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Meet Our Donors

Tributes

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Our Tributes

Performers

Charlotte Black

*

Marie Curie/Clerk

Mariann Burgos-Ramirez

*

Dr. Von Sochocky

Julia Clemmons

*

Photographer/ Customer/ Dialpainter/ Resident of Orange, New Jersey

Chase Croft

*

Aaron Schultz

Ava Curtis

*

Irene Rudolph

Elliott Davidoff

*

Society Woman/ Ms. Middleton/ Dial Painter

Anderson Davies

*

Tom Krieder

Rachel Dowling

*

Mrs. MacNeil

Aly Elsonbaty

*

Raymond Berry

Kamden Feth

*

Mrs. Fryer/Ensemble

Mariana Oliveira Gandin

*

Grace Fryer

Sophia Gegg

*

Kathryn Schaub

Daniel Goebel Guzmán

*

Arthur Roeder

Sarah Jordan

*

Sob Sister

Amelia Lusk

*

Dr. Drinker/Judge/Dialpainter

Jaxon McCormick

*

Charlie Lee

Carrington Meyer

*

Serena

Noor Nawaz

*

Ensemble/Willamina Bailey

Saavan Ohri

*

Reporter Jack Youngwood

Thor Reed

*

Dr. Knef

Caroline Schools

*

Harriet Roeder/ensemble

Dominic Tarantino

*

Edward Markley

Kendyl Taylor

*

Stage Manager

Abby Walsh

*

Mrs. Michaels

Setting

RADIUM GIRLS is a work of historical fiction. Although it is based on events that occurred in and around Orange, New Jersey, between 1918 and 1928, the characters and incidents portrayed have been shaped to serve the drama. Certain characters are entirely fictitious and others are based on multiple individuals.

Songs & Scenes

Act I
Scene 1
U.S. Radium Plant, 1918
Scene 2
Streets of Orange, New Jersey
Scene 3
U.S. Radium Plant
Scene 4
Fryer’s Residence
Scene 5
Roeder’s Office
Scene 6
Streets of Orange, New Jersey
Scene 7
Health Department
Scene 8
Roeder’s Residence
Scene 9
Dr. Knef’s Dental Office/Roeder’s Office
Scene 10
Fryer’s Residence/Roeder’s Office
Scene 11
Woman’s Club of Orang
Act II
Scene 1
Streets of Orange, New Jersey, 1927
Scene 2
Berry’s Office
Scene 3
Hospital
Scene 4
U.S. Radium Boardroom
Scene 5
Berry’s Office
Scene 6
Streets of Orange, New Jersey
Scene 7
Roeder’s Residence
Scene 8
Streets of Orange, New Jersey
Scene 9
Fryer’s Residence
Scene 10
U.S. Radium Plant
Scene 11
Fryer’s Residence
Scene 12
Von Sochocky’s Residence
Scene 13
Courtroom
Scene 14
Streets of Orange, New Jersey
Scene 15
Cemetery in Orange, New Jersey

Production Staff

Director
BambiEllen Fadoul
Technical Director
Nick Prowse
Lighting Designer
Grant Key
Wig Design
Marylou Neal
Stage Manager
Lily Redman
Assistant Stage Manager
Maria Fernanda Franck Braga
Light Board Operator
Crispin Caines
Spotlight Operators
Hiyada Bakeer Rogerio Szuster
Audio Board Operator
Riley McKenzie
Audio 2 Que Lab Operator
Neela McLein
Prop Master
Keira Beggrow
Media Crew
Avni Patil Vitoria Sampaio Zainab Shamim
Costume Crew
Zara Lwin Camila Couto Montenegro Brandão Tavares Truc Thanh Tran
Deck Crew
Keira Beggrow Maria Julia Appolonio Rocha Evangelina Gourevitch Nicolas Humphrey Zara Lwin

Venue Staff

School Administration Staff

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Musicians

No items found.

Board Members

Student Advisory Board

Credits

Lighting equipment from PRG Lighting, sound equipment from Sound Associates, rehearsed at The Public Theater’s Rehearsal Studios. Developed as part of Irons in the Fire at Fault Line Theatre in New York City.

Special Thanks

*Appearing through an Agreement between this theatre and Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

Actors’ Equity Association (“Equity”), founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 actors and stage managers, Equity fosters the art of live theatre as an essential component of society and advances the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits, including health and pension plans. Actors’ Equity is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an International organization of performing arts unions. www.actorsequity.org

United Scenic Artists ● Local USA 829 of the I.A.T.S.E represents the Designers & Scenic Artists for the American Theatre

ATPAM, the Association of Theatrical Press Agents & Managers (IATSE Local 18032), represents the Press Agents, Company Managers, and Theatre Managers employed on this production.

