On May 15th-18th of 2025, the Gresham High School Theatre Department performed its last show of the 2024-2025 school year, that being William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.
The play is a complex tragedy about the prince of Denmark wanting to avenge his father’s death, yet getting himself stuck in emotional spirals. It was written sometime between 1599 to 1602 and is known as one of the most famous out of Shakespeare’s plays, if not one of the most famous plays written in human history.
Below is a pre-opening night interview with the star of Gresham High School’s Hamlet, Terry Arnold Munoz, on what it was like to play, rehearse, memorize, and understand Hamlet the way he did, as well as what helped him become a talented high school actor and a star in our theatre department.
Mark: So Terry, what’s it like to play such a complex character such as Hamlet?
Terry: Well, I mean, at this point it’s kind of second nature to get into that headspace, but at the beginning of the process it’s much about analyzing the script and trying to find every little thing that presents itself.
Mark: What made you want to audition for Hamlet in the first place?
Terry: Well, I’m a junior, and I’ve been doing theatre since freshman year, so I’ve been around this area for a long time, and I really enjoy doing Shakespeare, it’s very compelling.
Mark: Tell us about the moment you found out you were cast as Hamlet!
Terry: I was at my friend Lauren’s house, and I got the email first, cause Mr. Joseph sends an email to everyone, and I’m always excited and rush when I get cast as anything! And then I found out that she was playing Ophelia, Hamlet’s love interest, and that was really exciting, too.
Mark: What was the first day of rehearsal like?
Terry: It was very giddy, the beginning of a new process. I always enjoy the first rehearsal, we have the energy, we’re laughing, playing around.
Mark: Have there been any obstacles or challenges along the way?
Terry: Yeah, taking on such a character, it can be difficult to get what you want right away, so in the rehearsal process we make choices and we’re doing these things that may not be in our comfort zone, especially in the early days of trying to find out how I wanted to interpret this character, and that was really difficult for me because I wanted to be perfect first try.
Mark: The thing with Hamlet and lots of Shakespeare’s plays is that they can be interpreted in many different ways. How are you planning to show the audience what Gresham High School’s interpretation has to offer?
Terry: Well, I think the most interesting thing about this interpretation of Hamlet is that it takes place in the 1920’s, and in my specific interpretation of Hamlet, I’m really interested in the grief. Throughout the show he tries to get revenge for his father’s death, and it purely starts out that way, but as the show progresses, it throws into this darker headspace that’s less about honoring his father and more about his want for revenge.
Terry: I’m really interested in the grief. Throughout the show he tries to get revenge for his father’s death, and it purely starts out that way, but as the show progresses, it throws into this darker headspace that’s less about honoring his father and more about his want for revenge.
Mark: What was it like having to memorize this 3 hour show?!?
Terry: Well, it definitely helped that the show was cut! Obviously, it’s still a huge workload. And really, it’s just spending as much time as you can hammering that in. I’ve played large Shakespearean roles before, but it doesn’t get any easier, really. You have to make time for yourself to take that on, and especially with those lines which are very confusing, it’s kind of finding a musicality to it. That helps me a lot with memorizing, finding a rhythm to it.
Mark: Have the Shakespearean roles you’ve played in the past helped you at becoming Hamlet?
Terry: Yes! I played Romeo last year, and that especially helped with this side of Hamlet that’s more innocent and passionate, because he’s a very passionate person. And playing Romeo really helped me with that because Romeo at his core is very passionate. And bringing that over to Hamlet helped me explore other things I wasn’t as comfortable with.
Mark: Is there any advice you’d give to someone who aspires to be an actor?
Terry: The advice I would give is very common, but if you want to succeed and you want to be involved then put in the work. Don’t waste your time. If you really do love this then just hammer at it and perfect. And ask questions, don’t just keep it to yourself.
Terry has also played many other roles in shows in the 2024-2025 school year, such as Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, Squirmy in One Acts, and even a fill-in for Peter and the Starcatcher.
Lots of other actors in the show have also played other roles in big plays in the past and have made a name for themselves in the theatre department.
Dylan Rodriguez, who played Claudius, the co-star of the show, also helped direct one of the one-acts earlier and played the human version of the beast in Beauty and the Beast. Winter Wolf, who played Hamlet’s mother, was also in one-acts and other theatre projects. Lauren Soulagnet, who played Ophelia, Hamlet’s love interest, also starred as Belle in Beauty and the Beast, helped direct a one-act, and more. Robin Moran, who played Laertes, played the beast in Beauty and the Beast and had a major role in Peter and the Starcatcher. The list goes on.
It just goes to show that the theatre department is more than just some extracurricular thing, and a community. Anyone can try to get involved!
