By CHARLOTTE CLEARY
Life editor
Senior Kate Hamilton got her start acting in the Poly third grade production of “The Lorax” and has held a passion for performing ever since.
Hamilton participated in both the seventh grade play and eighth grade musical production, and since then she has been a valuable asset to the Upper School theater program. As a freshman, she took Theater History and Application and joined the intermediate acting class her sophomore year. That same year, she played Mustardseed in the fall production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Her junior year, she took on the role of Mary McGregor in “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,” participating as a member of Advanced Acting, which is a typically a course for seniors only.
This year, Hamilton will play one of the leads in the fall play, “The Man Who Came to Dinner.” She will perform the part of Margaret Cutler, secretary for ten years to the character Sheridan Whiteside. This year’s fall production is particularly unique because the cast largely consists of underclassmen, with only six or seven seniors in the cast.
“The underclassmen bring so much energy and enthusiasm to the production, and are also very patient with us, as it has been a lot of work to adjust to the different style of a 1940s play which has a quickened pace and different type of comedy. It’s been a learning experience for everyone,” says Hamilton.
“Kate is one of the few actors to spend two years in the Advanced Acting Ensemble, based on her exceptional ability,” says Tina Cocumelli, who is director of this year’s fall play. “Her current role in the fall play has challenged her to use those skills to create a character in the theatrical style typical of American theatre in the 1940s; the physicality, dialect and pace of the work is quite unique and specific, so she has had to work very hard to create this style. Kate is a leader in the Performing Arts Program.”
Hamilton plans to participate in an acting program in college, although she doesn’t plan on majoring or minoring in any performing arts. She would love to continue participating in plays or join an improv group because she says, “It’s just too much fun!”
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