With the beginning of the school year comes the introduction of sports, classes, clubs and YAMO! For those who don’t know, YAMO is an annual theater production that is completely directed, written and performed by students. Even though this show is a yearly occurrence, sketches and themes differ from year to year, which adds to the excitement of students and staff.
To allow the student-run YAMO board enough time to write and cast for the show, the process began last school year, with auditions taking place in the spring, and writers spending long hours creating the script over the summer. “At the beginning of the summer we have a two-week writing intensive, where every day we’re writing for four to six hours,” explained senior David Polish, writer and technical director for the show.
On August 19th, cast rehearsals officially began, and the official theme for YAMO 2024 was unveiled as ‘School.’ It’s a theme that the board hopes everyone can connect with. “People of all ages can relate to being in school. They know what it’s like to be in school, and it’s something that people get, as we’re literally in a school,” offered Polish.
The previous weekend, stage crew and the board began holding meetings to ensure that the production of YAMO runs smoothly as the cast becomes acquainted with the set and script.
Though rehearsals are underway, the script for YAMO is revised daily. It will continue to be edited until tech week when the crew prepares for the performance by adding cues, music, and lights to the show. As of now, people involved with the tech board are devoting their time to building the stage and sets.
Every year, the cast and crew of YAMO not only put on a spectacular performance for the families, staff and students of ETHS, they also partake in fun team activities before dedicating themselves wholly to production. On Saturday, August 24th, all companies of YAMO got together at ETHS to participate in their yearly ritual of the YAMOlympics, which includes events like a cookout, creating dances and cheers, relay races and throwing games. Tech board member and senior Brock Janicki provided insight as to why these ‘silly’ traditions are so important to the production of YAMO: “During the rehearsal period no one ever sees each other; you only see the people in your own company.” The event is a chance for everyone to get to see each other and be together before production takes off.
Another activity that takes place before YAMO showings is PRAMO, the last hurrah before tech week for all of the performing companies in YAMO. Each company dresses up and meets each other at a restaurant to eat dinner and talk. It’s used to celebrate the hard work the cast has completed and to destress before the play is ready for an audience.
For fans of past years of YAMO performances, this year will have the same upbeat, amusing nature. “Playful, silly, and fun. YAMO is always playful and silly,” says Brock Janicki. But the sketches, theme and dances will be completely new and are sure to crack up ETHS students, family and staff.
