There’s a certain comfort in performing a play that already exists—scripts are polished, characters are known, and examples abound. But take all of that away and what’s left is something rare in a high school theater program: uncharted creative space.
For Upper School Theater Director Brittni Addison, that’s exactly where the magic begins.
When Addison stepped into her role last fall, she made it a priority to create a four-year show rotation so students would experience a wide range of theatrical styles. In her first year, she directed SHERWOOD: The Adventures of Robin Hood (a modern adaptation), followed by Sweeney Todd (an operatic musical). This year, though, began with a Carolina Friends School first: the debut of a new work by a visiting professional playwright.
“I think it’s really vital for young artists to have the opportunity to work on a new play,” Addison explained. “It gives them the chance to see how a world is built—and to have their hand in that creation.” With no precedent for how previous casts performed or designed the show, students had to rely on a shared vision and their individual artistic choices.
A New Script, A New Process
The work on this year’s fall production began last spring. After reading numerous new plays that didn’t quite fit, Addison reached out to playwright and friend Diana Grisanti to see if she had anything brewing. She did: Bowling for Beginners, originally written for Vanderbilt University students. Her publisher had been eager to adapt it for high schools, but she needed young actors to help shape it. In an instant, the play found its stage.
Because this would be Bowling for Beginners’ first-ever high school staging, the script needed significant changes: cutting the runtime in half, adjusting dialogue, and reshaping moments to suit younger performers. Grisanti met virtually with interested students in May, asking questions and hearing what resonated. The students were, Addison recalled, “excited, open, and vulnerable.” Grisanti spent the summer reworking plotlines and crafting a version that belonged to them.
A bonus of premiering a brand-new play? Direct access to the person who wrote it.
At the start of the school year, Grisanti spent a full week on campus. She joined read-throughs, refined scenes, and met with students to explore character motivations.
“We got to work with Diana one-on-one and incorporate our visions with her vision,” reflected Sasha Marks ’26. “It feels like I’m leaving behind a little piece of myself for other students to play in the future.”
A Story About Bowling… and More
Bowling for Beginners follows a high school bowling team the year after winning a state championship.
“As their coach says, there’s nowhere to go but down,” Grisanti laughed.
As the season unfolds, the characters grapple with the weight of defending their title, the stress of college applications, shifting friendships, and the uncertainty of what comes next. There’s also a generous helping of breakfast food—and even a few ghosts.
“Kids want to tell new and interesting stories,” Grisanti explained. “We tend to do the same plays over and over and lose our imagination. Theater for young audiences is a place where the imaginations of writers, directors, and actors can run wild.”
Audiences felt the thrill of that wildness, too. A brand-new play means no one knows what the next moment will bring.
“It was so visceral and fun to see our audience leaning in,” Addison reflected. “They were constantly recalibrating: ‘Okay, I thought this was about bowling…now it’s about puzzles…now we’re in a breakfast ballet… and suddenly it’s deeply emotional.’ It was powerful.”
Taking It on the Road
The plan from the beginning was to bring the show beyond campus. For the first time, the Upper School Theater Department traveled to the North Carolina Theater Conference High School Play Festival, where 16 high schools presented plays over two days. In keeping with festival rules, every aspect of the production had to be run entirely by students.
Addison watched from the audience after telling the cast to simply, “Go forth and make art!”
They delivered. The cast and crew earned Honorable Mention Overall (3rd place) and the following recognitions:
- Excellence in Scenic Art (Daisy Leeb, Evie Fodchuk, and Violet Gibbs)
- Excellence in Acting (Rae Wolford)
- Excellence in Ensemble Acting
- Judges’ Special Award for Best Stage Movement
- Excellence in Directing (Brittni Addison)
- Festival Spirit Award
The play is now poised to be published and performed at high schools across the country. The original ensemble’s names will forever be featured on the playbill—a lasting tribute to the work they put in. From their very first script read-through to the festival finale, students channeled their collective creativity and individual gifts to build something that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant.
“I hope our students walk away really trusting their artistic insights and instincts,” Addison said. “Believing in themselves as creators and collaborators—on stage and off.”
—Erin Adams