The Black Box Theatre was filled with laughter and music as students staged a reading of “CelEXbration,” a new play written, produced and directed by senior acting major Sarah Cadol. With shows on Saturday, May 10 at 2 p.m and 8 p.m, the production brought audiences into the world of Cierra, a queer teenager confronting her past relationships on her 18th birthday.
“CelEXbration” follows Cierra through her birthday, originally with just her close friends Zoe and Ian, but it is later revealed to be a surprise party thrown by her mother, who accidentally invites four of Cierra’s ex-girlfriends. As tensions rise and memories resurface, Cierra is forced to confront her history with Val, Bella, Logan and Quinn.
The staged reading was a fully staged performance; however, actors were still reading from scripts. The production featured basic sound design, props and costumes, with minimal set and little lighting.
The reading combined humor with explorations of identity, queerness and the beauty of growing up. Themes of coming out and self-love were present throughout, giving a rare spotlight to sapphic representation in theater.
Cadol described what the process for creating and producing a play from scratch is like.
“The process has been amazing,” Cadol said. “It’s been challenging at times but also so exciting and meaningful to me because so many people have invested their time, energy and talents into my work.”
What began as a “what if” scenario, a surprise party attended by exes, quickly turned into what Cadol calls a “dramedy,” blending comedic elements with emotional depth.
“We talk about the complexities of being closeted, struggling to accept yourself in a world that gives you a small box to fit into,” Cadol said.
Freshman Denny Busi performs as Bella in the play "CelEXbration" in the CFA Blackbox on May 10.
Cadol cited playwright Kimberly Belflower as a major influence, pointing out the play's mix of realism, hyperrealism and metatheatricality.
Belflower is a playwright known for blending realism with fantastical elements, and often focuses on young women navigating complex emotions. Her award-winning works, including “Lost Girl” and “John Proctor is the Villain,” have earned national acclaim. This blend of realism and fantastical can also be seen in “CelEXbration.”
Elon University Performing Arts produced “John Proctor is the Villain” as its fall play in 2023. Candol acted in the production as Beth, an enthusiastic student and president of the school’s brand new feminist club.
Sophomore Claire Bishop, who played the lead role of Cierra, said the experience was both rewarding and unpredictable.
“The process has been a wild ride, but it's been super fun seeing how Sarah handles all the obstacles,” Bishop said. “We started out with a full production, but it ended up being a staged reading just because she's one girl.”
Despite the format shift, Bishop emphasized that the purpose behind the show remained strong.
“This show is about sapphic representation, and as a queer woman that’s really important to me,” Bishop said. “It touches on a lot of important issues like coming out and being accepted by your family. Seeing that sort of happy queer representation is really important.”
Cadol said that with a script that is centered around queer joy and struggle, “CelEXbration” is a tribute to the truth and resilience of queer youth.
“It’s about being able to accept yourself and celebrate the parts of you that you think you need to hide, and having faith that others will hold space for the fullness of who you are,” Cadol said.