Check out our website for consistent coverage: knightwriters.org
follow us:
instagram: @rhsknightwriters
Knight Volume 65
PROM 2025
Issue 4
twitter: @robinsonknights
Writers
Twisted
6311 S Lois Ave, Tampa, Fla. 33616
Troupe 2660 presents...
BY: GRACE SHAFER, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Riddled with foul language and difficult to make work, but I feel like adult content, anyone walking into we were able to,” said Jules Navarte “Twisted” expecting a Disney-style (’26), who played Jafar. fairytale might be in for a shock. Despite the chaos, rehearsals often When Aladdin sings “Take Your sparked meaningful moments. Clothes Off” to a sixteen-year“I enjoyed seeing my kids start old Princess Jasmine, it becomes to trust my direction and believe in clear this isn’t a family show. But themselves. They are all emerging Robinson Secondary’s theater group, artists and each and every person on Troupe 2660, took that challenge and behind that stage has something head-on. After more than four years special with them,” Dorsey said. without a musical, they chose this Creating that kind of environbold, satirical retelling of Aladdin as ment isn’t easy. It takes intention their return to the stage. and care to build a cast culture that The decision to tackle a full mufeels safe and inclusive. sical came from Jessie Dorsey, Rob“I love this cast. With all the inson’s ASL teacher and the troupe’s environments I have been in prior, new director. Since Legally Blonde this feels much more welcoming in 2021, the group had only done and inclusive, and that’s something I smaller productions and competition really appreciate,” Navarte said. pieces. With barely any budget, the The show itself demanded flexiidea of staging something this ambi- bility from everyone involved. Script tious seemed unlikely. Still, Dorsey changes and creative problem-solvpushed forward. ing became part of the daily process. “Despite all of our challenges, not “It (then) became such a collabhaving very much funding or unin- orative experience with the cast and terrupted time in the space, dealing myself to completely rewrite the with finicky text systems, having to scripts to make it our own while sew our own costumes and build and still honoring the original intentions paint our own set and everything, we of the playwright. It was a great still pulled out a really truly incredi- exercise in collaboration and devised ble show,” Dorsey said. theatre,” Dorsey said. Beyond the financial strain, Along the way, improvisation scheduling added another layer of brought the production to life in difficulty. unexpected ways. “Due to a lot of scheduling con“My favorite part is probably flicts, we lost a significant amount during Happy Ending, when I of rehearsal time (30 cumulative twirl onstage as a ghost. I love hours) and the time crunch was very being able to improvise that
dance and it’s just a really poignant moment in the show,” said Moira Patterson. Not every surprise was left to chance. Some creative touches were planned from the start to add detail and depth. “I placed certain elements within the direction and choreography that I thought would make the overall musical feel more genuine in the world of the play. For example, if you follow some of the actors’ tracks in how they move on stage, there’s actually a Hidden Mickey in the blocking,” Dorsey said. “I love adding small elements like that to make everything feel more cohesive and more like we are actually living within that imaginary world.” Although “Twisted” leans heavily on humor, the cast made sure its message didn’t get lost. “Even though this is a comedy, Jafar’s final monologue has a strong kernel of truth that I really hope everyone takes home. In
the theatre, believing you can is such an important part of what actors put forward, and being able to impart that dedication to others is such a great part of the performing arts that I wish I got the opportunity to do more,” Navarte said. For others, the takeaway was more personal and heartfelt. “I hope the audience remembers that just like the princess in the show, they all have the power to make a real change in the world by being kind and loving one another,” Patterson said. Putting on a show like this isn’t easy. But for this cast and crew, the process was just as meaningful as the final performance. “Start somewhere. Make mistakes as you go but never forget that the art that you are going to make in collaboration with your cast and designers is important, and only you can make it,” Dorsey said.
Main photo: Jules Navarte (‘26) Photo on far left: Thomas Weston (‘25) and Keira Mitchell (‘25) Photo to right: Leah Bell (‘28) Bottom photo: Cast bows on stage
Jules Navarte (‘26) holds up prop on stage
First picture (Top): Annabelle Bulger (‘25) Third picture: Galdin Caldwell ‘25, Aliyah Shuman (‘25) Fourth picture: Logan Williford ‘25 Photos by J. De La Cruz
HEADLINES FROM THE INSIDE
Scan the QR Code for more pictures on knightwriters.org
- NEWSFSU Tragedy Impacts All
- A&EWho’s The Next Pop Sensation?
- SPORTSNew Football Coach Mike Simmons 1