Play Development: TIG

Director’s Notes:   In the summer of 2025, Ms. Papproth was searching for plays for the 2025-26 season. ANTIGONE was on her mind because of the questions it asks about civil disobedience and the conflict between individual conscience and state authority . After reading several adaptations of ANTIGONE, she reached out to her friend and local playwright, Jenny Maloney, and asked “Do you know of any good, modern adaptations of ANTIGONE?”. Jenny replied, “I could write you one!”; and the journey began. Jenny wrote a first draft and shared it with her peers/colleagues in her writing group. Jodi contacted The Millibo Art Theatre and asked if they would be willing to support a play development project. More drafts were written and shared with local directors, actors, producers, and other creative types. The play was read aloud on zoom. Edits and changes happened. Eventually Ms. Maloney cast the play with local actors for a staged reading at The MAT and Ms. Papproth invited local high school theatre teachers and their students as well as school administrators, parents, theatre professionals, theatre lovers etc. The Play Development Project took place at The MAT in Oct. 2025 with a staged reading and a Q & A session asking for community feedback. Several Cheyenne Mountain High School students as well as a variety of people from the community gave honest feedback and asked compelling questions. This helped to strengthen the play and to keep the dialogue ringing true while staying within school standards for appropriate language. Auditions happened in Jan. 2026 and the cast and crew began their work. 

Ms. Maloney allowed students to include their own writing, which you will see/hear featured in the Listening Booth scenes. We were given a wide berth to add in music and movement and to create our own backstory that helped to unite the cast in the understanding of the story being told. This play is a work of fiction and is in no way attempting to portray “best practices” of what should (or would) actually happen at a modern US High School after the loss of student(s). Cheyenne Mtn. High School Administration, Faculty, and Staff are knowledgeable, compassionate, trustworthy and skilled individuals who work together as a team to live up to the core values of Cheyenne Mtn. Dist. These core values include building a thriving community through respect, care, and authentic connection with students, staff, families, and neighbors and creating safe and inclusive learning environments that allow students to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. The CM District and School Based Crisis Team and Mental Health Teams (School Counselors, School Social Workers, School Psychologists)  Admin and Security are trained and use the PREpARE Model for School Safety Planning and Response to Events. 

CM Dist. has strong practices in place for responding to concerns for student safety and school administration is involved  and consults school-based mental health providers when there are questions and concerns about responses to events including memorials and memorial activities. Guidance is regularly updated and based on current best practice.

In the creation and rehearsal of this production, Ms. Papproth utilized her training in Theatrical Intimacy and Consent as well as guidance from mental health professionals and theatre professionals. Practices such as “closed rehearsals” were used when staging the challenging scene of Euro’s attempt. Ms. Maloney’s scene was already scripted in such a way that was extremely helpful — allowing the actors and the technicians to focus on the emotion and relationships of the characters rather than making a graphic display of any details of the act itself. Students were asked to “tap in” to step into the world of their characters and the tragic events that happened at Thebes High School and then “tap out” and shake off any residual emotions/images to step back into themselves and transition back into their actual lives. As a 32 year teaching veteran, Ms. Papproth was able to lead discussions on how school’s responses to student deaths, suicides, and suicide attempts have changed over the years and how we truly practice “when you know better … you do better.” 

Students know they have adults in their corner at CMHS and that they can go to them for help — whether it is academic, social/emotional or related to mental health. Thankfully no one at CMHS would have to experience a “Thebes High” reaction to death from admin. And yet this adaptation of one of the oldest plays we have in existence provides us with an opportunity to ask what feel like very modern and timely questions such as: How do we navigate the creation of safe spaces that are also learning spaces? How do we allow people to ask challenging questions that help them to shape their values and morals? Is there a difference between what is legal and what is just? Do people have an obligation to follow or break unjust laws? When is it necessary to challenge the limits of authority? Cheyenne Mountain High School is honored to have the privilege of performing this world premiere and acknowledges the fact that we had to have the support of CM Administrators, our families and the community in order to do so. Thank you for allowing us to tackle complicated subjects that do not have easy answers. We hope this production creates interesting discourse and that you enjoy the show!

Sincerely,

-Jodi Pappproth

Cheyenne Mountain High School Theatre Director