The 13 Clocks

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As we present Poudre High School's rendition of a black-box show, "The 13 Clocks," I am filled with immense gratitude and admiration for the remarkable journey we, as a technical crew, have undertaken for this production and throughout the 2023-24 season. This production stands as a testament to the unwavering dedication and boundless creativity of our crew, despite the time constraints that often felt like a relentless adversary. There have been moments during this show where I found myself yearning for the Duchess to freeze all the clocks in the theatre and grant us a bit more time — time to design, to build, to rehearse, to tinker, but above all, to be together as a company.

During tech calls, I often make rounds to oversee the multitude of simultaneous projects unfolding — from hanging lights and cueing sound effects to constructing stairs, locating props, dressing sets, and designing puppets. In these moments, I engage with the technical crew members, and on more than one occasion, I have posed the question to the students: Why choose to dedicate your afternoons, evenings, and weekends to tech theatre? It surely can't be solely for the tireless hours or the mediocre Little Caesars pizzas we partake in on Saturdays.

Their responses vary from the skills they acquire to the creativity they unleash, but the most common answer echoes the sentiment of the friendships forged. This space allows them to be their authentic selves, to share laughter (and sometimes tears), and to achieve remarkable feats alongside individuals who make them feel a sense of belonging. I am astounded by this response because while I can impart knowledge on building sets, it is they who are constructing a community—a community I am privileged to witness and be a part of. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our seniors for nurturing this culture of inclusivity.

These seniors, who not long ago comprised the majority of the crew for "Romeo and Juliet" with minimal experience, have since evolved into heads of various technical areas, deck chiefs, assistant stage managers, student technical directors, and stage managers. They have assumed leadership roles, guiding their peers on what it means to be part of this company, leaving an indelible mark not just on this production but on the program as a whole. I wish the clocks would pause so I could relish another season, show, or even a singular rehearsal with these seniors who have undoubtedly shaped me into a better technical director. To Octavio, Geralt, Esther, Mia, and Alice: I am saddened by your departure but know you are destined for extraordinary achievements.

A significant thank you is also extended to our directing team, whose seemingly unattainable ideas from December have now materialized on stage. Gratitude to our costuming director, Ms. Kari, for championing this delightful show, Mr. Smith for providing direction, and Alec for standing against time alongside me. Though time may be an opponent we cannot defeat, we have persevered, and the tasks have been accomplished. Lastly, I express my deepest appreciation to my family for their unwavering support and inspiration throughout this journey and for traveling from near and far to see this work.

As much as I wish the clocks would freeze at a quarter to 5 (or that I could acquire a thousand jewels to fund future projects and wild dreams), the show must go on. Therefore, I invite you to immerse yourself in the love, dedication, and whimsy that have intricately woven this production together.

Laura Lenczycki

Technical Director

Help Send Our Thespians to Internationals!

3 PHS Thespians are travelling to the International Thespian Festival this June with Fossil Ridge High School. Please help support their trip!

Costumer Snippets

A few months ago, I said to Joel Smith, our theatre director, “We need to find a show that gives the costume crew an opportunity to really construct and sew.” 

Seems like a reasonable possibility, right? 

But then I said. “And I found these periwinkle blue shoes I want to build a costume around. And there needs to be a wonderful character to wear those shoes with that costume. And can we find a little show that is odd and funny and fantastical? No time period, no particular location, nothing known and familiar? And big puppets. There has to be puppets.”

And so, (after his initial stunned stare) Joel valiantly took on that challenge and we read and pondered script after script, after script. Nothing felt right until he finally found “The 13 Clocks”.

We hit the ground running.

And let me tell you, these 18 excited costume students have Shown Up in so many ways! Their dedication, patience, perseverance, incredible attitudes, and talents have been astonishing. Every piece in this show has been sewn, repurposed or reconstructed from our vast cache of donated fabrics, trims, and strange This and Thats. Never have I felt more justified and grateful for my never-ending penchant for *cough.hoarding.cough* But let’s just call it “creative collecting.”

