“I’m rubber and you’re glue
What you say bounces off me and sticks to you
I exist only if observed
I am nothing without you!”

…And so begins Albuquerque Academy’s most recent theatre production, “The Theory of Relativity.” Directed by David Sinkus, the ninety minute show, shorter than many recent Academy musicals, still packed an emotional punch. Throughout the play, close to ten different storylines were explored, all tackling different relationships. With the complete cast and band remaining on stage for the entire show, this musical was distinctly different from others I have seen, at Academy or otherwise. The simpler set design and plot could easily have resulted in a dull 90 minutes, but instead it allowed each cast member to shine and convey their character’s story, keeping the audience thoroughly engaged.

Alexandra Raskin ‘25 and Addie Nayback ‘25 captured viewers’ hearts early on in their respective roles as Julie and Paul, a cat lover and her extremely allergic fiancee. Next came the only two plot lines that are seen three times throughout the musical. Catharine (Ann Greathouse ‘27 and Ivy Burdge ‘27) and her concerns of cleanliness regarding a cake made for her by the love of her life, and Adam (Noah Pocock Wood ‘25), who is trying–and failing–to understand love through the lens of pi.

The introduction of these storylines was followed by numerous songs depicting different characters dealing with love, loss and everything in between. My favorites were “The End Of The Line,” which follows two friends, Jenny (Aaliyah Apache ‘27 and Adelyn Haas ‘27) and Sara (Monica Dominguez ‘26), who are stuck with one another until “the end of the line” even as they bounce back and forth between who is more popular, and “Promise Me This,” where Mira, played by Kadiah Dragone-Gutierrez ‘26, continues to pursue her dreams despite the numerous tragedies she experiences. Other stand out performances included Quinn Ross ‘25 as Ryan, a college student who feels separated from the changes his family is facing back home; Dominic Rosner-Salazar ‘28 and Hayden Wagner ‘27 in the shared role of Anthony, who is trying to work up the confidence to talk to Jenny after he runs into her on the street; Loic Lewis-Kraitsik ‘25 as Oliver, who compares falling in love with Mike (Zachary Brown ‘26 and Sean White ‘27) to apples and oranges; and finally, Nori Kai Little ‘25 as Caroline, who is reeling from a broken heart. While each of these storylines explore distinct themes, they are all woven together in a final scene at the nail salon by the character Amy, played by Violet DeMoss ‘25, Shelby Horwitz ‘27 and Ella Thompson ‘26.

With so many plots, the musical could have easily become confusing. However, the simple yet clever stage design (done by Michael Argueta ‘25 and Ari Rosner-Salazar ‘25 and managed by August Steele ‘25) allowed the characters to convey their stories without the set distracting the audience. The only items on stage were a few large platforms, red chairs, and a projector. Each character had a different projection (designed by Alex Haskins ‘26) that helped the audience remember what theme they were associated with. The costumes (designed by Lilah Durbin ‘27), were also simple, but fit with each character’s personality perfectly. For instance, Julie sported a knit cat sweater for the entire show, which was a crucial part of her character. Finally, the program (designed by Ella Garcia ‘25), filled with references to different parts of the play, helped audience members follow along and remember which character was which.

However, my favorite part of the musical was the music itself. The band, conducted by Hovey Corbin, was on stage and playing for the entire show. They were truly amazing; each song felt completely different from the one before it, and yet they all fit together spectacularly well. Watching the band on stage was something I have never experienced in a musical before, but I would love to see more of it! It connected each song to the actors, which made the music feel like a living part of the show rather than just background. Speaking of the actors, their musical talents cannot be overstated. This show had a particularly large number of solos, and each one was carried out perfectly. Since there was less movement occurring while each actor was singing, the lyrics and melody became the shining star of each scene.

“The Theory of Relativity” can easily be counted as another success for the Albuquerque Academy Performing Arts Department. While simpler on the surface, it is in the details that this musical stands out. Whether it be costumes, characters, or bright red chairs, the actors, band, and tech crew truly brought each story to life and had the audience falling in love with characters after just one scene with them. I think it is safe to say that by the end of those ninety minutes, the audience was “nothing without them” as well!