought of some of the saddest, hardest parts of my life and really just shoved that onto the stage when I was reading the lines,” she explained.
For sophomore Grace Peterson, a new student to the school, joining the ensemble has been a positive experience.
“It feels so fun, everyone is laughing and having the best time,” Peterson said. “I would love to participate in future plays because I’ve made such great friends.”
Behind the scenes, Tech Manager and Assistant Director August Ellsworth (’26) manages the tech crew and actors, showing them how to use equipment and scheduling the show’s technical cues. Ellsworth has always been fascinated by the technical side of theater, like music and lighting.
Opening day is “always very nerve-racking,” Ellsworth said, involving triple-checking props, costumes, lighting, and actor readiness. “We all know that we work as gears in a machine. If we don’t work together, then the machine won’t work.”
The theater program allows students to branch out artistically. For those considering joining, McMahon has some words of wisdom.
“I would say do it,” he said. “What might happen is that you might discover an activity, a passion, or a future career that will stick with you for the rest of your life. I did a lot of theatre in high school, and I met the best friends of my life that I am still friends with today, 30 years later.”