Anyway. These students have imagined, sketched, researched, designed, draped, cut, sewn, painted, sculpted and done more magic than I ever expected or hoped they could do. I stumble over finding the right words of praise for them and can only shake my head in absolute wonder. They DID this! Everything you’ll see—they MADE! I am just undone with gratitude and pride for them.

Thank you to the cast, and thank you to the wonderful technical crew, as this was a joint effort in puppetry and all things figureoutable. 

Thank you to Laura, Alec and the student technical directors. Thank you, Maeve, Carter and Alex, for taking on leadership with costume teams and an incredible workload. Thank you, Zara, for your invaluable help. Thank you to my husband and family who have not seen me for many weeks, and lastly and especially—thank you Joel, for the gift of this show.

Kari Armstrong

Costume Director

Break-A-Leg-A-Grams!

Break a leg! - L. Mondragon

Congrats to the entire FABULOUS cast and crew of The 13 Clocks! Thank you for utilizing your talents and passions to highlight the importance and JOY of the performing arts in high school! - the Baker Family

Break a leg, Cooper! We're so grateful that you found your place in theater, and that we got to experience seeing you on stage! It's created some incredible memories! Although this is your last Poudre performance, we're crossing our fingers that your theater journey is not over! We love you! -Love, Mom and Kerry

Meet the Company

Cooper Hix*

The Wizard

Cooper is currently a senior at Poudre High School and this will be his fifth production he's been involved in. He has recently played the roles of Dennis in the Play that Goes Wrong and Aaron in Mean Girls. Cooper would like to thank his mother for her endless support and constantly pushing him to try new things.

Lennon Shipton*

Prince Zorn

Lennon is a freshman here at Poudre High School. This will be his fourth production with the school. He was previously in Mean Girls as Kevin G, Check Please as Guy, and The Play That Goes Wrong as a “technician”. He is proud that he has the opportunity to help put on this wonderful show with these wonderful people.

Suzie Matlock

The Gollux

Suzie Matlock, a junior, has been a part of Poudre Theatre since her Freshman year. She has loved the community ever since she became more involved, and has enjoyed being a part of the productions. Some of her favorites include Mean Girls, Clue, and The Play That Goes Wrong. She would love to thank everyone who has been so supportive!

Christine Pannell*

The Duchess

Christine is pumped to be playing the Dutchess in her last production at Poudre High School. It has been a fun challenge to play a crazy villain, and she can't wait to soak in these performances! She would like to thank her family for supporting her through every show and the Poudre Theatre Company for 4 amazing years.

Charlotte Baker

Saralinda

Charlotte is a sophomore and is in her 4th production at PHS, most recently playing Cady Heron in Mean Girls the Musical. She enjoys reading, travel, and singing and playing guitar for local gigs in her free time. She is thrilled to be a part of such a fabulous theater company and thanks her family and friends for support!

Pele Allen*

Hagga

This is Pelé's fifth performance at Poudre High School, and she is incredibly grateful for this opportunity to have built friendships and theatre skills through this production of 13 Clocks. She'd like to thank her family for their unconditional love and support.

Owen Johnson

Krang

Owen is excited to partake in his third and final show as a graduating senior at Poudre High School as Krang. He could not think of a more fun and unique production to finish his Poudre Theatre career and would like to thank the company for making this year unforgettable.

Riley Jane

Hark

Riley is delighted to share this spring production with you. He played as Jonathan in The Play That Goes Wrong at PHS this past winter. Riley is grateful for this opportunity and would like to thank his family, friends, and rest of the cast for their support.

Marlie Clark*

Whisper/ A Jackolent

Marlie is a junior and has been surrounded by theatre her whole life. She joined Poudre Theatre during her sophomore year and has felt overly welcome by the supportive community. This will be Marlie's fifth show with Poudre. She can’t wait for you to see everyone's hard work and hopes you love the magic of this show.