Message from Director of Fine Arts

Thank you for joining us here in our Cypress Center for the Arts. We are grateful for your presence in our beautiful Dr. Thomas L. Marcy Theater. By being here today, you graciously show your support for our students, directors, technicians and for the arts as a whole. Our productions are an extension of the classroom and display the excellence that our students are being exposed to each day at Windermere Preparatory School. We hope you are able to truly experience the magic of theatre and thank you again for being an advocate of the arts!

Rosemarie Redman

Director oF Fine Arts

Cast
Creatives

Meet the Cast

Charlotte Black

*

Marie Curie/Clerk
(
)
(
)
Pronouns:

Charlotte Black is currently a sophomore at Windermere Prep. Performing on the high school stage for the first time, she is excited to be a part of Raduim Girls as Madame Curie this semester and is looking forward to taking part in Legally Blonde next semester. She is also looking forward to competing in the District Five Thespian competition as a member of the one-act crew and also being a part of the large group musical along with other events she plans on taking.

Mariann Burgos-Ramirez

*

Dr. Von Sochocky
(
)
(
)
Pronouns:

Mariann is a junior at Windermere Prep who developed a passion for performing since fourth grade. In addition to being an IB Diploma student, Mariann is a member and elected secretary of Thespian Troupe 6902 and the junior class Student Government as well as vice president of the Health Occupation Students of America club at WPS and a member of the Girl’s Weightlifting team. Past credits at WPS include: Ensemble in Curtains and Bye Bye Birdie as well as Mrs. Gardiner in Pride and Prejudice.

Julia Clemmons

*

Photographer/ Customer/ Dialpainter/ Resident of Orange, New Jersey
(
)
(
)
Pronouns:

Julia Clemmons, a freshman at Windermere Prep, is excited to be a part of Radium Girls. She has been in the WPS theatre program since 2nd grade and hopes to continue acting through high school. Julia was also an officer of the middle school thespian troupe and is looking forward to getting involved with Troupe 6902 this year. Some of her past roles at WPS include ensemble in Mary Poppins and Rock of Ages. She was also in a production of Mean Girls at Theatre South Playhouse, as an ensemble member.

Chase Croft

*

Aaron Schultz
(
Fritz
)
(
Fritz
)
Pronouns:

Chase is a Sophmore at Windermere Prep and is thrilled to be a part of Legally Blonde. Chase has loved the stage ever since he first stepped on at the age of 7. He was recently seen on stage at Windermere Prep as Oscar in Curtains and Charley in Charley's Aunt. He is excited to see what the future has in store and plans to enjoy every second he gets to spend on stage.

Ava Curtis

*

Irene Rudolph
(
)
(
)
Pronouns:

Ava Charlotte Curtis is sophomore at WPS and is thrilled to be back on the stage. Past credits at WPS include Georgiana Darcy in PRIDE & PREJUDICE, Ela Delahay / Kitty Verdun in CHARLEY'S AUNT, and ensemble in CURTAINS. She received top honors for her duet scene at Thespians districts, and Third Place at the ESU Shakespeare Competition. Ava is also a member of Thespian Troupe 6902 and the WPS ModelUN Club. She is grateful for the amazing BambiEllen Fadoul and the WPS Fine Arts department, and also Sarah Dobbs, Matt Morgan, Lauren Langa and Britney Noltimier. Thanks to her family and friends for their love and support. 

Elliott Davidoff

*

Society Woman/ Ms. Middleton/ Dial Painter
(
)
(
)
Pronouns:

Elliott is a sophomore at Windermere Prep and is excited to participate in Radium Girls! She is a proud member of Troupe 6902 and has been a part of the WPS Theatre Program since 2016. Some shows she has been in include The Sound of Music, The Little Mermaid, 13 The Musical, Pride and Prejudice, and Curtains! She will also be in the cast for this year's competitive one-act, The Servant Of Two Masters!

Anderson Davies

*

Tom Krieder
(
)
(
)
Pronouns:

Anderson Davies is a senior at WPS and excited to finish his final year through theater. He is involved in Troupe 6902, being the treasurer, and is the Executive Board president of SGA. In the past, he has played roles such as Mr. Green in Clue, Bobby in Curtains, and Jack in the one act Charley's Aunt.

Rachel Dowling

*

Mrs. MacNeil
(
)
(
)
Pronouns:

Rachel is in her sophmore year at Windermere prep and is so excited to be a part of the cast of Radium Girls. Last year she performed as ensemble in the school's musical Curtains, and in the play Pride and Prejudice. She is also in the school's Thespian Honor Society and has performed outside of school as well.

Aly Elsonbaty

*

Raymond Berry
(
)
(
)
Pronouns:

Aly is a sophomore at Windermere Preparatory School and a proud member of Thespian Troupe 6902. His love for the arts extends from theater to playing piano, digital arts, and photography, painting the world with creative hues. Past WPS theatre experience includes an ensemble role in “Pride and Prejudice,” and a crew role in the award-winning “Charley’s Aunt.”

