A Clue As to Why Theatre is More Than Just An Extracurricular

 by Aubrey Dittmar '23

Why is theatre important? Senior Joey Chirillo is one of the best students to answer this question. Chirillo is the Delone Catholic Theatre Department’s Sound Director; he controls all of the sound effects you hear during the show along with all of the microphones.

Joey had  no prior experience in theatre, but had prior experience working with sound. Since the end of his sophomore year, Joey had spent time with Walter Kotlinsky '22 learning about sound technology during the school Masses and pep rallies. 

The cast of Clue photo credit Brienna Richelle

Last year he was asked to help out with the fall play Bethel Park Falls and it’s easy to say that he was the perfect fit. Joey not only did exactly what he was supposed to do, but went above and beyond and even added some extra sounds like birds chirping, or crickets, to truly immerse the audience into the scene. Joey liked the job so much that he even continued onto the Spring musical, Seussical, completed his high school technical career with the play Clue. 

Joey gives his all into his performances, when asked what a performance means to him, he answered, “A performance means to me that giving my all is important. We rehearse for so long to perfect it, and be the best we can be. Showing the audience that we have talent and our progress means something is very special.”

He says that his favorite part of a performance is watching his friends perform and seeing the scenes they have worked so hard to perfect come to life. 

Joey believes what makes theatre important is what we take away from it. Since joining the theatre department, he stated, “I have learned that the connections you make can make you a better person and that no person is the same. You become one big family and never want to leave rehearsal.” 

He has gained so many positive lessons from it and says he now has been “given me the strength and courage to complete tasks on my own and problem solve through issues that adults mainly take care of, making it a better opportunity to grow, expand, and learn to handle issues as an adult.”