Josephine Beck*

Taverner

Josephine Beck is the Taverner in this production of The 13 Clocks. She loves Poudre Theatre and is very excited to add this show to her repertoire. This is her 3rd performance of her junior year and her 8th show with Poudre Theatre. She would like to thank everyone who supports and encourages her. She hopes you enjoy the show.

Zoe Mozer

Tosspot

Zoe is a junior in high school and has just started theater. She is in improv for drama club and Mean Girls last fall. She is in choir and a swim team captain. Zoe hopes to be in other productions along the way.

Harper Skjerseth*

Tale Teller

Harper is excited to be playing the Taleteller! This is Harper's eight show at Poudre. She feels like she has found her second family with Poudre Theatre. She´d like to thank her friends and family for always supporting her and helping her throughout the process of creating this show.

Calen Clapp*

Troublemaker

This will be the forth time Calen acts on Poudre high schools stage. you may remember him from his most recent role as Coach Carr in Mean Girls. Calen is excited and glad to take on the challenge of playing the troublemaker in The 13 Clocks.

Lucia Cruz-Rodenbeck*

Traveler

Lucia is a junior and is happy to say she has been involved in Poudre Theater since she was a freshman. Her most recent work includes, The Play That Goes Wrong, and Mean Girls the Musical. She would like to thank her friends and family for their constant support and love.

Laurie Lindsey*

Stage Manager

This is Laurie's 8th show at Poudre High School. They are thrilled to be stage managing this show and are excited to continue theatre in future years.

Maya Scott-Donegan*

Student Technical Director

This is MJ’s 5th show with Poudre. This is his first show as Student Technical Director and ASM. He was the head of lighting for the last two shows and is excited to round out the year with this whimsical play! He would like to thank the family gc for their support and can’t wait for what comes next.

Jeremiah

Construction Head

Jeremiah "Geralt" Daley has been a part of Poudre Theatre for three years. After graduating, he plans to receive a degree in design and production from Carnegie Mellon University, with a focus in technical direction. He wishes to thank those before him, for teaching him how to be a technician, and acknowledge how proud he is of those who will be here when he is gone. He would also like to thank Joel Smith, Alec Munoz, and Laura Lenczycki, for inspiring him on his future path, and molding the type of leader he wants to be. While he leaves the name Geralt behind, Jeremiah will never forget the memories he has made here.

Sara Ogden*

Properties Head

Sara is a sophomore and the proud prop head of this show! This is her sixth show with Poudre, her second show as the prop head, with lots of prop work in past shows. She wouldn't have gotten through this show without her after-call frosty trips with Geralt and MJ. She is so excited and hopes everyone loves her props!

Octavio Sutton*

Lighting Head

This is his eighth and final show at PHS. He is grateful for all the fun and learning that happened during his time at Poudre and would like to thank the directors for their continued support and encouragement.

Mia Pulido*

Sound Head

This is Mia's final production at Poudre High School, she has been a part of this company since her sophomore year for her first show of The Little Mermaid. Since then Mia has left her mark in various ways from leaving various handprints in the workshop to ripping the cyclorama with the help of fellow crew members.

Izzy Johnson*

Design Head

Gibson Wessel

Effects Head

This is Gibson's third show at Poudre High School, and his first time as a head. He is excited to continue pursuing his passions in theatre next year.

Alex Belda

Costume Lead

Carter Larsen

Costume Lead

This is Carter's third production with Poudre High School within the costuming department. He had such a fun time putting together the costumes for this show and can't wait for more to come next year. He is also very thankful to his friends and family who have supported him throughout this year and with his love for costuming.

Maeve Schinkel

Costume Lead

Esther Ambrose

Construction/Running Crew

Esther, Poudre Theatre Senior, puppeteer in The 13 Clocks. This show was filled with nothing but laughter and tears. Thanks to her partner in crime Birdie, they skillfully tamed and rounded up the wired horses Dante and Chilli, making this show the best finale to her time in the company.

