Three-day run of ‘Puffs’ set at Sequim High

By Emily Matthiessen Sequim Gazette • March 1, 2023 1:30 am
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / From left to right, Sophia Treece performs a humorous, slow motion fall as Danika Chen, Ayden Humphries and Calem Klinger react, in a recent rehearsal for the upcoming production “Puffs,” at the High School auditorium.
Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / From left to right, Sophia Treece performs a humorous, slow motion fall as Danika Chen, Ayden Humphries and Calem Klinger react, in a recent rehearsal for the upcoming production “Puffs,” at the High School auditorium.

In one word, director Anna Pederson says, this show is “hilarious.”

Attendees are thus warned, as the Sequim High School Senior Class prepares “Puffs,” a fundraiser play set for four upcoming shows this week.

A send-up from the “Harry Potter” universe, “Puffs” hits the stage at 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, March 2-4, and at a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, March 4, each at the Sequim High auditorium, 533 N. Sequim Ave. Including intermission, the show will last about two hours.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for youth and seniors and $10 for students with ASB cards. Funds raised go to the Senior Ball and graduation, according to organizers.

“Attendees are encouraged to dress in their best witch or wizard garb, if they so choose,” said Pederson.

Pederson has worked as a choreographer for Sequim High previously.

The 22-member cast and crew of eight displayed a high level of enthusiasm as they laughed their way through a recent practice with Pederson.

“Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic” is a 2015 original play by New York-based playwright Matt Cox. The play is a parody of the “Harry Potter” book series by J. K. Rowling that premiered at The People’s Improv Theater on Dec. 3, 2015.

“This was actually a show that I had heard of before,” Pederson said, “but I had forgotten about it after it left off-Broadway. When I was offered the job as director and began researching shows, I happened to stumble upon it and brought it to the senior ASB officers as an option, and everybody unanimously agreed on it.

“I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard, when just reading a script. It’s so well-written, and the comedy feels very of this generation, which I really like. It doesn’t feel like it was written for the theater. And the cast has really enjoyed it as well.”

Calem Klinger plays Wayne Hopkins, Danika Chen plays Megan Jones and Ayden Humphries plays Oliver Rivers, Pederson said, with the rest of the featured roles acted by seniors, and lower classmen completing the cast.

“It’s really an ensemble cast with no one lead role,” Pederson added.

They have been rehearsing since Feb. 25.

“I am absolutely loving working with this cast,” said Pederson. “There are several students who are very passionate about theater, and I can tell are taking their roles and the process very seriously, and really engaging with me, which is such a pleasure to watch. But there’s also a lot of students who have never done theater and maybe aren’t planning to do theater ever again, but sought this show out because it was their senior year and they have really embraced the hard work and ensemble feel of the show.”

The show, Pederson said, should resonate in particular with “Harry Potter” aficionados.

“If you are a ‘Harry Potter’ fan you will feel so seen,” she said. “It’s the story you know, but told through a completely different point of view, with a whole new set of characters to fall in love with. There is the comedy, of course but also romance and action and a lot of heart.”

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Anna Pederson directs Sequim High students at a recent rehearsal of “Puffs”. The production will raise money for Sequim High ASB and features a cast of 22 for a three day run at the high school auditorium.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Anna Pederson directs Sequim High students at a recent rehearsal of “Puffs”. The production will raise money for Sequim High ASB and features a cast of 22 for a three day run at the high school auditorium.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / The cast and crew of the upcoming production “Puffs” at Sequim High auditorium pose for a “school picture.” Back row, from left to right: Lili Mitchell, Aaron Tolberd, Becca Van Dyken, Amara Osmer, Katherine Gould, Anna Pederson, Finn Marlow, Aason Judd, Jackson, Imholt, Ahrya Klinger, Esperanza Salazar Garibay, Sophia Treece, Ginger Hiatt, Kimberly Heintz; front row, left to right: Adrian Dulfo, Julia Jack, Ruby Coulson, Kayli Fukunaga, Ayden Humphries, Calem Klinger, Danika Chen, Savannah Minker, Unico Arroyo, Hi’ilei Robinson, Juan Torres; floor: Keaton King.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / The cast and crew of the upcoming production “Puffs” at Sequim High auditorium pose for a “school picture.” Back row, from left to right: Lili Mitchell, Aaron Tolberd, Becca Van Dyken, Amara Osmer, Katherine Gould, Anna Pederson, Finn Marlow, Aason Judd, Jackson, Imholt, Ahrya Klinger, Esperanza Salazar Garibay, Sophia Treece, Ginger Hiatt, Kimberly Heintz; front row, left to right: Adrian Dulfo, Julia Jack, Ruby Coulson, Kayli Fukunaga, Ayden Humphries, Calem Klinger, Danika Chen, Savannah Minker, Unico Arroyo, Hi’ilei Robinson, Juan Torres; floor: Keaton King.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Lili Mitchell, right, mimics director Anna Pederson’s gestures during a practice for the Senior Class’s upcoming play and fundraiser, “Puffs”, set for a 3 day run at the end of this week.

Sequim Gazette photo by Emily Matthiessen / Lili Mitchell, right, mimics director Anna Pederson’s gestures during a practice for the Senior Class’s upcoming play and fundraiser, “Puffs”, set for a 3 day run at the end of this week.