The 2005-2006 school year has been a tough one for the Falcon Players. Students are faced with the resignation of their director, Michael Camenisch, the lack of rehearsal space due to the auditorium renovations, the ever-looming fact that there will be no musical this year, and the mystery of next year’s season.

Camenisch, the drama teacher of three years and director for the Falcon Players during that time will be resigning at the end of the semester. Under his direction the Players have produced Crazy for You, I Never Saw Another Butterfly, Godspell, and most recently Romeo and Rosaline. During his time as director, a cast member has won an acting award at every VHSL competition the school attended. I Never Saw Another Butterfly also placed third at state level competition in 2005.

Without an auditorium and in trailers, the Players are left with little to no rehearsal space to prepare for the fall one-act. Fortunately, Camenisch is also a teacher at Yorktown Middle School and was able to reserve the auditorium there for after school rehearsals. The situation was less than desirable for the cast of the one-act since they were required to drive down to Yorktown Middle School everyday before the dismissal of the middle school students.

York High School has produced a musical every year since 1968 except for in 1979 when the John P. Wornom auditorium was being finished. Both of the musicals directed by Camenisch were widely popular amongst the community and considered two of the best high school productions in the area. This year there will be no musical because of the renovations taking place in the auditorium.

Since Michael Sullivan, the drama teacher for 30 years, left York, his replacements have been unable to stay for very long. Jill Jackson, the immediate replacement of Sullivan, lasted only one year. 42nd Street was produced during her year as director, though she actually did not direct the show. After her year Camenisch was hired and made a name for himself by directing the musical Crazy for You. However, he is resigning and accepting another position. This spring and next year are a mystery to the students of the drama troupe. With no knowledge of who the next director will be, or if the auditorium will be ready in time for next year’s musical, the students of the troupe are looking to each other and Heather Davis, an English teacher, for answers.

Next year’s seniors are preparing for a year which they cannot count on a director for success. Already some of the members are planning on a fall-one act for the next season. Also, in the event that no new director is hired in time, the Players are relying on Davis to step up to the challenge of directing the one-act.

Despite the hardships this season presented, the Falcon Players continued their record of winning acting awards at every VHSL competition by taking home two best acting awards for Taylor Riccio (Jr.) and Josh Bradley (Sr.), proving that despite the tough circumstances presented to the troupe, their success continues, and they look to continue in next years season.