Orissia Cruz

Construction/Running Crew

Orissia is currently a sophomore here at Poudre and is so excited to get to have been able to work on this show. This is currently her second show after having been on tech for The Play That Goes Wrong.

Birdie Fry*

Construction/Running Crew

Birdie is a current Sophomore at Poudre High School. She has spent COUNTLESS hours working on the horses and other puppets. She has had SO much fun working on the show and is excited to do more!

Emily Hertzog

Construction/Running Crew

Emmie Jackson

Construction/Running Crew

Emmie is very excited to be working on her second production with Poudre and even more excited to work with such a talented company. She would like to thank her family and friends, especially the ones made during the show, for all their support.

Charli Lawler

Construction/Running Crew

Skylar Lamoreaux*

Construction/Running Crew

Most recently being squished behind a door with many other technicians in Play That Goes Wrong, he is glad to be returning to semi-normality, where walking and breathing doesn't send a wall down. This will be his 6th show and last of junior year, time flies when you're cramming IB work. Proud mover and holder of center bench.

Juelz Martin*

Construction/Running Crew

Gwyneth Parker

Construction/Running Crew

Maia Shaddeau*

Construction/Running Crew

This is Maia's 3rd show on sound crew 4th show in total. She is excited to be a part of this unique and exciting production!

Michael Abramowitz*

Costume & Makeup Crew

Lorelei Baker

Costume & Makeup Crew

Lorelei is a costumer this year. She is in her junior year of high school here at Poudre and The 13 Clocks is the first show she has worked on!

Willow Conant

Costume & Makeup Crew

Gwennie Davis

Costume & Makeup Crew

Leyton Dellemonache

Costume & Makeup Crew

Previous work as a costumer includes Matilda, Almost Maine, & this year's production of Mean Girls.

Sebastian Fuentes

Costume & Makeup Crew

This is his third show, after The Little Mermaid in the fall of 2021 and Matilda in the fall of 2022.

Gabriel Gonzalez

Costume & Makeup Crew

Gabe Gonzalez(Todal Puppeteer) has worked as a costumer on Poudre’s The Little Mermaid and Matilda. He’s been designing monsters since boyhood, and is elated for the opportunity to bring a monster to life onstage for The 13 Clocks.

Alice Kress*

Costume & Makeup Crew

The Thirteen Clocks is Alice's 11th and final show with Poudre Theater. Much like the chocolate in the costuming basement, it's bittersweet. She's sad to leave, but glad her last production here is such a goofy, beautiful fairytale. Alice would like to thank Ms. Kari, the costumers, and Sid the Science Sloth.

Reagan McIver

Costume & Makeup Crew

Reagan recently started costuming for productions with the show Mean Girls (Having worked primarily on the elephant puppet) and is now doing the same for The Thirteen Clocks. She's participated in theater at her previous school, CLP, and at Debut Theater Co. in Fort Collins.

Karen Newman*

Costume & Makeup Crew

Karen Newman has performed both onstage and backstage with her roles as an actor for ensemble and a costumer for productions such as The Little Mermaid, Puffs, Romeo & Juliet, Matilda, Mean Girls, and now The Thirteen Clocks.

Masen Odell

Costume & Makeup Crew

Masen Odell is rounding off her freshman year with her third show and first time working in costumes. She is focusing on the costume for the duchess and plans to take it to the State Thespian Conference next year. She is also understudying for Tosspot in The 13 Clocks.

Lily VanZant

Costume & Makeup Crew

This is Lily’s 5th show as part of the costume crew. She has been costume crew for The Little Mermaid, Romeo and Juliet, Puffs, and The Play that Goes Wrong. She is also on the varsity cheer team. Most babies were dropped of by a stork but Lily is special she was dropped off by a kangaroo.

Pearl Volk

Costume & Makeup Crew

Brooklyn Wilkes*

Costume & Makeup Crew

As a Sophomore, this is Brooklyn’s seventh show with Poudre School District. She would like to thank her family for supporting her, and her favorite senior, Alice, for making theatre a fun experience this year. She is so happy to be back on the costuming crew after over a year of acting and working on the technical crew.

