Whether in 19th century England or the snowy kingdom of Arendelle, Xavier’s theater members are playing roles of strong independent women and putting them center stage.
With “Pride and Prejudice” and “Frozen” both being two major upcoming productions at Xavier, the performing arts department is displaying female-driven projects at the heart of the stage.
Choosing works with empowering women as the focus provides a creative environment and a unique perspective for an all girls-school community.
Sophomore English teacher Kate Boehm ‘03 expressed the value of showcasing a classic novel read in her class, and how it offers powerful roles for Xavier students.
“I think it’s super exciting and fantastic that they picked ‘Pride and Prejudice’ to showcase at an all-girls school. There are some really strong roles for women among all the female roles in the book. From Lizzy and Jane Bennet, to their mother Mrs. Bennet, this should be a really empowering production,” Boehm said.
Choosing plays that connect with the young women audience members of Xavier allows students to make connections to the actors on stage and relate them to their own lives.
Boehm emphasized how the intentional selection of the production boosts its impact to the student body, sharing, “I think it’s a great plan that Ms. White and Ms. Corderman pick plays that the girls are really able to relate to and that are really fun to do.”
Beyond the 19th century Regency era, more modern productions like “Frozen” give a path to explore the emotional challenges of a young woman today.
Fine arts teacher Sarah White ‘16 expressed how the themes in “Frozen” provide comfort and help audiences to relate to the characters in the production.
“It’s exciting to see strong female characters who are relatable in the aspect that they make mistakes and they have complex emotions. In ‘Frozen’ there are fear and anxiety which makes it so relatable, and watching it on stage brings students comfort. Being a school that pursues excellence is relatable to the girls in that they see strong female leads who influence strength and complexity,” White added.
The two shows centering upon women helps highlight the talent in Xavier’s all-girls-school community. For the actors, these female-focused roles help them evolve the characters and make connections to them, creating a bigger purpose that comes from the roles.
Picking stories that connect with young women helps students see parts of themselves in the characters on stage.
Isa Earl Castillo ‘28, the lead in “Pride and Prejudice,” shared, “I think having two shows that are predominantly led by females is just a testament to the talent we have here at Xavier in all sorts of aspects, and it helps girls aspire to do what they do best and what they’re talented at and passionate about. They are relatable stories that girls can understand and see themselves as a part of.”
White added, “I am so excited, ecstatic really. I think it’s an awesome play about strong female characters. I feel it’s great that Xavier students read ‘Pride and Prejudice’ in class so they already know the context and appreciate it more deeply.”
For the Xavier performers, taking on popular roles provides a way to develop their artistic abilities while acting in classic and well-known pieces.
