The Dyersburg High School Trojan Drama Club will present its spring play, 'Life Unstaged,' at 7 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, May 1 through 3, and at 2 p.m., on Sunday, May 4. The unique production will be presented in the DHS Little Theatre, with tickets available at the door. Admission is $5 per student and $6 for adults. Due to the nature of some of the topics of this play, it is not recommended for children under age 13. Children under the age of 5 will not be admitted.

The last play of the year of the Dyersburg High School Trojan Drama Club will be a truly unique experience for the actors as well as the audience.

Set against a black background, with the actors wearing a black wardrobe, it will be up to the performers to set the scene in a series of scenes and monologues addressing the various stages of life.

"This is the third time we've done this concept," said DHS drama teacher Chris Solmon. "The set is all black. The costumes are all black. It really concentrates on the acting and the actors."

Junior Lindsay Pleasant, who plays two very diverse roles in the production said that the spring play is usually her favorite performance of the school year.

"I really love our end of the year plays because I prefer drama over comedy," said Pleasant. "It gives our actors a chance to do something they are not used to doing and gives our audience a chance to see something different. And the cool thing about this one is with so many different skits, it has something for everyone. So, even though I like drama, if someone else like comedies, we have that, too."

Pleasant plays a role in what Solmon refers to as "the most dramatic scene in the play" and a lighter scene where a couple live out all the stages of their entire marriage during their wedding vows.

Junior Devan Jacobi will play funnyman in Lessons in Fear, as he trains to be the next Bogeyman, and a serious role in "Wake Up, Matt," where he plays a high school nerd being used by a popular group.

"I've always done funny roles, but it's really cool to do something serious," said Jacobi. "These plays can be fun, but really challenging because it's a bunch of little plays. You have to develop your character out of the dialogue."

Junior Jared Humpolick feels both of his roles are challenges.

In his main monologue, Humpolick portrays a student who drinks because it is a family tradition, his second scene is a duet with teens questioning who they are.

"The monologue was a challenge, but the duet was challenging because you have to do it in time with your partner." said Humpolick, who said the emotions and issues portrayed in the play are realistic to teenagers. "I feel it will help others."

"These are probably my favorite plays of the year because there are so many random emotions thrown together," said Sanibel Wilson, who found similarities in her roles as the Goddess of Vengeance and a nerd named Audrey. "They both take care of themselves. The are both 'a solitary woman.' Sarcastic and snide."

"I've never done a monologue in front of a lot of people," said sophomore Leah Ewing, who plays a teenager talking to her therapist and a baby who died in a car crash. "One is a comedy and one is a drama. My monologue is kind of fun to play. (The short time frame of the last play) give me more motivation to learn my lines."

"We have had three weeks to get this play together," said Senior Whitney Carter, a member of the Drama Club for four years, who has worked her way to a member of the production team for Life Unstaged. "The actors and crew members have had to rush in to the process. The Advanced Drama class is in charge of publicity. It's all about organization, plus having connections with people like Anderson's and the State Gazette."

Solmon said the spring play schedule is always a bit more hurried due to the grading schedule and the rush of the last few weeks of the school year. A rush that Carter is also beginning to feel as she begins the count down to her high school graduation.

"It's mind-boggling," said Carter. "This is my last play. My 12th play. There are no low jobs in theater, but I started small and worked my way to the production team and ultimately being the producer."

"At this point, we are still working on adding little personal items to the play," said Solmon. "The actors will be doing a little bit of writing to add their perspective on things. This is definitely one of those plays that the actors are able to contribute to. More so than when you have a script where every line is laid out ahead of time. It's still in the growing stages."

Solmon encourages parents to attend with their teenagers, stating that the play will address some topics that may open up discussions at a later date. She and co-director and student teacher Trevor Yarbrough feel that Because of the nature of some of the topics of this play, it is not recommended for children under age 13. Children under the age of 5 should not be admitted.

"It is a very dark play," said Solmon, who said that the black set, black costumes and frequent changes in cast will cause younger children to spend much of the time in the dark. "Children under 5 will not enjoy it."

This is Yarbrough's first time to take part in the direction of high school students, an experience he enjoys so much he hopes to work with a similar age group when he graduates from Union University in May.

"It's really interesting to see the directing side of a show," said Yarbrough. "I've acted in a bunch of shows. I've taken classes. I've enjoyed my time here so much that it has solidified what I want to do."

Cast members of Life Unstaged are Tyler Burns, Brittany Butler, Leah Ewing, Jaylin Gardner, Jared Humpolick, Anne Marie Hyman, Devan Jacobi, Brice Johnston, Courtney Lowry, Corey Mealer, Jordan McCallen, Eric McClain, Susan Merryman, Tre' Mosley, McCord Pagan, Lindsay Pleasant, Deanna Plewa, Amadeo Roberts, Sonia Ryder, Laura Smith and Sanibel Wilson.

The crew includes Joseph Ball, Anna Claire Bradshaw, Jade Caldwell, Vanessa Carrion, Whitney Carter, Kate Chaney, Courtney Gibbons, Ben Glidwell, Kirsti Green, Jessie Hayes, Aretha Haynes, Breonna Hill, Bryan Hill, Hillary Hopgood, Fredniqua Hopkins, Sarah Houston, Terra Jones, Sierra Kattentidt, Cody Kimbrell, Krita King, Kayla Mosley, Sarah Norville, Michael Pagan, Allison Palmer, Anna Robertson, Brittney Sells, Jackson Sewell, Mary Whitnel and Stephen Safari.