Whether the actors are screaming, crying, dancing, or frolicking around with berries and biscuits, Laguna Beach High School’s fall play, Emma, continues to stun audiences. With the 2025-26 theater season now underway, students and cast alike are celebrating the show’s successful run. While some audience members have already experienced the performance, others still have a chance to see it before closing night.
This comedic play, adapted by Kate Hamill, takes on the classic novel and is not only captivating but hysterically funny as it follows Emma Woodhouse, a young woman dealing with all things matchmaking; her new friend, Harriet; and her childhood friend and neighbor, Mr. Knightley, who can always be found arguing with Ms. Woodhouse. The play is filled with twists and turns that keep audiences on their toes.
Cast member and senior Dane Swanson, who plays Frank Churchill, is a newcomer to the stage this year. Swanson said he is overjoyed to have joined the theater program because “the community is so welcoming and kind.” He’s made many new friends and can’t wait for everyone to see how fun and lively the show is. When asked about his favorite part, he mentioned the “silly, comedic things” his character does — some of which may or may not include meowing.
Junior Luke Donaldson, who you may have seen as Dwayne in LBHS’s 9 to 5, shares that same excitement. Donaldson loves the rehearsal process, saying the nine-week journey is long but “so much fun.” His favorite part comes at the end, when “after all the hard work, memorization and learning about your character, everything comes together and starts to work to become a show.”
Senior Arianna Cunningham, a seasoned theater member who played Kenosha in last year’s Trap and Myra Meneke in Holes, now takes on the role of Jane Fairfax. She encourages everyone to try theater, saying it’s one of the most supportive communities you can find. “Even if people think it’s nerdy, it builds your confidence,” she said. Her favorite moment is the final scene of Act One, which she describes as “a fun scene that raises the stakes because there’s so much drama and tension.”
Senior Sam O’Neill, another veteran performer, plays Mrs. Weston in the show. You may recognize them from Holes (as Magnet), Mean Girls (as Kevin G), Trap (as Real Kenosha) or 9 to 5 (as Roz). Outside of school, O’Neill has also performed with the Laguna Playhouse Youth Theatre for the past eight years. They describe theater as “a safe space for everyone,” saying the company truly becomes a family after spending more than 100 hours together rehearsing.
If you haven’t seen it yet, there’s still time to catch this heartwarming and hilarious production of Emma. Make sure to get your tickets before the curtain comes down for the last time.
All performances:
Oct. 24 (7 p.m.)
Oct. 25 (2 p.m. and 7 p.m.)
Oct. 30 (7 p.m.)
Nov. 1 (2 p.m. and 7 p.m.)
Tickets are only sold on GoFan (ticket link).