Theatre Aspen Education presents Harry Potter parody
High school play to run Thursday through Sunday

Nik House Media/Courtesy Photo
Theatre Aspen Education is in the midst of presenting their newest high school play: a Harry Potter parody.
Students performed in “Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic,” 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Aspen High School Black Box Theatre and will do so on three more occasions: 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m., Sunday.
The performance is a parody of the blockbuster series in that it follows the Hufflepuff house, arguably the least desirable house portrayed by author J.K Rowling, rather than Harry Potter, reframing the definitions of “heroism.”
“Not everyone is the hero and the chosen one,” Director Vanessa Strahan said. “But we’re all heroes in someone’s story.”
The play, written by Matt Cox, portrays Harry of Griffendor as dimwitted and oblivious, brandishing an extravagant wig and red mop to represent Hermione and Ron, according to Strahan. The Hufflepuffs in the story are just trying to get through their seven years at Hogwarts while chaos breaks loose around them.

“It’s a very silly show that pokes fun at all,” she said.
But the performance is also a good reminder to everyone that heroism manifests itself differently. Heroic value exists in qualies outside of typical heroism, such as standing up for one’s beliefs and finding value in relationships and community, Strahan said.
“So I hope that translates to how kids think about themselves in real life,” she said.
Strahan hopes these takeaways will allow students to expand from the tropes and roles many succumb to while in school, emphasizing the importance of “not letting the circumstances you’re in right now dictate whether what you have to offer is ultimately of value or not.”
Apart from the life lessons, nostalgia, and satire of the performance, the show poses a technical challenge for the students as they play multiple characters with multiple costume changes, Strahan said.

Tickets can be purchased online at theatreaspen.org/puffs or in person at the Black Box Theatre.
This season begins Theatre Aspen Education’s 42nd year of operations. Apart from organizing performances, the nonprofit compliments community events, such as late night cabarets and collaborates with Aspen arts organizations.
Skyler Stark-Ragsdale can be reached at 970-429-9152 or email him at sstark-ragsdale@aspentimes.com.
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