Behind the heavy green curtains of Plainfield East theater, seniors Adam Dills and Stephan Odoi listened to the audience and settled in their seats for “It’s A Wonderful Life”, which would be the final play of their high school career. The backstage chaos slowly turned into a precious moment from quick changes, calling line, and the nervous energy of each night as they prepared to step into the spotlight as George Bailey.
On opening night, Nov. 13, 2025, jitters ran high for Odoi, who played the lead role of George Bailey.
“I was terrified when I found out I was opening. At the time, I wasn’t fully prepared, and I didn’t feel like I was the character. However, as the day drew closer, when the curtains opened, everything had changed. I was confident; I knew my character and my mannerisms were on point. It’s a thrill that’s hard to describe,” said Odoi.
For Adam, who closed the show, emotions were just as deep.
“It’s honestly a mix of emotions. I’m incredibly proud of everything I’ve done here, but also a little sad knowing this is the last time I’ll get to experience a fall play at Plainfield East. At the same time, I’m grateful for the memories, the friendships, and all the growth these shows have given me. It’s bittersweet, but in the best way,” said Dills
While both actors brought their own interpretations to “It’s A Wonderful Life”, Dills found a deeper connection to George Bailey.
“I can relate to George Bailey in the sense that he always tries to put others first. I often find myself wanting to support the people around me-whether it’s castmates, friends, or classmates. George also deals with pressure and self-doubt at times, which is definitely something I understand. So yes, I would say I relate to him more than I expected,” said Dills.
For Odoi, though he couldn’t connect with George Bailey as much as Adam, he did find a connection with the cast.
“I learned that my love for acting is something powerful. Something that can be given to castmates, crew, the audience, my family, and friends. Love is meant to be shared, and what better way to share my love than by putting it on a stage for all to see?” said Odoi.
This was the first play Odoi had ever done with Plainfield East, and the last time he received a lead role was in eighth grade at John F. Kennedy Middle School, where he played Mufasa. Although he has a great connection with the cast this year, he wishes he had joined sooner to make more connections and enjoy more moments.
Julianna Herrera, a junior at Plainfield East who played Violet Peterson in “It’s A Wonderful Life,” has a tight bond with the seniors this year. She has learned and shared many things with them that she will never forget.
“One thing that really stuck with me from the senior class this year is to live in the moment. It can be so easy to get caught up in the struggles and stress of high school. This is especially true as the seniors, and I have shared participation in very time-consuming and pressuring extracurriculars. However, a key lesson I’ve learned is to take a step back and enjoy every minute of what you are doing. It goes away so fast, and some of the best moments are fleeting. So, focus on the present and the positives,” said Herrera.
The cast of “It’s A Wonderful Life” faced many challenges this year, with rehearsal schedules not allowing the full cast to be able to rehearse together sometimes, making it difficult for the actors and actresses to be in the momentum while rehearsing. This allowed many seniors to step up and lead their younger castmates, and it made Jenna Jeffirs, the fall play director, extremely proud.
Jeffirs will miss this year’s seniors. They all played a huge role in “It’s A Wonderful Life.”
“It feels bittersweet when the seniors leave. I know they are all off to bigger and better things; however, each group of seniors brings a quality that I always miss. In the case of this year, we were so lucky to have seniors who were amazing leaders. They really set an example for the underclassmen and mentored the younger classes,” said Jeffirs.
