Batavia High School's Project Ensemble explores hope with original shows Nov. 5-7

What is hope? Why and how do we hope? Is hope felt, thought, or innate? Where would we be in a hopeless world?

Hope, according to the cast of Project Ensemble, is the little things. It's a new tree planted, a cup of coffee shared between friends, it's a bystander standing up for what they know is right. Hope is the relationships we have with those we love. Hope is honesty, joy grown from sadness, and it is courage in the face of fear. Hope is having faith in the sunrise when all you can see is darkness. Hope is also finding the stars beyond the blanket of night.

This original project by Batavia High School Productions looks at the world we currently reside through the lens of students. Have we lost hope? Do we give hope? Is there hope for our world? These are all questions asked through three different 35-minute performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursday to Saturday, Nov. 5-7.

Each night a different show with different themes revolving around hope in some way.

Can you find hope? To access the shows, go to bataviafineartscentre.org.

Tap on the "c+f=hope" banner and then tap on the video placement screen. You will be directed to sign in with your Google or Facebook account. Once this is completed, you will be ready to view the show. Please check out the "Donate to STAGE" button on the right. This is where you can make a donation to help support this show.

Suggested donation is the amount of a regular show ticket ($11-$14 per person). The show itself is free to stream.

Each performance will explore how hope means something different to each person, and we are all capable of feeling, having, and sharing. Like a flame passed from candle to candle, hope is shared. You can lose hope from time to time, but you can always relight your wick.

The student cast includes:

• Freshmen: LaNiya Friend and Drew Page

• Sophomores: Gemma Cohen, Ashlyn Garrity, Chloe Nelson, Clara Patterson, Maddie Vaja, and Ravyn Willuweit

• Juniors: Kayla Giesen, Desert McGarr, Ivan Pynn, and Zoe Weeks

• Seniors: Vivien Cohen, Thomas Hougen, Venessa Plourde, and Matthew Siekierski

The student crew includes:

• Freshman: Milo Samii

• Sophomore: Benjamin Budke

• Juniors: Seth Barter and Anna Hubbard

• Senior: Rudy Mix

The stage manager is senior Lauren Zeilstra, and the assistant stage manager is junior Gabrielle Samii.

The director is Dominic A. Cattero.