It’s a classic coming-of-age story, with the main character’s journey at its heart. He begins his story wide-eyed and naïve but gradually matures through trials of courage, moral testing and survival. His decisions shape his character, marking a clear transition from adolescence to adulthood.

It is also the story of Eli Maloney ’25, taking his final bow on the Blair Academy stage after four years in the theatre department. It’s the story of veteran theatre directors and English teachers Craig and Kaye Evans, leading their final production before retiring after 30 years. And it’s the story of Jim Hawkins, the young protagonist of Treasure Island, navigating treachery and temptation on the high seas in this year’s spring play.

“It feels like a full circle moment for me,” Eli reflects. “The last character I’m playing at Blair is the one most similar to me.”

Mr. Evans knows a thing or two about full circle moments as well. The first play he directed at Blair—with his talented co-director, Mrs. Evans—was another Ken Ludwig classic, Lend Me a Tenor. Now, his final curtain call comes with Ludwig’s adaptation of Treasure Island, staged in the Robert J. Evans Open Air Theatre, which Mr. Evans built in honor of his father. The bookend to a legendary career that helped shape the hilltop’s performing arts for generations feels fittingly light-hearted, yet deeply meaningful.

Based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel, Treasure Island is the swashbuckling tale of pirates in pursuit of buried gold. Leading the cast is Eli as Jim Hawkins, a boy who comes into possession of a treasure map in England. He shares this secret with Squire Trelawney (Cat Zhang ’26) and Dr. Livesey (Ty Le Gates ’27). Together, they recruit the enigmatic, one-legged sailor Long John Silver (Matt Falsetti ’25) and set sail under Captain Smollet (Jimmy Gibbons ’26). On the island, they’re aided by the eccentric Ben Gunn (Megan Bacinski ’27), marooned for years since the treasure was hidden.

“The play and the original book have all of the elements we’ve come to associate with pirate tales,” says Mr. Evans. “A talking parrot, a wooden-legged man, a treasure map, and of course, a hero to perhaps save the day—or perish!” As Blair’s resident Peddie Week pirate, he would know.

The Blair Academy Players present Ken Ludwig’s Treasure Island May 16 and 17 at 7:30 p.m. in the Robert J. Evans Open Air Theatre. In the event of inclement weather, the performance will be held in the Wean Studio Theatre in Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students.