This week, more than 100 Barrington High School students will take the stage for a production titled "Unified Worldwide." The show is set for Friday, Feb. 10 at 6 p.m at the school. 

The show centers on the theme "vacations" — each scene will showcase a different type of vacation. The production (and the unified theater program) is completely inclusive — all students are invited to participate, including some with special challenges.

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Lindsay Daugherty was just a freshman when she helped bring the unified theater program to Barrington High School. Now Lindsay is a senior, and the program she helped build has become a popular pursuit for students of all capabilities. 

"The cast gets together and writes the scenes collaboratively," she said. "It gives every student the chance to be involved… If you want to sing, you can write that into the scene."

Lindsay said Unified Theater also offers something the Unified sports teams cannot — students who have physical limitations that may impede their participation in basketball or volleyball can get fully involved with Unified Theater. 

"There is no distinguishing between ability or anything else," she said. 

Lindsay said this year's production promises to be a memorable one. She said rehearsals have gone along very smoothly: "It's looking much more put together than before. This year it's coming together really nicely. People are really dedicated."

Lindsay said she may have a cameo role in one of the scenes but otherwise plans to serve as the producer, working hard behind the scenes to make sure everything runs well. 

Lindsay has been dedicated to the Unified Theater program since her freshman year when she brought it to Barrington. She first learned of Unified Theater through an email from Trinity Rep. She reached out to the theater company and worked hard with local school officials to gain permission to bring Unified to Barrington. 

Her hard work paid off and the program has blossomed over the years. Three years ago, BHS Unified had 35 students. That number increased to 80 last year, and this year about 100 students are involved.

Meanwhile, Lindsay has helped ensure that the program continues even after she graduates in the spring. She said there are six student leaders — three seniors and three juniors— who work with a faculty advisor. The juniors shadow the seniors and will take their spots the following year.

Lindsay said her experiences with Unified have been very rewarding.

"Unified Theater is probably the most important thing I've gotten out of the high school," said Lindsay, who will attend Yale University next year. "Looking at back at how I've learned at Barrington High School — one of the best ways is that Barrington has given me the freedom to take the reigns on programs like this. It's kind of crazy. I was a freshman when I started this."

Admission to the show is free; donations are welcome.

Cast and Crew

Faculty advisor: Elaine Varone

Producer: Lindsay Daugherty

Director: Lizzie Iserson

Stage Manager: Thad Lentz

Musical Director: Cami Crisco

Inclusion Specialist: Izzy Portugali

Assistant Producer: Ethan Ames

"Cruise"— Cami Crisco
Tess Barry, Petra Bertoncini, Katherine Davis, Jack Deluca, Lilly Dunphy, Caleigh Durkin,  Matt Hamilton, Jack Hoder,   Connor McDermott, Michael Riley, Morgan Spears, Maia Villarica

"Safari"— Lizzie Iserson

Mia Amoroso, Catherine Callaghan, Bella Cesseretti, Corina Drimbarean, Clare Gaffney, Haley Gallegos, Sydney Hoover, Victoria Jenkins, Perry Labelle, Jake Lentz, Grace Noey, Tobias Rein

"Road Trip" — Nicole Demopoulos

Jane Amendelora, Olivia Bennett, Alyssa Borden, Cameron Buffum, Erin Coffey, Cali Diehl, Kaylee Feather, Lina Goncalves, Mikaya Lane, Michael Pfeffer, Michael Sangiuliano

"Camping" — Izzy Portugali

Lexi Brenner, Giovanni Cicione, Sara Coffey, Katelyn DeAngelis, Marina Domenici, Will Dreier, Elias Hastings, Ellen Murphy, Adam Portugali, Caleb Shea, James Smith, Cassie Taylor

"Stay-Cation" — Megan Mahoney

Symmi Auber, Piper Broomhead, Elizabeth Lewis, Beatrice McConville, Angelique Mendes, Julia Murray, Daniel Parant, Jenna Scarella, Hayley Testa, Molly West 

"Beach" — Abby Foster
Nicole Brown, Harrison Browne, Ben Conway, Zachary Obel-Omia, Christian Odjakjian, Hope Robertson, Cooper Sciotto, Celia Surarski, Hannah Weinstein 

"Ski" — Emilia Dell’Antonio
Graciana Angelini, Camille Brousseau, Alexy Carolan, Isabella Cole, Jacob Coleman, Anna Coogan, Andrea Dan, Bryn MacGillivray, Lauren O'Cain, Anna Robertson, Ashleigh Shuman, Kaley Swintak

"Space-Cation" — Ethan Ames
Max Blane, Rachel Cross, Julia Ducharme, Sapha Mabrouk, Elias MacGilvary, Faith May, Kieren McManus, Sophia Mecca, Sean Muldoon, Colton Pattie, Maddie Sevin, Aly Vetromile

"Museum" — Thad Lentz

Aidann Clegg, Abby Craun, Hayley Gasbarro, Carly Johnson, Parker Kirkwood, Ian Mellen, Galen Nordhoff, Grace Nordhoff, Jordynn Palethorpe, Ethan Roderick

Crew — Antonio Campomanes, Matt Child, Eric Fitzgerald, Owen Gordon, David Jarret, Sienna Johnson, Thad Lentz, Oliver Manlove, Julia Murray, Adam Portugali, Anna Robertson, Matt Scarella, Alyssa Tuttovene, Hope Vetromile

The Band—  Alligator and the Dimebag Boys: Hayden Carr-Loise, Ben Greene, Ben McCormick, Troy Prebenda, Matt Zucconi