Lake Braddock’s thespians convened on the afternoon of Sept. 8 for theater information, games and most importantly, the announcement of this coming year’s theater season. Lake Braddock Theatre, informally known as LBT, is entering its 42nd year of performances. This season’s lineup consists of 1984 in the fall and Rumors in the spring, in addition to their “laboratory” winter production of Fully Committed and the one-act productions, De Dondé and Of Mice and Men.

After a brief slideshow hinting at a performance of Much Ado About Nothing with a Guardians of the Galaxy twist, theater director R.L. Mirabal revealed the actual performances that LBT will be showing this year. But that wasn’t the biggest surprise of the afternoon. Mirabal told the applauding audience that the Cappies show will be performed in the fall instead of its usual spring showing. The Cappies, a group of student theater critics, attend the season’s best show. In this case, it is 1984, a story about a rebel in a totalitarian, dystopian world.

“I decided to take the earlier Cappies slot,” Mirabal said. “So I wanted something that would draw everyone in. 1984 will do that.”

The theater participants were as excited as Mirabal and his executive board had hoped they would be. As the video announcement unfolded, the clapping and cheering did not stop.

“This season is gonna kill,” said senior Levi Meerovich, cast as O’Brien in 1984. “We have three shows that will utilize this year’s talent.”

Another lead, senior Marissa Chaffee (portraying Julia in 1984), shared Meerovich’s excitement.

“It is going to be stellar,” Chaffee said. “I think that since we have such a big new cast…It’s going to be awesome.”

The executive board was delighted with the season’s program as well.

“I’m really excited,” junior Kyle Dannahey said. “I think it’s gonna be our best season in awhile.”

The group spoke animatedly about the performance of 1984 in particular. 1984, based off a novel with the same name by George Orwell, has become iconic in the world of government surveillance and security.

“You read it in English, and now it’s on stage,” junior Idan Woodruff said.

Auditions for 1984 were held on Sept. 15, and the cast list was finalized on Sept. 19.

“[Auditions] were really interesting because I didn’t realize how much of a range some people had,” said stage manager Tonia Tempesta, senior. “I was really surprised. I thought they went really great.”

After the initial read-through, Meerovich’s excitement did nothing but grow.

“I loved hearing everyone take on all their roles. The cast sounds great, and I know this show is gonna be awesome,” Meerovich said. “We’re gonna be putting in a lot of work to make sure it will be the very best it can.”