Patrick Henry High School’s (PHHS) theatre and technical theatre classes have traveled to another dimension.

They’ve journeyed into a wondrous land of imagination, horror, comedy, science fiction, drama and suspense, to bring audiences into the Twilight Zone.

Their performance, a three-part act entitled “Episodes of the Twilight Zone”, features three episodes from the classic tv show, the Twilight Zone: “A Penny for Your Thoughts”, “Living Doll” and the “Eye of the Beholder.” The third period theatre classes performed last week, while the fifth period class will take the stage for Jan. 23, 24, 25 and 26, 6 p.m. showtimes.

“To some extent, there’s probably a bit of nostalgia for the Twilight Zone,” said PHHS Theatre Teacher and Director Jeff Russell. “Even in 2024, the show is still recognized. What I was trying to do with the episodes, as the show progresses, it’s supposed to build in intensity. The students and I chose the episodes for that reason.”

The PHHS production kicks off with none other than the show’s familiar, anxiety-inducing theme song and introduction as audience members are transported into the first episode, “A Penny for Your Thoughts.”

While on the way to work, Hector Poole, a timid bank clerk played by Benjamin Freeman for the third period cast and Emmanuel Dotsey for the fifth period performance, tosses a coin into a vendor’s open payment box for a newspaper. In a peculiar turn of events, the coin lands on its edge and Poole acquires the uncanny ability to read people’s minds.

Each act follows a brief intermission — which was required to set up the separate and intricate sets, designed by the technical theatre students. They had just six weeks to build the blueprints.

“I really hope that people look at the set and just understand that a bunch of high schoolers were able to put all this together,” Russell explained. “They really impressed me with what they were able to do in six weeks.”

After the brief intermission, Christie, played by Dia Castro-Ruiz (third period) and Bella Naviello (fifth period), introduces her new doll “Talky Tina” to Erich, her hostile stepfather. As the scenes unfold, the vindictive doll becomes both friend, guardian and defender to Christie.

Tackling opening night

Castro-Ruiz shared her thoughts on opening night.

“I’m always nervous about getting on stage before a show,” Castro-Ruiz said. “I think it went as good as it could for the first night.”

Erich, Christie’s enraged father, played by Spencer Jackson (third period), garnered audience laughter as he and the doll square off in a battle. Amari Richardson plays Erich during the second set of performance dates.

Jackson recounted that Russell’s support encouraged them to audition for Erich’s character.

“I’ve never played an angry stepfather,” Jackson laughed. “I’m not an angry person, I’m a bubbly person most of the time so it’s hard to turn that off. But, Mr. Russell said all I needed to do was try.”

Suspense built during the final act as James Tyler, played by Emiliano Virgen-Santos for the third period cast, and other characters voice questions surrounding individuality, segregation and conforming to the majority. The episode, the “Eye of the Beholder”, is still regarded as one of the show’s most shocking endings, according to American magazine The Saturday Evening Post.

Madeleine Gradek and Ruby Smith play the female version of the character “Janet Tyler”, the former on Jan. 23 and 25, the latter on Jan. 24 and 26.

Zia Murphy, casted as one of Tylers’ nurses, says that “the reveal in the ‘Eye of the Beholder’ is one of her favorite parts of the show.”

Although not scripted, Virgen-Santos made the decision during the opening performance to cry as his character’s distress builds.

“We were all surprised backstage, thinking ‘he’s not supposed to do that’, but it worked perfectly,” Murphy said. Many of his castmates echoed the sentiment.

“When it comes to acting, I enjoy that we all have a purpose here,” Virgen-Santos explained. “We all mix our own personalities, which is what I like to do, with a character. Mr. James Tyler wears a mask his whole life. I relate to that. I don’t have a secret, I’m not hiding anything but you get to feel the character and when you feel the character you get to be the character.”

Matthew En, who played Tyler’s doctor on the Jan. 17 and 19 shows, explained that theatre is all about “being yourself. Even though you act as someone else, you can’t build off of that without being yourself.”

The cast additionally commented that what happens on stage is possible because of their technical crew. Stage Manager Ender Adams shared that as stage manager, he oversees the sets, props, sound, lights and technical cues during the performances.

“I manage everyone and make sure my run crew is doing what they’re supposed to do,” Adams said. “Stage manager is scary for me because I’m also colorblind. I can’t see the spike marks so I can’t help them move set pieces.”

Martin Romero is part of the Jan. 23-26 run crew but filled in during opening night. Romero has enjoyed getting to know the cast, crew and everyone involved in theatre.

“This cast is amazing,” Romero commented. “Emiliano has one of the best voices I’ve ever heard. Ender, he’s the person who really taught me everything I know about tech theatre. Mr. Russell is really cool. He’s a great guy and a great teacher.”

Additionally, Russell has started a new club, the PHHS Black Box Theatre, which will begin their musical performance of “The Trail to Oregon” Feb. 6-9 at 6 p.m.

“I wanted to do something fun and find students who were doing theatre for the love of the work and the group that I got together is really doing a good job of that,” Russell said. 

Further information about the performances, showtimes and ticket purchases can be found at: https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/phhs/7097.

All ticket sales go to benefit the work done by the theatre and technical theatre classes at PHHS.

Photos by Jeff Russell and Jessica Mills.