Last Wednesday morning (Dec.14th), AUSD students in grades k-6 and 7-12 assembled in two separate groups (k-6 at 9:00, 7-12 at 10:30) to view the AHS drama class production of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. For each age group, the play was presented by a different cast of students, all working under the leadership of their teacher, Mr. Villasenor. The production’s title character shared a role between Samuel Moore and Marina Martinez, each accompanied by Cindy Lou, who was played by both Chloe Cotay and Frances Robertson.

The stage was decorated with various Christmas-themed embellishments, giving a warm and welcoming feel to the school’s auditorium as students gathered for the performance. When the lights dimmed and the curtains opened, it became apparent just how much work had been put into this play, which manifested itself in the alternating sets, festive costumes, and various props, including everything from classroom desks to present boxes. Though the class chose to present a shortened version of the classic story, it was still easy to follow, especially with the help of the narrators- Donna Chinchillas, Ailed Herrera, and Kate Arancon. 

Though the AHS drama class works with limited resources, they continue to produce lively and entertaining performances for both AUSD students and the Ajo community as a whole. Since the school’s reopening, Mr. Villasenor’s classes have put on various plays such as Shrek, Cinderella, and Snow White, all of which were just as charming as this year’s iteration of The Grinch – proving that these young, passionate actors can continuously bring life to the stage. The class also performed for the Ajo community on Wednesday evening, but if you missed out on your chance to see it live, don’t worry! This Christmas production was filmed. (Contact the school for the link to the video.)

Lastly, if you are interested in any future AHS drama class productions, feel free to come support the students at their performances- any and all encouragement from the Ajo community is greatly appreciated.