The Moapa Valley High School Theater Department recently presented “The Frogs: A Modern Adaptation” by Don Zolidis. The show was based on a Greek comedy and included both acting and technical elements that were new for many students.

Director Dr. Kenna Higgins said she hopes the cast and crew gained important skills while working on the play. She explained that theater brings together students from many backgrounds, and working closely with new people can sometimes be challenging. Higgins also said she hopes students learned to appreciate different kinds of literature, since Greek comedy is not usually studied in high school. “There’s a lot you can learn from theater,” she said.

The cast featured over 20 theater students and was supported by dozens more who contributed to lighting, spotlight, sound, props, scene painting, box office operations, ushering, costumes and set construction.

Senior Ryker Parkinson, who played Hades, said, “I enjoyed playing Hades, as it really let me be myself and play an exciting part in the play. Preparing for the play was a long but rewarding process.”

The tech crew worked with black lights and UV paint, which was different from anything they had used before. Higgins said the team had to learn how to use the lights safely, since strong UV light can affect skin and eyes. Students also experimented with UV body paint and set design. They needed the set to look normal under regular lighting but change under black lights, which required testing different paint and makeup combinations.

Higgins first read the script a few years ago. She said it didn’t feel like the right time then, but when she reread it last summer, she thought it fit the current group of students well. She explained that she reads many plays over the summer and tries to choose one that works for both the cast and the audience.

The theater department is currently raising money for new lighting equipment. Many of the lights in the MVHS theater are the original ones from when the school was built, and only about half still work. Although the department received a grant, Higgins said there is still a funding gap.

The goal for the year is to raise $50,000 to upgrade the lighting system and the old infrastructure that supports it. Each new LED light costs around $2,000 to $2,500. During the performances of “The Frogs,” audience members could choose to pay extra for their tickets. The department raised enough over three nights to buy one new light. Donations can also be made through a QR code, by check or through the MVHS front office.

Higgins said she is proud of the students’ work. The cast rehearsed three days a week for at least two hours, with longer rehearsals as the show approached. Many students also balance sports, band, robotics and other activities with their theater activities. She said watching the students perform and seeing the audience respond makes the hard work worth it.