It’s 1987 at a diner in Seattle, when the curtain rises on the play, “Out of the Blue.” The movie “Back to the Future” had captivated audiences two years earlier, and Tom Cruise as a fighter pilot in “Top Gun” had made leather bomber jackets ubiquitous across the country.
After a frantically busy night at the diner, an anxious waitress and her friend find a love note from a secret admirer and set about to discover its author.
That could well be describing the latest performance on a stage at Key West’s Red Barn Theatre or Waterfront Playhouse — or Broadway. But it’s not.
Key West High School senior Lillian Andrew wrote “Out of the Blue.” She’s also the director and stage manager for the high school theater class’ performance, which takes place Friday and Saturday, Jan. 16 and 17 at the KWHS auditorium.
The cast includes 13 students but involves dozens more who worked on set design, sound, lighting, music, props and wardrobe. Yes, a bunch of kids born between 2007 and 2011 were tasked with recreating ’80s fashion choices. Fortunately, high school theater teacher Rebecca Bertucci could evaluate the authenticity of wardrobe choices.
When speaking with Andrew, it’s easy to forget she hasn’t yet finished high school. A soccer player since she was little, she initially dismissed extracurricular clubs and activities.
“I was into soccer and dance, not any of the clubs, like drama, or anything,” she recalled, acknowledging her own misguided indifference. “But then I tried the drama club my freshman year, and I took theater class my sophomore year and was hooked.”
Something clearly clicked, as Andrew was accepted by and will attend the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London, England next year to study stage management — a role that clearly suited her during a recent Monday afternoon rehearsal that found her wearing a headset, overseeing mic checks with the student sound techs and adjusting the stage crew’s placement of set pieces that include a diner booth, counter seats and a hostess stand. She was also head of casting. But she is quick to share credit with her classmates, including set designer Charlie Kenna; costume designer Tina Rodriguez; audio master Jax Thurston; prop master Alex Buscemi; and stage managers Finn Ross, Rocky Harris, Amelia Korzen and Jadelyn Thurston.
“I started writing the play in December 2024 with just a synopsis in a notebook,” she said. “Then the next night I actually started developing the characters.”
Having grown up in Oregon, Andrew moved to Key West when she was 12, but still had relatives in Seattle, a city she adored. “I knew I wanted it set in Seattle in the ’80s.”
When faced with a fast-approaching opening night, her confidence gave way to a bit of nerves.
“I’m afraid I may have set expectations too high,” she said. “It’s still a high school theater production.”
But then again, “If it’s truly good, then I’d love to get it to a point where the rights to ‘Out of the Blue’ can be sold and it can be performed by other high schools and theaters everywhere.”
For tickets and more information, find “Out of the Blue High School Play” on Facebook.
