November 13, 2025, by Seward Folly Staff

The lights go up again this weekend on Seward Theatre Collective’s ambitious new production: The Two Noble Kinsmen, a rarely performed work woven by the hands of Shakespeare and John Fletcher. This show marks not only a bold artistic choice, but a passing of the torch as seventeen-year-old Evelyn “Evie” Bukac takes their first turn in the director’s chair, mentored all along by the Collective’s founder, Meegan Miller.

It’s a big moment for both and, by extension, for Seward’s growing arts scene. Meegan, who launched the collective (previously Seward High School Theatre Collective) after discovering an empty stage and an emptier theatre schedule back in 2022, has long dreamed of building something enduring for local students.

“It’s about the community before anything,” she says, and you can see that spirit in Evie, too, who keeps returning to the simple gratitude of having “a place” to belong.

Photo by Bohart Photography

Meegan says she handed over the reins with confidence: “Evie can do anything they put their mind to.”

For their directorial debut, Evie dug deep, reading over 50 plays, twelve by Shakespeare himself, before settling on The Two Noble Kinsmen. Maybe its low profile comes from being only half-Shakespearean, but, as Evie points out, John Fletcher was also a giant in his day. Inspired by a literature assignment, they wanted their cast to explore something classic and unexpected.

Photos by Bohart Photography

That cast is nothing if not diverse, with 23 students spanning elementary through high school, many of whom had never heard of Shakespeare when auditions rolled around in August. Since September, they’ve committed nine hours a week to rehearsal, recently ramping up to full days and longer evenings as opening night drew near. The effort goes well beyond the spotlight. Stage manager Benji Dixon, tech support Joel Williams, and an army of parent and community volunteers have shaped the light cues, built sets (on the repurposed graduation stage), and brought the story’s medieval trappings to vivid life. Jan Bukac and Blake Pullins wrangled lumber. Ordered costumes and a lush forest backdrop set the period.

But this theatre is more than a playhouse; it’s a living example of the arts in survival mode. When Meegan began, she found the old stage buried in storage. Since then, she’s managed on shoestring funding of just $600 from the district for Cinderella, and now, with budget cuts slashing her part-time theatre tech position, she works with a very small coaching stipend. The group relies on the Seward Arts Council umbrella for its nonprofit status and support through grants, community donations, and grassroots sales. Ticket revenue still goes to the district, so every bake sale, donation, and merchandise purchase at the show matters.

There’s also a bigger question at stake. Meegan, her cast, and Seward Education Advocates recently pressed the city council for a plan to safeguard the theatre’s future, suggesting that the city manage it, if the district can no longer sustain it: “This is a beautiful facility, and we risk losing something irreplaceable if we don’t step up now.”

What won’t be lost this weekend is the sense of connection, shared purpose, and the thrill of seeing classics reimagined through young eyes. If you want a reason to cheer for Seward’s talent and resilience, you’ve found it.

The Two Noble Kinsmen runs at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday — November 14 and 15 — with a matinee performance at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 16, at Seward High School Theatre. Tickets and donations can be found HERE. Don’t miss it.