Kamden Feth

*

Mrs. Fryer/Ensemble
(
)
(
)
Pronouns:

Kamden is a senior at Windermere Prep and is thrilled to be apart of this years production of RADIUM GIRLS! Although only coming to WPS her junior year, Kamden has since been inducted into Thespian Troupe 6902 and is an IB Theatre student. Her past WPS roles include: Ensemble in CURTAINS! and Mrs. Bennet in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Kamden wants to thank everyone who made RADIUM GIRLS possible and is so excited for everyone to see the show!

Mariana Oliveira Gandin

*

Grace Fryer
(
)
(
)
Pronouns:

Mariana is a Senior at Windermere Prep and is excited to be a part of this show as her last final play at WPS. She is a historian for Troupe 6902, and has been an active member of the theatre at WPS for years in the ensemble for BYE BYE BIRDIE and CURTAINS, as well as playing Lydia Bennett in PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Currently, she is also cast as Clarice in the upcoming WPS one-act THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS. Aside from school, Mariana also does professional work in film and TV.

Sophia Gegg

*

Kathryn Schaub
(
)
(
)
Pronouns:

Sophia (Soso) Gegg is a senior at Windermere Prep and is excited to participate in her final fall play at WPS. This year, Sophia is president of Troupe 6902 as well as the Executive Marketing Director of Student Government. She has been previously seen in other WPS productions playing Georgia Hendricks in CURTAINS and Ursula in BYE BYE BIRDIE. She will also be playing Smeraldina in the upcoming WPS one act THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS.

Daniel Goebel Guzmán

*

Arthur Roeder
(
)
(
)
Pronouns:

Daniel is a seventeen year old junior at Windermere Prep and is happy to be back on the stage for Radium Girls. As a part of the Residential Life program at Windermere Prep, Dan is also a member and Vicepresident of Thespian Troupe 6902, a member of Tri-M Music Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. Past credits at WPS include: Harvey Johnson in Bye Bye Birdie. Christopher Belling in Curtains. Ensemble in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Pride and Prejudice. He also played Young Simba in The Lion King at Teatro del Parque Interlomas in Mexico City.

Sarah Jordan

*

Sob Sister
(
)
(
)
Pronouns:

Sarah is sophomore at Windermere Prep and a member of troupe 6902 and has been so excited to participate in Radium Girls! Sarah Jordan has been a part of the theatre community starting at 3 years old and loves every second on stage. Most recently, she played Niki Harris in CURTAINS here at Windermere Prep. Other favorite roles include Elle Woods in LEGALLY BLONDE and Amy March in LITTLE WOMEN. She continues to work in various film/tv projects and can't wait to do more. 

Amelia Lusk

*

Dr. Drinker/Judge/Dialpainter
(
)
(
)
Pronouns:

Amelia is a sophomore at Windermere Prep and is so excited to be making her highschool acting debut! She is also a member of Troupe 6902 and a Student Ambassador. Previous credits include: Crew for CURTAINS and Ensemble in ROCK OF AGES.

Jaxon McCormick

*

Charlie Lee
(
)
(
)
Pronouns:

Jaxon McCormick is a senior at Windermere Prep who loves acting. More specifically, the characterization process where he aims to hit not only the directors ideals but his own with each role played and enjoys the process. Jaxon is also a part of the National Honor Society as well as being part of Thespian Troupe 6902. Past WPS credits include: Track and Field, Weightlifting, Soccer, and Pride and Prejudice.

Carrington Meyer

*

Serena
(
)
(
)
Pronouns:

Carrington is currently a sophomore at Windermere Prep and is so excited to participate in the beginning of this years theater season. Carrington is currenlty a member of Troupe 6902 and is the Founder and President of Windermere Prep's Black Student Union. Past credits at WPS include: Ensemble in CURTAINS and Waitress Kylie in ROCK OF AGES.

Noor Nawaz

*

Ensemble/Willamina Bailey
(
)
(
)
Pronouns:

Noor is a junior at Windermere Prep and is so excited to be apart of Radium Girls. Noor is a full IB diploma student as well as a member of Thespian Troupe 6902, NHSDA, and treasurer of National Honor Society. Past credits at WPS include: Ensemble in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Bye Bye Birdie, and Curtains. She also played Kitty Bennett in Pride and Prejudice.

Saavan Ohri

*

Reporter Jack Youngwood
(
)
(
)
Pronouns:

Saavan Ohri is 15 years old, he goes to Windermere preparatory and is a proud member of troupe 6902. He is an all honors student, and is also apart of the Lend a Paw club, President of the student government, and Lakerthon. His past credits include ensemble in Curtains and Pride and Prejiduce, Loki in Hammered, and Bernard the mime in Nobody to murder. 

