Wouldn’t it be weird to pretend to be in love with your best friend? But for seniors Weston Paskewich and Julia Beaver it’s not because they are best friends.

The pair plays the lead love interests in North Penn Theatre’s fall play As You Like It, and they also work closely as activities and events co-coordinators for North Penn Thespian Troupe 5464. This has helped the pair learn each other’s work ethic and style.

“Me and Weston have worked together a lot, I think it makes it easier because we both know each other’s work ethic and style. We complement each other well because we’ve had a lot of experience working together,” Beaver explained.

Their on stage relationship first started this summer at Creative Edge Center of the Arts production of Footloose. Beaver played Ariel Moore who is the rebellious daughter of the reverend that is interested in Ren McCormack played by Paskewich.

“In Footloose, we played Ren and Ariel. It was our first time working together in a romantic way,” Paskewich stated.

But their personal relationship goes way back to elementary school.

“Julia and I went to elementary school together. But we didn’t get close until high school. Since then we have been able to work with each other frequently,” Paskewich said.

While the pair works closely on the stage, they also are partners in the thespian world.

“We coordinate the games we play at the GMM which is super fun and we try to get everyone excited. We also coordinate events to promote bonding and community in the troupe. So recently we organized a clothing drive and it was awesome to see our community come together to help the less fortunate,” Beaver described.

This fall North Penn Theatre is producing Will Shakespeare’s As You Like It where Beaver plays Rosalind and Paskewich plays Orlando. The pair fall in love but go through a series of trials and tests in order to be together.

“I play Rosalind in As You Like It, and she falls in love with Orlando,” Beaver explained

“In As You Like It I play Orlando. He is the son of Rowland de Boys, who’s dead. But he finds Rosalind at a wrestling match and immediately falls in love with her like love at first sight,” Paskewich stated.

Working closely together in so many ways has taught the pair each other’s professionalism.

“It’s super cool to work closely alongside your friend for so many activities because since we’ve done so much together we’ve gotten used to each other,” Beaver said.
Beaver and Paskewich value each other as friends and coordinators. They have had much success on and off the stage with Theatre & Thespians and they are going to achieve so much this year.

“Weston is a great partner on and off the stage. I’m glad I’ve had many opportunities to work with him,” Beaver complimented.

“Julia is the coolest person I’ve ever met and I’m so happy I get to work with her in so many ways,” Paskewich noted.