Filling into their seats at the Allen Elizabethan Theatre sporting blankets and snacks, the Senior Class fell silent as the lights dimmed and the hunchbacked Richard III limped to center stage.

The Senior Class attended the annual Oregon Shakespeare Festival this past weekend in Ashland where they watched “Richard III,” “The Great Society” and the musical “Into the Woods.”

“I took away from this experience an understanding of different elements of theater,” senior Marie de Tomasi said. “I now have a deep appreciation for everything that actors do and what they go through to prepare for the role.”

The seniors also participated in a discussion with RJ Foster (Richmond) in “Richard III,” and took an actors workshop in which they discussed the Aristotle’s elements of drama.

“My highlight of the trip was the acting workshop,” senior Amanda Mah said. “All of the activities put me out of my comfort zone while giving me the opportunity to learn about the different components of a play.”