“I truly loved every single moment I had with everyone offstage in rehearsals, before the show”

Adelene Pereyra: “I have been in the Dougherty drama program since my junior year.  I worked as a stage manager and set designer for last year’s production of ‘High School Musical,’ I did set construction for this year’s play ‘Almost Maine,’ and I starred as the female lead in ‘Heathers the musical.’ 

I got into acting and drama in middle school when I was introduced to Hamilton in sixth grade. That really kicked off my love for theater and I ended up joining the tech program at Windermere Ranch, and there I slowly got introduced to being on the stage. My favorite part about acting is getting to work with other actors. I love doing all the character interactions, and thinking about how I want to convey my character’s thoughts and emotions, and their opinions on whatever is going on. 

I think my favorite memories from Heathers are definitely the ones that happened behind the scenes…and whatever the audience doesn’t see, because we’ve all grown super, super close with one another. Truly, I loved every single moment I had with everyone offstage in rehearsals, before the show. To anyone who’s an aspiring actor, or is hesitant about joining the drama program, I would just say go for it! Especially if you start at Dougherty Valley’s drama program, everyone is so sweet and welcoming, and we all still keep in touch to this day, even though the show has passed. I’ve made a lot of really close friends from just this musical, because when you’re together for four months, everyday after school, you tend to get close!”