Featured Story
Three St. Luke's Theater Productions This Spring
From St. Luke’s faculty John Conners, Dale Griffa, Leo Mahler, and Beth Manspeizer:
Theater is by its nature a communal experience. Unlike visual arts, literature, or cinema, the performing arts depend on the live interaction between the artist and their audience. Throughout history, war, politics, and religion have all forced theater to go underground. However, it has always survived. People have a need to come together for a shared experience, and theater artists and audiences have always found ways to adapt. Now, we are facing a new challenge – how do we commune without being in the same space? Thanks to technology, we are able to adapt once again. Artists around the world are finding new ways to tell their stories. For the SLS Department of Theater Arts, it was always a question of “how,” and not “if.”
Process:
“This is such a collaborative experience for all of us! We’ve really leaned into the chaos of our first online production, and the cast and crew are having a ton of fun brainstorming and problem solving for the show. The team is constantly trying out new ideas, using space in creative ways and thinking outside the box (or outside the camera frame) to pull props and costumes out of everyone’s own home. The cast brings so much energy and personality to the script, and it has been particularly special for our young actors to work closely with student director Laura Mercedes, ‘20.” - Leo Mahler
St. Luke’s Theater Company
26 Pebbles
By Eric Ulloa
Synopsis:
Set in Newtown, Connecticut, 26 Pebbles is a documentary theater-style play about the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. A story of a community sharing their love for their town, understanding a horrific tragedy, learning to process the events that happened and unfolded subsequently, and eventually learning to heal.
Process:
“The SLTC has worked to explore their multiple characters and to understand the importance of sharing a collective experience such as this, while continuing to work as an ensemble. Our play will be done in the style of a documentary film. We are delighted to use the medium of film and Zoom to creatively express this poignant story. We look forward to sharing it with you in late May.” - Beth Manspeizer
Back
Theater is by its nature a communal experience. Unlike visual arts, literature, or cinema, the performing arts depend on the live interaction between the artist and their audience. Throughout history, war, politics, and religion have all forced theater to go underground. However, it has always survived. People have a need to come together for a shared experience, and theater artists and audiences have always found ways to adapt. Now, we are facing a new challenge – how do we commune without being in the same space? Thanks to technology, we are able to adapt once again. Artists around the world are finding new ways to tell their stories. For the SLS Department of Theater Arts, it was always a question of “how,” and not “if.”
Each of these teams has adapted and found a way to tell a story to our community. Stories are important, and coming together to tell and hear them is even more important now. We hope you can join us, so we have the shared experience of watching together.
Upper School Play:
The Imaginary Invalid Saturday, May 16 5:00pm*
By Moliere, Co-Adapted by Oded Gross and Tracy Young, Music by Paul Prendergast, Lyrics by Oded Gross, Tracy Young and Paul Prendergast
(*updated start time)
The Imaginary Invalid Saturday, May 16 5:00pm*
By Moliere, Co-Adapted by Oded Gross and Tracy Young, Music by Paul Prendergast, Lyrics by Oded Gross, Tracy Young and Paul Prendergast
(*updated start time)
Synopsis:
The wealthy, caustic Argan is convinced he is chronically and deathly ill. His greedy doctors concur, of course. They prescribe all sorts of cures: leeches, tonics, poultices and enemas. As a way of saving money on medical bills, Argan has conspired to marry his daughter off to an up-and-coming medical student. Unfortunately, his daughter has her heart set on someone else and comedic chaos ensues.
The wealthy, caustic Argan is convinced he is chronically and deathly ill. His greedy doctors concur, of course. They prescribe all sorts of cures: leeches, tonics, poultices and enemas. As a way of saving money on medical bills, Argan has conspired to marry his daughter off to an up-and-coming medical student. Unfortunately, his daughter has her heart set on someone else and comedic chaos ensues.
Process:
“It has been an interesting process of taking a stage production and moving it to a TV style production. The cast has been so enthusiastic during rehearsals and is looking forward to this new way of performing for the St. Luke’s community.” - Dale Griffa
“It has been an interesting process of taking a stage production and moving it to a TV style production. The cast has been so enthusiastic during rehearsals and is looking forward to this new way of performing for the St. Luke’s community.” - Dale Griffa
Middle School Play:
15 Reasons NOT To Be In a Play
By Alan Haehnel
15 Reasons NOT To Be In a Play
By Alan Haehnel
Synopsis:
Don’t put on a play. Just don’t do it! Who knows what terrible disaster could happen if you do? And remember the last time you were in a play, and how bad that was? And besides, plays are scary and sad and silly, and the costumes are weird and itchy and silly, and there are just so many words involved! It’s just a terrible idea. Come and learn about some very compelling reasons why plays are the WORST and you should never put one on. EVER.
Don’t put on a play. Just don’t do it! Who knows what terrible disaster could happen if you do? And remember the last time you were in a play, and how bad that was? And besides, plays are scary and sad and silly, and the costumes are weird and itchy and silly, and there are just so many words involved! It’s just a terrible idea. Come and learn about some very compelling reasons why plays are the WORST and you should never put one on. EVER.
Process:
“This is such a collaborative experience for all of us! We’ve really leaned into the chaos of our first online production, and the cast and crew are having a ton of fun brainstorming and problem solving for the show. The team is constantly trying out new ideas, using space in creative ways and thinking outside the box (or outside the camera frame) to pull props and costumes out of everyone’s own home. The cast brings so much energy and personality to the script, and it has been particularly special for our young actors to work closely with student director Laura Mercedes, ‘20.” - Leo Mahler
St. Luke’s Theater Company
26 Pebbles
By Eric Ulloa
Synopsis:
Set in Newtown, Connecticut, 26 Pebbles is a documentary theater-style play about the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. A story of a community sharing their love for their town, understanding a horrific tragedy, learning to process the events that happened and unfolded subsequently, and eventually learning to heal.
Process:
“The SLTC has worked to explore their multiple characters and to understand the importance of sharing a collective experience such as this, while continuing to work as an ensemble. Our play will be done in the style of a documentary film. We are delighted to use the medium of film and Zoom to creatively express this poignant story. We look forward to sharing it with you in late May.” - Beth Manspeizer
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 40 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Leading with Humanity curriculum builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
