On March 22^nd and 23,^rd twenty-four students took the Rittman stage, portraying a collection of eccentric, heart-warming characters, including two star-crossed aristocrats-gone-pirate (newly dubbed “Captain Blood” and “Captain Huffenpuff”), the notorious Long John Sliver, and of course, Bluebeard himself. The cast, which featured many first-time, middle-school age actors, dedicated 50+ hours of after-school rehearsal time in preparation for the production. “My goal was for the students to grow throughout this experience, learn about the joy and impact of live performance and ultimately, have fun,” said Caitlin Pickard, the director. “It’s amazing for me to see the progress in this young cast, particularly in building foundations for a flourishing theatre program. They should be very proud.” The final result? A swashbuckling show that left audience members laughing and toe-tapping to a collection of catchy pirate shanties.