Logan Yaste*

Costume & Makeup Crew

Special Thanks!

Thank You

to the following individuals and businesses whose support
and generosity make our productions possible.

• PHS Administrators & Deans
• Kim Witman & Justina Malm
• Lindsay Shipton
• Stephanie Mosnik & PHS TV Production students
• Gregg Osterhout
• Madison McGinty and PHS Catering Students
• Antonio, Jesus, and the PHS Custodial Team
• Don Cox
• Melanie, Jackson & Taryn
• Parent Meal & Intermission Volunteers

and all the families and friends whose patience, flexibility and support make it all possible!

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Director's Notes

I was given a copy of James Thurber's The 13 Clocks when I was 10 or 11, and I loved it. Read it over and over. Marveled at the Marc Simont's illustrations, that give just enough to spark the imagination but not enough to ruin it. I have worn out 4 copies in the many years since then, but it's still on my shelf. I love the wordplay, the silliness, the purposeful mangling of our fairytale assumptions. But I think, looking back, I really love the earnestness, the purity, the goodness of it all. I love the child-like wonder and glee it brought me, and still does.

I'm older now, and I have no time for people being childish, but I hope I can still be child-like. I hope I can still play. I hope we all can.

Kari Armstrong is one of my favorite people to play with. She brings that child-like imagination and glee to all of our time together. She will tell you I picked this show for her, and she's not wrong, but it's not just for her. Kari is one of the greatest teachers I have ever worked with. She has the patience, kindness, creativity and insight that helps all her students grow and explore and become amazing people. So, this show is for her, but also for all of the students she teaches how to create and play.

Laura Lenczycki was one of those students. I'm amazed at the incredible teacher she has become. This season has been a real challenge for her, on top of the demanding classes she teaches outside of the theatre. Sometime soon, I am going to stress her out, make her mad, and she is going to leave, but I hope she doesn't. In a short amount of time, she has turned into an excellent technical director, theatre teacher, and collaborator. Slinky, thanks for playing with us.

Alec Munoz trained with one of the best theatre teachers I have ever known: Jason Tyler at Ft. Collins High School. Alec has also become an incredible teacher and technician. We are so lucky to have him.

The class of 2024 started in Poudre Theatre during Covid. Their freshman year consisted of a play performed in the courtyard and recorded for an audience, a musical and play done on stage with an empty theatre, livestreamed to remote viewers. Remote learning. Hybrid schedules. Lockdown. It was all enough to crush anything child-like in them. But it didn't.

When I think of this graduating class, I think of students who are resilient, brave, gritty, and determined. They don't mess around, but their hearts are bold and full. This is a group of passion, they overcome, they get what they need. I am awed by their hard work, but amazed by their innocence, even with everything they've endured. They are child-like in the best possible way. It has been an honor to watch them learn, grow, fail, try again, get uncomfortable, push the limits, and find their joy.

Seniors, you are a special group: thank you for sharing your joy and frustration, your trust and fear, your talent and passion. Thank you for playing, dancing, and laughing. I am thrilled that many of you are going to continue pursuing theatre, but even if you don't, thank you for letting me be a part of your company. You, survivors and builders of the future, will be in my heart forever.

Special shout-out to the technical and costuming crews for this show: This show highlights their dreams, creativity, and hard work. They have gone above and beyond at every turn. Your imaginations have made this show magical; your ethic and effort have made this show work.

Finally, a huge thank you to Principal Kathy Mackay. Thank you for your unwavering support for the theatre program at PHS, for understanding that the arts are core curriculum for students, for allowing us to push boundaries and have challenging conversations, and for celebrating our young artists. As an honorary member of Thespian troupe #2808, your leadership has been a great example of our Thespian motto: "Act well your part, there all the honor lies." Poudre Theatre owes you a great debt, and we thank you for your support, fairness, courage, and generosity. Thank you for allowing us to play. 

Here forever,

Joel Smith

April 2024

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