Meet the Artists of “The Wolves”

In Sarah DeLappe’s The Wolves, audiences are immersed in the high-intensity world of a suburban high school girls’ soccer team. Over six games and countless practices, these young women navigate the raw emotions of adolescence, from the pressures of competition to the complexities of friendship and identity. As the undefeated Wolves tackle both the challenges on the field and the trials of growing up, their rapid-fire conversations offer a window into their unfiltered thoughts on life, the world, and themselves. 

In this upcoming production, students take the lead, not only on stage but behind the scenes too! 

Cast members Angie Castillo, Charlotte Schaub, and Danuta Sikora share their experiences bringing these characters to life and what this story means to them. Learn more below.

What drew you to audition for The Wolves, and what aspect of your character do you find most relatable or challenging?

Angie: I auditioned for The Wolves because I’ve always wanted to be part of an FTT production, but I often let my fear of rejection get in the way. Since I’m a senior, I thought it was only right to give myself a chance and do it for me. I find that #46 and I share a lot of similar characteristics, especially in how we approach certain things. I’ve always felt on the outside of most activities, whether it’s sports or other performing arts programs, often due to differences in background or level of experience. I get intimidated when entering spaces that already have a set norm or established relationships. #46 has walked onto a team that’s been playing together since they were 7 years old, and she’s not from the U.S., making her an outsider in many ways. I deeply resonate with that. I often find myself in awkward situations or conversations, much like #46, even though I hate to admit it.

Charlotte: I have always been more of a singer/dancer, and I found this a great opportunity to work on my acting skills. When I was cast as #14, I was immediately drawn to how everything she did was based on what #7 was doing. Many high school girls fall under this trap of trying to impress others for the sake of status. I was able to relate that desperation to be liked by others to myself in high school. 

Danuta: I was drawn to the audition for The Wolves because I find that a play about women navigating their lives and relationships is really captivating, and I thoroughly enjoy sharing their experiences with audiences. As for my character, I think her relatability is in her ability to find humor in any situation, which is also rather challenging as there is still kindness and love within her endless mocking.

How has your understanding of teamwork and camaraderie been influenced by portraying a soccer team on stage?

Danuta: I have always understood teamwork to be constant support, even if that requires brutal honesty. Most importantly, teamwork relies on trust and care for those around you. I think portraying a soccer team has elevated my understanding of this as we explore this new kind of love language and teamwork that isn’t as “mushy” and loving. Instead, I have discovered that there can be camaraderie within these intense relationships that are communicated in a different way. To be able to talk to one another the way we do, which can be quite harsh at times, requires a different kind of trust and understanding of one another.

The play tackles a lot of intense and unfiltered conversations. How do you prepare for these rapid-fire exchanges, and what’s it like to deliver such raw dialogue?

Charlotte: This role was definitely a step out of my comfort zone when it came to the language in the play. When we first read through the script, however, I realized just how brilliantly this play was written in the way it sounds, just like how the girls in my school talked when I was in high school, and in a way, they still do now. While it feels harsh to deliver this dialogue, it feels real because of how much I heard this language every day in high school.

How does the energy of a live audience impact your performance, especially during the high-intensity scenes of the play?

Angie: I believe it clicks something for me. Immediately, the energy from the audience fuels me—I can feel it. It’s contagious, nervous excitement, not only from my castmates or teammates but also from the audience. It sets the tone and helps things fall into place, often enhancing my performance.

What has been the most rewarding part of working on The Wolves, both as an individual actor and as part of an ensemble?

Charlotte: Working with this amazing cast. I have not only learned so much from them, but I’ve felt so welcomed by them.

Can you share any memorable or surprising moments from rehearsals that have shaped your understanding of the play?

Charlotte: Every time we ran through a scene for the first time, we would sit in a circle and discuss what we noticed about it. This helped me to grow closer to not only my own character, but all the characters in the scene and its purpose in the narrative. We would also discuss beyond the script and what we believed happened in between scenes that are not shown in the show, which helped us to understand the relationships between characters throughout the show and how they change.

Danuta: A very memorable moment for me is when we were warming up for our rehearsal with some soccer practice. Even though we are not our characters and we are not actually a soccer team, as a cast, we were still able to naturally find this playfulness and intensity as we played. We competed, we cheered, and it really helped me understand the partnership between competition and support, which ultimately fed into my understanding of The Wolves team dynamic.

What do you hope audiences will take away from seeing The Wolves, especially in terms of its portrayal of youth on the brink of adulthood?

Angie: We are complex individuals who don’t always think things through. We say things in the moment, not fully understanding the weight or impact those words can carry. A lot of it stems from ignorance. While that’s no excuse, many of us, on top of being athletes and students, are also dealing with personal issues and battles that may not be obvious on the surface. I think the play portrays a great representation of youth and the harsh realities that we can be unkind at times, often because we don’t know how to communicate effectively or take the time to truly process our feelings and emotions. We’re quick to judge others, and I think that’s the difficult truth it reflects.

Has working on this play changed your perspective on any of the themes it explores, such as identity, competition, or the transition into adulthood?

Angie: As far as competition, I think it enlightened me. It truly gave me insight into what it means to be on a team. From an outsider’s perspective, I always thought there was a strong sense of community and family, which I so admired. But I realized that, like family, they too go through rough patches, where some might experience jealousy or anger towards one another. I had a very glorified view, but this experience showed me all aspects of it—not just the rainbows and butterflies version.

Charlotte: This play reminds me to try to be the best version of myself every day, because you never know what is going to happen. You never know who you’ll lose or who will come into your life, and you never know when you, yourself, will breathe your last breath.

What advice would you give to other students who might be interested in participating in future theater productions at Notre Dame?

Angie: DO IT!!! Don’t wait until your senior year—I deeply regret that I did. I’ve grown so much, from the initial audition to every small moment in rehearsal, where I find new breakthroughs with my characters or discover answers to questions that had completely gone over my head. The moment-to-moment work, the questions you’ll ask yourself, and the choices you’ll make are invaluable. The entire process of acting and the experience you’ll gain from being part of a production will be incredibly useful and worthwhile. So, DO IT!!!

As the cast and crew prepare for opening night, The Wolves serves as a powerful reminder of the intensity, passion, and vulnerability that define youth on the edge of adulthood. Through the lens of sport and camaraderie, this production shines a spotlight on the intricate balance between competition and connection, strength and sensitivity. The Notre Dame students lead the charge both on and off the field, and this rendition of The Wolves is poised to deliver a heartfelt and authentic portrayal of a generation finding its voice. 

*Please note that the photos featured in this article are from rehearsal—costumes/artistic elements subject to change prior to opening night.