A super show for a super competition series

What's furry, a superhero and enrolled in a semester at a public univeristy? Why the lead character of an Upper Cape show, of course!

Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical High School will be taking their show on the road, competing in the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild's annual theater festival Saturday, March 7. Students will be performing "Squirrel Girl Goes to College," a Marvel comic-based show. 

The festival requires schools to stage a one-act play lasting less than 40 minutes and perform in front of a panel of judges. Those competing have five minutes to set up the stage before the performance, adding another layer to the competition.

The show will be scored and compared to other schools with the top three placements moving on to semi-finals and then to state festivals. Fans back home can view the play before it heads off at a home show Thursday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.

Robert Genereau, drama advisor for Upper Cape, said that the students have responded well to the play. The plot is vastly different from what was performed last year, offering a more light-hearted comedy.

Genereau said that the show has a Greek chorus, which gave his students something new to play around with. 

"The festival is about educational theater. They're learning some of the other things that theater has— like a Greek chorus. It's a great way to teach them more than just putting on a production," he said. 

The show follows Doreen Green, Squirrel Girl, as she attempts to balance her freshman year at Empire State University, her computer science studies and her secret identity, all while facing Marvel villains like Dr. Doom.

With school vacation and then a massive blizzard back-to-back, Genereau said the timing of the competition has always been a struggle. From cast members being absent, to snow canceling important technical rehearsals, 2026's season is starting off rocky.

"We've been working around it as best we can," he said. "Tech week is where its all supposed to come together. Losing days is challenging."

However, Genereau said that other schools have echoed the same sentiments, which eased his worries. From fixing blocking and timing, the play is "in a really good spot."

"Our show length came in at 36.33 seconds," he said. "It has to be under 40, so we have time to spare."

That extra four minutes will come in handy, according to Genereau. With time to pause to have jokes land and for the audience to laugh, he said the students have set themselves up well and that the humor in the show still makes him crack-up after months of practice. 

A record snowstorm shuttered school for Upper Cape, canceling a planned home show for the students. The home show no longer happening put a road block in the way of production. Genereau said that performing for friends and family usually gives the students an opportunity to test that humor in front of a live audience and iron out the details before it heads off to competition.

The play face off at 1:30 p.m. at Joseph Case High School in Swansea on Saturday.