Theatre Wesleyan’s production of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s The School for Scandal is directed by Associate Professor of Theatre Jeanne Everton. 

“This is a play about what happens to people who gossip,” Everton said. “The School for Scandal is proof that damaging gossip is nothing new.” 

Junior theatre major Giselle Saucedo plays Lady Sneerwell. Saucedo said the play reminds her of a classical version of the popular 2004 movie Mean Girls.  

Starring Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, the film looks at cliques and gossip at an American high school. 

Sheridan (1751-1816) was an Irish playwright, according to theatrehistory.com. Scandal was first produced in London in May 1777, according to enotes.com. 

Senior theatre major Carlos Brumfield is the assistant director and stage manager of the production. He said the wing and drop scenery will be a fun and interesting reveal for the audience.  

“It’s not going to be a pool [as in the recent Theatre Wesleyan production of Metamorphoses], but I think it’s going to be very pretty,” Brumfield said. 

Wing and drop scenery is defined by theatrecrafts.com as “a set consisting of painted backdrop and accompanying painted wing sections. When the location changes, both the backdrop and the set of wings are flown out and replaced with another set.” 

Everton said it’s about the idea that all the scenery is painted onto things that either drop in, or slide in from the side.  

“Lots of painting got done by hand,” Saucedo said. “It’s very detailed.” 

Senior theatre major Cameron Byerly plays Joseph Surface. Sophomore theatre major Travis Jones plays Charles Surface. They both say they hope the audience enjoys the production’s excessive comedy. 

“I hope they think it’s funny,” Jones said. “It’s not this antiquated old thing that’s not relevant in today’s world. It’s the same stuff that goes on every day at school.” 

The School for Scandal continues its run Nov. 18-21 at 7:30 p.m. There is also a 2 p.m. matinee on Nov. 22. Tickets are $5 for students with ID, faculty, staff and senior citizens. 

General admission tickets are $10. Tickets can be reserved by calling (817) 531-4211. All performances are at the Thad Smotherman Theatre, which is on the Wesleyan campus at the corner of Avenue E and Binkley Street. 

The Rambler Media Group apologizes for posting this story after the debut of the production.