Thor Reed

*

Dr. Knef
(
)
(
)
Pronouns:

Thor Reed: Thor is a returning student at Windermere Prep and is excited to be on stage for the first time in his Junior year. Along with joining the full IB Diploma Programme this year, Thor remains a member of Thespian Troupe 6902 and the overall National Thespian Honor Society. Previous theater involvements include: Deck Crew in CURTAINS and Light Board Operator in CHARLEY'S AUNT. Alongside being a Thespian, they have also been a participant in the Junior Classical League.

 

Caroline Schools

*

Harriet Roeder/ensemble
(
)
(
)
Pronouns:

Caroline is a junior at Windermere Preparatory School and is excited to start off the theatre season with this production. She is a full IB diploma student and an inducted member of Thespian Troupe 6902. She is very involved in the fine arts department in both the dance and theatre programs. At WPS, she has been in the ensemble of "Sleepy Hollow", "Bye Bye Birdie", "Pride and Prejudice", and "Curtains". She was also the Assistant Dance Captain for "Curtains".  

Dominic Tarantino

*

Edward Markley
(
)
(
)
Pronouns:

Dominic is a junior at Windermere Prep and is excited to be back on the stage! As an IB Certificate student including Dance and Theater, Dominic is also a member and historian of Thespian Troupe 6902 and the National Honor Society for Dance arts. Credits at Windermere Prep include: Mr. Whickham in Pride & Prejudice, Randy/Ensemble in Curtains, and he will be playing Pantalone in The Servant of Two Masters, the troupe's upcoming competitive one act. 

Kendyl Taylor

*

Stage Manager
(
)
(
)
Pronouns:

Kendyl is a senior at Windermere Preparatory School and is the stage manager calling the show! She is co-president of Troupe 6902 and has previously stage-managed: CURTAINS, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, and CHARLEY'S AUNT. Her last role was stage-managing the one act, THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS. Kendyl will head to NYU in the fall to study all things theatre. 

Abby Walsh

*

Mrs. Michaels
(
Nurse, dial painter
)
(
Nurse, dial painter
)
Pronouns:

Abby Walsh is a senior at Windermere Prep and is excited to participate in the fall play. This is her first High School production. She is proud to be Class Representative of senior SGA (student government). She is also an active memeber of troupe 6902. She plays basketball (she's the female Troy Bolton) and is an active member of National Charity Leauge.

Meet the Team

BambiEllen Fadoul

*

Director
(
)
Pronouns:

BambiEllen Fadoul is proud to be the Director the High School Theatre Department at Windermere Prep. As a graduate of Oklahoma City University with a degree in Musical Theater, Fadoul spent many years on the stage touring the world in numerous productions before relocating to Central Florida to perform with the Walt Disney Company. While working at Disney she began to teach with Disney Performing Arts as well as direct and choregraph numerous youth productions across Central Florida. Fadoul is thrilled to share her love for the theatre with her wonderful students and watch them grow daily in the classroom and in after school rehearsals. Favorite director/choreographer productions include: FootlooseChicago, Curtains, and the award-winning play, Charley's Aunt. Huge thank you to the amazing Fine Arts team at WPS, and to my wonderful family, Jonathan and Cooper, who ensure I have dinner during tech and performance weeks. You two are my favorite!

Nick Prowse

*

Technical Director
(
Scenic Designer
)
Pronouns:

Nick Prowse continues to dazzle Windermere with his Scenic Designs and Technical Direction for Windermere Preparatory School. Radium Girls marks his sixth show for the High School Thespian Troupe 6902, and his fourteenth for Windermere Prep's Theatre Department. This show was unique being his first drama design. He is eager to see the audiences reaction to true, unexpected story.

Crispin Caines

*

Light Board Operator
(
)
Pronouns:

Crispin is a junior and is happy to make his Light Board Operator debut! He has been at WPS since 2018, being a part of most of the productions since. He was part of Peter Pan and Little Mermaid asProperties Master, Addams Family as Pugsley Addams, Charley's Aunt, Frozen Kids and Mary Poppins as Sound Board Operator, Pride and Prejudice as Assisstant Stage Manager, and Curtains (Assistant Technical Director). He's not sure about what he wants to do for a career, but theater will continue to hold a special place in his heart.

Hidaya Bakeer

*

Spot Op
(
)
Pronouns:

Hidaya is a Junior at Windermere Prep on Crew. An IB Certificate student who is a member of Thespian Troupe 6902, National Honor Society, National Art Honor Society, and Tri-M Music Honor Society. Past credits include Deck Crew on Alice in Wonderland and Bye Bye Birdie, Sound on Hammered and Pride & Prejudice, Flight Op on Mary Poppins Jr, and Head of Stage on Frozen Kids! She will be participating on Lighting Crew for the first time on Radium Girls. 

