Community, girlhood, and soccer coming to the Clayton Center of the Arts with The Wolves production
The Wolves, a show put on by Alpha Psi Omega (APO), MC’s theatre national honors society, is an entirely student run and led production that will be kicking off on Oct. 16. The play follows a women’s soccer team and the challenges they, along with many other young women, face.
The cast is small; because of this, the cast and crew have formed a tight-knit community similar to the one explored in the play.
“There are 10 characters in the play and although there are a few main storylines, all of the characters stand out uniquely,” said Director Meredith Wynn (‘26). “I think it’s often very difficult to fully flesh out characters especially in a shorter play like this one…but [it] feels so real that each character is just like someone you’ve met before.”
“Because we are such a small cast, we’ve gotten the opportunity to spend a lot of time together. We have realized that Sarah DeLappe wrote the script so realistically; the way we all talk to each other is the way that our characters speak as well,” said cast member Sasha Hoenie (‘26), who is using this production as part of their senior thesis.
“This play revolves around teenage girls about to leave childhood, I think all people can relate to that fear and excitement,” Wynn said. “A lot of the girls’ struggles can be traced back to growing up and leaving this team that many of them have spent their entire lives playing on.”
“The show covers topics of social injustices, friendship struggles, jealousy and other aspects of life that girls know all too well,” Wynn added.
Feminism and girlhood are major themes in the performance, with an entirely feminine presenting cast.
“Something that has always called me to be a director is showing stories from a uniquely female perspective, and The Wolves, ever since it was released, has really stood out as a modern story of the female experience,” Wynn said.
“I think in a time when so many communities feel as though they are under attack, having people to uplift you and make you feel secure is so important,” said Hoenie.
They said they chose this production as part of their senior thesis because of the all female cast and the focus on feminism and female friendships.
“Portraying a strong female character in such an impactful piece is both socially relevant and personally moving,” Hoenie said.
This production serves as a testament to the bond between arts and athletics while also highlighting real issues many women and teens face. It provided a unique opportunity for the cast to work with the MC women’s soccer team.
“Specifically Ellie Schuld (‘27) really helped us theatre kids develop our limited soccer skills. She worked diligently with us and let us borrow equipment to practice and really made us feel like a team,” Wynn said. The production of The Wolves will take place in the Haslam Flexible Theatre at the Clayton Center for the Arts from Oct. 16-18 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 19 at 2 p.m.. For ticket information visit the APO’s event through the MC website or call the box office at 865-981-8590.
A flyer of a soccer field being used to promote APO’s production of The Wolves coming to MC in October. Photo courtesy of Sasha Hoenie