Bethel Park High School teacher wrote, is directing fall play

Cortney Williams had more actors than parts.

Instead of trimming the cast, she added characters.

Williams, an English teacher at Bethel Park High School, wrote plays so everyone could be included.

“I thought, if they are willing to come and put in the time, then there needs to be a part for them,” she said. “So I decided to write the plays myself.”

She wrote “Robin Hood” in 2015, “The Second Star” in 2016, “The Heist” in 2017, “Mystery In a Nutshell” in 2018, “Fireworks on the 4th” in 2019 and “The Last Christmas Radio Show” in 2022.

The students will be performing a reprise of “The Second Star” at 7 p.m. Nov. 9-11 at Bethel Park High School auditorium. The show is about a community theater that receives money from a trust that is at risk of being discontinued if they do not raise $25,000 in two weeks.

Here is a plot synopsis from Williams:

“In this ‘behind the scenes’ comedy, Second Act Theater is facing its last curtain call. In order to save the community theater from closing, the managing director decides to try to mount a last-minute benefit performance of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ starring the theater’s most famous alumna, Broadway star Mattie McLinden, an egotistical theater diva, in a reprisal of her first role as Puck.”

Williams said as the members of the company hurry to put together the show in only two weeks, personalities hilariously clash and tempers ridiculously flare among the eclectic members of the theater company and the star.

Before the curtain can rise on Second Act Theater’s most important production, a host of calamities occur that make it quite clear that “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is A Midsummer Nightmare.

Mattie McLinden is being played by senior Alea Taylor, who said she loves playing the character because “she is fun and dramatic.”

Kate McLinden is played by freshman Soph Willis, and Michael Benvolio by Noah Stiglich.

Wilis said she admires that her character wants to overcome the challenging situation.

“My character is very supportive of Kate,” Stiglich said. “I like that he tries to keep aligned with her.”

There are 30 students in the cast, and they have been rehearsing four days a week since early September.

Because she wrote the play, Williams said she is open to suggestions from the students if they have an idea to change something about the script.

“If I think it fits, then we go with it,” she said.

Having a spot for everyone in the show is wonderful, said Maggie Babyak, a junior. She said no one gets left out and everyone is appreciated.

“We are like a family,” she said.

The theater is where junior Sophia Brawner said she met many of her friends.

“My favorite part is that you can have your own time on stage and everyone gets to shine,” said Rylin Celento, a sophomore.

The Bethel Park theater atmosphere is welcoming, said junior Meredith Myers.

“I love how supportive everyone is of each other,” Myers said. “We all help each other with lines and we form a tradition. It is a wonderful experience.”

Tickets are $5 and available at admin.eservicestech.com/p/bethelparksd/events.