Upper School Lord of the Flies Showcases the Power of Ensemble Storytelling

St. Margaret’s talented cast of 18 Upper School students brought Lord of the Flies to life at the McGregor Family Theater last week, marking the first Upper School production of the school year. 

Nigel Williams’s adaptation of the William Golding novel explores the themes of civilization versus savagery, power, and the darkness within human nature. The brutalist set design and creative staging emphasized these ideas, using powerful visuals and thoughtful movement to highlight the tension and emotion within the story. Swings hung from the catwalks and allowed students to fly through the performance space, creating an immersive experience for the audience.

The production was directed by Dan Pacheco, director of the arts. “I’m incredibly proud of the dedication our students showed and the friendships they formed while bringing this production to life,” said Mr. Pacheco.

 

The cast included Jake Norton, Brayden Brisbois, Mac Ullem, Olivia Thimons, Gabrielle Guillena, Chase Cunningham, Paige Minton, Savera Glowacki, Merrick Burdette, Rachel Kalvoda, Ava Sanseverino, Ximena Guzman, Kimberly Pelayo-Ayala, Pedro Santillan Munguia, Wyatt Klausner, Tiger Hu, Sofia Reyes-Mendoza and Gavin Shams.

The technical team featured Soren Forer ’29 (stage manager), Gavin Shams ’26 (lighting designer), Paige Minton ’26 (choreographer), and Olivia Thimons (hair and makeup, costume assistant), working under the mentorship of Technical Director and Resident Designer Gordon Richins and costume designers Kirk Stefferud and Olivia Keane.

“Lord of the Flies was an incredible learning opportunity that challenged them to explore the complexities of human nature and to cultivate empathy through their art,” Mr. Pacheco said.