“The Hunger Games,” directed by Director of the CFTA and Instructor of Theatre Chris McGriff, is based on Suzanne Collins’ novel of the same name. The show is set in a dystopian future in which Panem, a totalitarian society, is divided into 12 districts with a capital that wields national power. A lottery selects two teenage representatives to represent their area in the Hunger Games. “The Hunger Games” is a televised competition in which “tributes” from each district battle to the death for the pleasure of the Capitol. This annual event was established as a means of maintaining authority over the capital in order to prevent uprisings and rebellions in the surrounding regions. 

In addition to interpreting all the important plots, McGriff also made the show interactive, claiming “instead of just having people come, sit, and watch, we really want something that the audience can get involved in.” In this interactive performance, the audience each became “a very small role,” explained Dean of Faculty and Senior Master Teacher of Mathematics Mrs. Dollhopf. 

For example, when the audience first got into the CFTA and sat down, as it was set to be at a noble dinner, servants played by students were walking around the room with food trays in their hands and the audience can take whichever food they wanted, just as if they were at the real fancy restaurant. Later on, when Katniss was burnt by the fire, actors started to collect “money”, which they handed to the audience before the show started based on the audience’s district, as audiences are the “sponsors” of “The Hunger Games” and thus can sponsor players.

In addition to the novel and unconventional way of performing, according to Jennifer Rice, mother of Zachary Rice ’24, who states that the show consists of “traditional theater performance, film, and improv.” Anna Taylor, administrator coordinator of the CFTA, explained that when constructing the stages, the school invited “a special designer from Connecticut to help kids build.”

The first thing when the audience walked into the venue for the show was the brilliant setting: fancy lights on the ceiling, the exquisitely made podium for President Snow, and the high-class tables covered with wine red tablecloths. Looking at the actors’ costumes, students were wearing distinctive kinds of clothes based on the district they came from: the girl from District 1 was wearing an elegant pink gown, while Katniss from District 12 was wearing a plain and simple dress.

Many actors also enjoy having the chance to decorate and decide on costumes themselves. Nimalashree Sivakumar ’23 who played the character Portia claimed that she “loves getting dressed up for the show.” All the actors’ clothes fit the theme so well. “The Hunger Games” show really was worth the time showing, as the innovative way of performing and the setting of the show are all amazing.