Keira Beggrow

*

Props Master + Deck Crew
(
)
Pronouns:

In the past few years Keira has served in a variety of positions in Windermere Prep's theater department. She has been involved with Props and Deck Crew for Bye Bye Birdie, Pride & Prejudice, and Curtains, Costume Crew for Frozen Kids, and Flight Crew for Mary Poppins Jr. Outside of theater, she is enrolled in many IB classes and takes pride in her academics. Keira is thrilled to be Props Master and a part of Deck Crew for this year's play, Radium Girls

Maria Fernanda Franck Braga

*

Assistant Stage Manager
(
)
Pronouns:

Maria is a High School Junior and a proud member of Thespian Troupe 6902 and the National Art Honors Society, participating in shows since her Freshman year. Not only is she backstage for shows like BYE BYE BIRDIE, LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW, PRIDE & PREJUDICE, and CURTAINS, she also participated in other grade level shows such as MARY POPPINS and FROZEN. Maria has covered many areas of the crew, such as Sound, Lights, Deck, Flight, and now Managing.

Evangelina Gourevitch

*

Deck Crew
(
)
Pronouns:

Evangelina is a freshman in Windermere preparatory school, which she has also joined in for the first time, who has joined the National Thespian honors society. This is her first experience in doing backstage work for a play and is excited to discover and be in future shows and plays in this school.

Nicolas Humphrey

*

Deck Crew
(
)
Pronouns:

Grant Key

*

Lighting Designer
(
Lighting Programmer
)
Pronouns:

Grant Graduated with a B.A. in Theatre from Brenau University in 2020. While there he studied both Lighting Production/Design and Acting. His recent shows with Windermere Prep include Frozen KIDS and Curtains. He also work as a Lighting Technician for live entertainment at Universal Orlando Resort. When he isn't wokring on something lighting related, you can find him at home with his dog Louie or trying to complete his Shiny Pokédex in Pokémon Scarlet. He hopes you enjoy looking at his design as much as he enjoyed creating it!

Zara Lwin

*

Costume Crew
(
)
Pronouns:

Zara is a dedicated junior at Windermere Prep. She as a full IB Diploma student, proud member in Thespian Troupe 6902, Vice President of Enviormental Club, and a member of National Honor Society, she strives to be active in school and in theatre. Her theatrical journey started at WPS with ensemble for Ledgend of Sleepy Hollow, Deck Crew for Bye Bye Birde, Spotlight for Pride and Pregiduce, Costume Crew for Curtains! She is eagear to be apart of Radium Girls to support the production from backstage.

Kaylee McDougall

*

Video Director
(
)
Pronouns:

I am excited to be apart of another Windermere Prep Production. I became apart of the WPS Family 4 years ago with capturing Clue and have been recording productions ever since. Having a degree in film and live production I have been able to bring my skills and knowledge to WPS to train camera operators for each Fine Arts Production. Looking forward to another great show! Break a leg cast and crew!

Riley McKenzie

*

Soundboard Operator
(
)
Pronouns:

Riley McKenzie is Sophomore at Windermere Prep and is excited to be a part of the technical crew for this production of Radium Girls. Riley is also a member of Thespian Troupe 6902. She has been a part of the Tech Crew at WPS for LITTLE MERMAID, 13 THE MUSICAL, ROCK OF AGES, HAMMERED, FROZEN, MARRY POPPINS and CURTAINS.    

Neela McLein

*

Que-Lab operator
(
)
Pronouns:

Neela McLein is a freshman at Windermere Preparatory School. This will be her first year at WPS, and her first show in the Cyprus Center; she is looking forward to continuing and working on many more shows. However, she also has previous experience working on tech, being the lighting operator and designer for two non-WPS related shows: CInderella and Addams Family. 

Avni Patil

*

Media Crew
(
)
Pronouns:

Avni Patil is a freshman at Windermere Prep. With a passion for social media and marketing, she is working with her fellow media crew members to promote the show. She is also very involved in theater, having been in the cast & crew of various productions since elementary school. She hopes to continue pursuing her love of theater throughout high school!

Lily Pilar Redman

*

Stage Manager
(
)
Pronouns:

Lily Pilar Redman is a Senior at Windermere Prep and an active member of the theatre department. She has played both performing and technical roles in (almost) every performance since 9th grade, including Sleepy Hollow, Bye Bye Birdie, and Curtains. This is her first time Stage Managing, but she is so excited to be a part of Radium Girls and perform this new role to the best of her ability. She is also an officer of the Thespian Troupe and looks forward to competing at districts this year. Lily sends her love to her family, especially her parents who have always been her biggest supporters, no matter what she does. Love ya to Pluto ❤️

Maria Julia Appolonio Rocha

*

Costume crew
(
)
Pronouns:

This is Maria Julia's first time in the theater environment and she is excited that it is at Windermere Prep. She is currently in both the COSTUME crew and participates in the DECK crew for RADIUM GIRLS. Maria Julia has been entrusted with the Head of Stage Left position, where she organizes the changes and ensures things move smoothly. 

