Every year Milken’s performing arts department hosts a meeting to discuss what opportunities there will be for students interested in those disciplines. This year, when Mr. Kasper opened the floor up to questions, many parents brought up the conversation of how seniors should manage college applications while also being in the fall play. 

Milken seniors in the show A Midsummer Night’s Dream balanced applying to college with rehearsals after school. The Milken play usually takes place during the same period as college applications, making it difficult for seniors to fulfill being a part of both commitments. Being involved in the show can be difficult for students in their senior year as they juggle crucial deadlines and the stress that comes with that process. 

Putting on any production can be difficult, especially when it comes to a Shakespearean production that deals with challenging language. Due to this, students end up spending a lot of their free time learning lines and attending after-school rehearsals. Shira A. (‘25), who played the character of Oberon, expressed that “Rehearsal is hard in that it requires a lot of scheduling. I can’t do a lot of things I want, like play a big part in other after school activities.” 

Being a part of the show has always required students to learn to manage their time and develop strategies to help balance their commitments, which is something that has become even more apparent with managing college applications. 

“Theater has definitely taught me to keep a tight and efficient schedule, so I can finish all my work,” Shira added.

Throughout this process, seniors have also learned to apply themselves in other ways to make sure to use their time wisely and balance their workload. 

“I prioritized work over activities, I would go home and turn off my phone so that I could focus on applications and my work without distractions,” Leah M. (‘25) shared.

Though time management strategies can make handling these two commitments easier, there can still be scheduling conflicts. . Milken offers “Appy Hour,” ascheduled time after school for seniors to work on college applications, and this year, “Appy Hour” and a rehearsal for the play took place on the same night. But performing arts teachers made sure to work with students so that they could get the most out of both opportunities. 

“I was allowed to go to the last Appy Hour, despite the fact that it was during rehearsal,” Shira said.

Some seniors wishing to spend a great deal of time on applications and still take part in the play offered other ways of approaching those activities.

“I auditioned for more of a smaller role, so that way I could still be in the play but also really focus on my college applications,” Noa M. who played Hippolyta and the Fairy Cobweb (‘25) said.  

Being a part of a production can demand a lot of extra time especially if you have a bigger role in the show since it requires you to dedicate a lot of time to learning lines and setting blocking.

Opting to go  for a smaller speaking role can be helpful as it provides less occupied free time, benefiting seniors so that they can still participate in the thing they love while also having ample time to complete applications without feeling too stressed. 

For seniors, auditioning for a bigger role in the show can present an important opportunity since it is one of their last performances in high school, but, like much else, it requires balancing different interests and obligations.

Maintaining a thing like theater that has been a big part of many senior’s experiences throughout high school is important to them. 

Eytan Z. (‘25) remarked, “I’ve been doing theater since my freshman year, so it feels wrong to abandon it now.” 

Theater can allow students to build a community and find a connection with others, even though being a part of a production that requires a lot of time and effort can be a lot. 

Despite this, current seniors involved in the play recommend that future seniors interested in theater seize the opportunity and explore their interests.

 “If you love theater or just want to try something new, go for it!” Shira said.