As October kicks off there are many SA festivities to engage in. Alongside homecoming and the much-anticipated Halloween costume parade, something else exciting is brewing: Sonoma Academy’s fall show! The Ballad Of Barbara Allen, or “BOBA”, as the cast calls it, is a moonlit love story with a haunting twist. This play is an adaptation of the production Dark of the Moon which was produced on Broadway in 1945. Versions of this story exist throughout the ancient world, from the water sprite Melusine in 13th century France, to the Valkyrie Brunhild and Siegfried in Norse myth, and the little mermaid and her prince in 19th century Denmark. It will challenge your comfort zone and is not recommended for young children. BOBA considers the ideas of tolerance, justice, religion, and pressures from relationships among opposing worlds. Our director, Jen Cote, comments:

“The Ballad of Barbara Allen addresses one of man’s most enduring questions: Can love overcome all obstacles? The lovers are from two different worlds. John, the Witch-boy, is willing to risk everything for the beautiful and independent mortal Barbara Allen. The forces arrayed against them are powerful, and the possibility of failure is high. Yet they persist in spite of seemingly insurmountable odds.”

Perfect for the spooky season, this play is set in the Smoky Mountains of Appalachia where witches and humans live in fear of each other. The Ballad of Barbara Allen explores what occurs when these worlds collide. 

Our new theater building is being built, and it just so happens that this will be our last show in the beloved Fitzsimmons black box theater. Director Jen Coté has expressed how much BOBA means to her because of that. Writing in her director’s notes she says, 

“It is fitting that the final show in the Fitzsimmons Black Box Theater is a revival. As we look to the future of performances in the new theater, we also honor the past by bringing to SA a tale of love, heartbreak, and hope that has endured in various forms for centuries.”

 The cast has been working hard every afternoon to prepare for our eight shows from October 26-29. We are now off-script and learning some folk songs alongside our band, to integrate traditional Appalachian music into our story. If you walk through the Fitz you will see the beginnings of an incredible set created by the tech team that will complete our forestry world. Tickets are now for sale for $10 each, so come support our production with your friends and family, a perfect way to get into the fall spirit!

Link to get your tickets for the Ballad of Barbara Allen: https://gofan.co/app/school/CA68821 

Production Team

Director: Jen Coté

Assistant Director: Maddie Castro ‘26

Music Director: Maddie Felton ‘24

Stage Manager: Juliette Coté ‘26

Scenic Design: Harper Clark ‘26 and Sam Farber ‘25

Costume Designers: My Mangahas ‘24 and Lu Eyler ‘25

Tech Team: 

Harper Clark ‘26

Sam Farber ‘25

Sebastian Pezzullo ‘26

Kaya Greer ‘25

Novi Greer ‘27

Ace Knox ‘26

Lulu Riley ‘25

Alec Singer ‘26

Violet Snow ‘27

Michael Taylor ‘26

Andrew Yang ‘26

Chloe Yang ‘27

Band and Music

Director: Daniel Reiter

 James Coté ‘24, Guitar

Maddie Felton ‘24, Fiddle

Josie Huber ‘26, Spoons

Tamar Knuth ‘26, Stand up Bass

Elias Lerner ‘26, Cello

Gus Miller ‘26, Washtub bass/washboard/musical saw

Tam Serber ‘24, Percussion

Luke Stenger ‘24, Dulcimer

Ben Wrightsman ‘26, Mandolin