Zainab Shamim

*

Media Crew
(
)
Pronouns:

Zainab Shamim is is a senior at Windermere Prep and is excited to be media crew. As an IB certificate student, Zainab is also a member of the Thespian troup 6902. Past credits at WPS include: Chef in The Tale of Desperaux and ensemble in Clue. She also played Lady Catherine De Bourgh in Pride and Prejudice.

Rogerio Villaca Szuster

*

Spot Operator
(
)
Pronouns:

Roger is a senior at Windermere Preparatory School. For his second year in this school, he's enthusiastic to return to Light Crew for the fourth time (Pride and Prejudice, Mary Poppins, Curtains, and Radium Girls). Additionally, he's a part of Mu Alpha Theta, Spanish Honor Society, Thespian Honor Society, and National Honor Society. He is devoted both to his extracurricular and academics, participating in many higher education classes, amongs IB HLs, APs and Dual Enrollments. 

Camila Tavares

*

Costume crew
(
)
Pronouns:

Camila is an 11th grader at Winderemere Prep. She is a full IB diploma student and this is her first WPS production. She is excited to help the cast and crew succeed. 

Nancy Tran

*

Costume Crew
(
)
Pronouns:

Nancy, a senior at Windermere Preparatory School, is thrilled to be a part of the Performing Arts program this year. In addition, she is also a member of the Residential Life Program, the Lakers' Navy Sideline Cheerleading team, the National Honor Society, and the French Honor Society.

Media

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2021 National Touring Cast

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Harvey Fierstein Will Receive 2025 Special Tony For Lifetime Achievement In Theatre
Alan Koolik
April 24, 2025

Harvey! Today, The Tony Awards Administration Committee announced today that legendary actor and writer, and four-time Tony Award winner, Harvey Fierstein will receive the 2025 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre.

Harvey Fierstein is the winner of four Tony Awards: two for Torch Song Trilogy (Best Play and Best Actor in a Play) as well as Tony Awards for Best Book of a Musical for La Cage Aux Folles and Best Actor in a Musical for Hairspray. He has also written the Tony-winning hit Kinky Boots along with Newsies, Casa Valentina, A Catered Affair, Safe Sex, Bella Bella!, Legs Diamond, Spookhouse, Flatbush Tosca, Common Ground and more. He revised the book for Funny Girl, which had a hit run on Broadway and a multi-city North American tour, following its London production. His children’s book, The Sissy Duckling (Humanitas Award), is now in its fifth printing, and his New York Times bestselling memoir I Was Better Last Night is available on Knopf. 

“Harvey Fierstein’s contributions to the American theatre, both as an artist and activist, represent an extraordinary legacy,” said Heather Hitchens, President & CEO of the American Theatre Wing and Jason Laks, President of the Broadway League.  “We are thrilled to honor him with this year’s Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre Award and can’t wait to celebrate one of our icons at the Tony Awards on June 8th.” 

Some of the luminaries previously honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award include Carol Channing, Graciela Daniele, Joel Gray, Jane Greenwood, Sheldon Harnick, Julie Harris, Rosemary Harris, Jerry Herman, James Earl Jones, John Kander, Angela Lansbury, Marshall W. Mason, Terrence McNally, Jack O’Brien, Harold Prince, Chita Rivera, Marian Seldes, Stephen Sondheim, Tommy Tune, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Harold Wheeler, and George C. Wolfe.

The 78th Annual Tony Awards will return to the legendary Radio City Music Hall in New York City later this year. Hosted by Tony, Emmy, and GRAMMY Award-winner and three-time Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo, The American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards will broadcast LIVE to both coasts on Sunday, June 8, 2025 (8:00 – 11:00 PM ET/5:00 – 8:00 PM PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ in the U.S.*.  

Trust Me, You Will Want To Know Ainsley Melham
Kobi Kassal
April 24, 2025

There is one thing for certain, when director Jerry Mitchell compares his leading man to Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire, it’s safe to assume they are pretty talented. Enter Ainsley Melham. 

Growing up in Australia, Melham has made a name for himself in the Land Down Under playing lead roles in everything from Merrily We Roll Along to Wicked to The Normal Heart, and trust me this list goes on and on and on. After landing the leading role of Dwayne in Boop! The Musical now on Broadway, Melham is getting his chance to truly shine. 

I recently caught up with Melham after opening night to chat all things Boop, catching one of those iconic red balloons, and finding himself in Dwayne.

Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. All photography was shot on film by Carianne Older for Theatrely.

Theatrely: So how was opening night last week?

Melham: Oh my gosh, it was wonderful and so, so thrilling. I had my family there all the way from Australia. You know, this is my first opening on Broadway...I was here with Aladdin, but stepped into the cast as a replacement in Aladdin. Such an exciting night.

