After Five Rousing Performances, “Puffs” Cast and Crew Takes a Bow
November 25, 2025
This weekend, the Thetford Academy Drama department wowed audiences with five rousing performances of the fall play “Puffs: Or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic.” The play, a parody of the Harry Potter series following “the other” students at a wizarding academy, is a joy-filled romp about making it through high school, finding yourself, and learning the value of true friendship.
TA’s production of “Puffs” was both immersive and impressive, the talented actors were supported by (or in many cases doubled as) skilled theater technicians – with lighting, sound, set, costumes, and choreography that brought the world of Puffs to life. Director Jeff Seabaugh noted in the program that the play was a true student production, with student creativity and choice behind every detail of the performance.
For those who were able to attend and enjoy it, and for those who weren’t, here are a couple of post-play angles on the performance:
PHOTO COLLECTION – by Dan Grossman
View volunteer photographer Dan Grossman’s set of photographs from the Sunday matinee performance: link to Dan’s SmugMug site.
DIRECTOR’S NOTES – by Jeff Seabaugh
“Directing Puffs with this incredible group of students has been one of the most joyful parts of our fall semester at Thetford Academy. Matt Cox’s play is fast, funny, and irreverent, but it’s also surprisingly heartfelt. Beneath the humor, it tells a story about identity, belonging, and discovering that heroism comes in many forms. For teenagers navigating the pressures and expectations of the real world, that message resonates deeply. Puffs reminds us that not everyone gets to be “the Chosen One”—and that’s more than okay. There is meaning and magic in simply showing up, supporting others, and doing your best with heart and honesty.
One of the most rewarding aspects of producing theatre at Thetford Academy is the tremendous agency our students have in shaping each show. This production, like all of ours, is truly built by them—every set piece, costume, prop, light cue, and technical choice has been imagined and executed by student designers and technicians. They collaborate in teams, they problem-solve, they take creative risks, and they learn to trust one another. The actors you see onstage today have also hammered wood, pulled costumes, programmed lights and sound effects, or organized props backstage.
This holistic approach to eduational theatre makes our productions more than performances; the students create community. Watching these students take ownership of the process—finding solutions, supporting each other, and growing more confident in their craft—is the real magic of the Thetford Academy Performing Arts Department. Puffs celebrates the value of teamwork, resilience, and embracing who you are, and I can’t imagine a better group of young artists to bring that message to life.”
~ Jeff Seabaugh, Performing Arts Teacher