I'm curious, what was your history with Betty Boop as a character before stepping into this project?

We know who Betty Boop is in Australia but she's much more part of the cultural fabric of this country. And so when I heard about the project and got the brief, I was like, “Oh, this is interesting. I wonder how this sort of show will hit with audiences.” Even if you don't know much about the history of Betty Boop, you certainly know the character and perhaps what she stands for. And that's all you really need to know coming into this show because everything else is new and we get to you with a new story and new music.

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I think it's so refreshing for a leading man on Broadway to be a true triple threat — we just don’t see it anymore. It's just a thrill to watch. So I want to dive into the character of Dwayne. Tell me, to start out, how did you land the role? 

I sort of made the move permanently here at the top of 2023 in March. I'd been back and forth for a while doing Aladdin and other projects, but I nailed down the Green Card and made the decision to move permanently. I knew Jerry and went into the room, sang the material, and I think it was a week and a half later and I heard I had received an offer. Dwayne is not a character in the Betty Boop canon; he's not a Fleischer Studios character. So he's completely new in this musical. It gave me room to fully realize him in a way that felt true and real to me. And in reality, he's just a guy, he's a young musician, you know, trying to carve out his way in New York City. So it's not unlike my own story as a young actor trying to carve out a space. 

I want to circle back to that for a second, but when you decided to make the move here full time, was that for work purposes? Was it to pursue a career on Broadway?

Yeah, it was for work. You know, I worked for about 10 years really successfully in Australia. And then Disney brought me here with Aladdin. In that situation, it's very specific. You're brought here on an entertainment visa and you are contracted to the show. And so part of my decision to come back with the Green Card was to come back unattached to anything just to see where that would lead me. I'm obviously very grateful to Disney and the opportunities that they provided, but I wanted to come back and be part of something original. And to do that, I had to come back on my own and take that risk in a way to see if I could land something. I'm really happy and glad that it paid off. So this was definitely a move for the career and I hope that I can stay here for a little while and see what New York has to offer. 

Were you always a lover of jazz, or was that a newfound thing with Dwayne?

I've always been a lover of that style. I've been a tap dancer since I was very young. And so tap and jazz like this go sort of hand in hand really. So jazz has always been a part of my life and a part of my regular sort of playlist. But doing the show and stepping into this character has certainly allowed me to dive deeper into that, which is exciting.

Did you know how to play the trumpet or did they give you lessons before hopping on the stage?

I did not know how to play the trumpet at all. I had some lessons to get me up to speed, but like anything, that's a skill that you work on from when you're very young. It's a hard thing to try and emulate every night, but I'm doing my best! When someone comes up to me at the stage door and tells me I played wonderfully, I know I'm doing something right! 

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Obviously Bob Martin is a genius musical comedy writer. I'm curious how much of—since Dwayne is not in the canon of Boop—how much of yourself did you put into the character?

They were so generous and collaborative when it came to everyone in the cast, even Jasmine as Betty, which is such a realized and popular character. But for Dwayne, the team was really open and welcoming of ideas for this character. I came to this city because I was missing something and that wasn't really in the character of Dwyane—it was something Bob and I really discussed. 

And then I'm curious on the flip side of that, is there something that the character of Dwayne has taught you? 

I think he has taught me to trust myself more on stage because there is so much of myself in this character that can be quite scary and vulnerable. And because Dwayne is sort of the most real or natural character in this show, amongst all of these more heightened and cartoonish characters, it can sometimes feel a bit exposing to stand up there and trust that what you're doing is enough when you're delivering a performance that is—it feels weird to say naturalistic in the music theater world—but that is more natural than Betty Boop and Grampy and all of these other characters. So I guess Dwayne has taught me to trust in myself, Ainsley the actor, and know that what he's delivering is enough.

Tell me about collaborating with David Foster, who I personally think has written one of the cachiest scores in recent memory. 

I mean, David Foster has produced for just the most incredible people, one of whom is Michael Bublé. Bublé was one of the artists that I listened to from young because he was emulating and paying homage to those crooners of the 30s and 40s, whom I love so much. So then stepping into a room with David and singing this sort of music, which feels so jazz and big band inspired, is incredible. And then we were in Chicago. When we were in Chicago, we added a song for Dwayne, She Knocks Me Out. And so David wrote this song over the weekend and came in and said, here I've written you your Bublé song, which is insane. You would have told a little boy from Bathurst County, Australia, that he'd be working with David Foster and he'd get his own Michael Bublé song. It's pretty incredible. 

When you think about that you are starring in a big Broadway musical and on the press tour Jerry Mitchell is out there comparing you to Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, wow does that sit with you as an actor? Obviously it's high praise and extremely well-deserved, but how does it feel?

I have a lot of beautiful friends around me who keep reminding me of that fact—they'll text me or when I speak to them, they're like, “Ainsley, you're doing the thing that we all aim for in one way or another, you're originating the role and you're going it so beautifully and he's comparing you to Gene Kelly, like what the hell?” So it's in those moments, I think, that sometimes it takes somebody else to go, “Hey, just take a breath and realize,” because you can get caught up in it. You get caught in the process, you put a lot of pressure and stress on yourself and you can sometimes lose sight of the fun and the pinch me moment of it. But in those moments where I do reflect, it feels... it feels really... you know, I've danced and sung and worked in this way since I was very, very young. Since I was three years old, I had tap shoes on my feet and I've idolized those sorts of figures all through my childhood and through my professional career. So to have somebody like Jerry turn around and make that comparison, it sort of doesn't feel real sometimes.

I think my favorite part of your preview process were the balloons outside that you could just see all around Midtown. Did you ever take a balloon?

Oh my gosh, yes. And you know, as I was walking home the other day, halfway up 9th Avenue, I walked past a brownstone and I could see a balloon just in the living room, through the window. And I was like, “Oh my gosh, that person's been at the show!” These balloons are finding themselves all over Manhattan. It's really cool.

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The show is such a lovely love letter to New York City. I'm curious, where do you find yourself on days off?

That's a good question. Well, you know, I live so close to Central Park, I'm just a couple of blocks away. That's usually how I start my day or if I have a day off, I'll go and sit in the park. It probably seems extremely touristy. But you know I lived and grew up in Australia and spent much time in Sydney where we have direct access to the beach and to beautiful nature reserves all around us. So Central Park for me is my dose of that.

The thing that I think is undisputed about this production is that Jasmine Amy Rodgers is really cementing herself as a true bonafide Broadway star. I'm curious, what is it like to watch her journey through your eyes on stage every night opposite her?

Jasmine offstage is such a clown, and we get along like brother and sister. So in that way, it's sort of unbelievable and hard to resolve the fact that this sort of clownish, goofy, you-know, little sister type offstage is stepping on stage and delivering this absolutely incredible star-making performance. Not that I doubt it from her, but when you stand back and watch from the sidelines, you're like, “Oh, wow, this is really incredible. Where was she pulling this from inside of her?” I'm so thrilled that this show came along and was met with Jasmine's talent because she is the character, she is Betty Boop. When you hear her laugh in real life, it's the same laugh you hear on stage, you know? There's so much of her in Betty. And it just took a vehicle like this for people to see it and realize it. And now I'm excited, not that I'm wishing this experience away, but I am excited to see where it goes from here, because it's only art. 

When someone looks at your resume, I'm sure it's a resume that young actors aspire to. I'm curious, what advice do you have for young folks who want to get into the business and start a career that looks like yours?

When people ask me that question, I always say that you just need to stand firm in what makes you you in the audition room, what you have to offer. I don't really see myself—this might seem odd from someone on the outside looking in—but I don't really see myself as the particularly strong, tall, leading man type. When I was doing Wicked, I would step onto the stage as Fiyero and half the ensemble was taller than I am and traditionally they cast really tall, strapping guys in in that role and so here I am going, “Okay, well I'm playing this role which is really cool but it sort of it feels a little bit, you know, against time aesthetically,” if you will. But, you know, I'm trusting that whatever I'm bringing as Ainsley is enough. So, you can't be like anyone else. You're never going to. People can see through it so easily. So, for young people, I think they need to find their point of view and just stand firm in that.

When you wrap up Boop and you're reflecting back in five, ten, twenty years, what do you want to remember most about this time right now? 

Oh gosh. Um... I think just how happy we make people. You can sort of get caught up in the politics and in what people think, what critics think, which casting people are in the audience and what would they think of my performance and will it be enough to get me the next gig or whatever. But when we stand up there at the end of each show and the whole audience is on their feet and they're all singing and smiling — it's so joyous. I mean, that's really what we're there to do. It's why we go back each night. It's why we stay in this career, to move people. And for this, in this show, we're moving them to such beautiful joy. And so I think I want to remember that. 

Before we go, I have to ask, if you were at Comic Con, who would you dress up as? 

Oh my gosh. Well, I have sort of two options. It would either be like a Studio Ghibli character, maybe Howl from Howl's Moving Castle?? Or I have always loved Sailor Moon! 

Cathartic Communication in the Haunting New GRIEF CAMP — Review
Juan A. Ramirez
April 23, 2025

We don’t learn much about its characters’ particular reasons for being there and, save for a few lines deployed in ways that skirt the thud of exposition, might not even know where they are. The limits and limitations of communication are central to Grief Camp, a haunting, humane new play by the 27-year-old (!) Eliya Smith, premiering in an excellent Atlantic Theater production.

Though the realistic cabin set (by Louisa Thompson) visible before the one-act’s start doesn’t hint at anguish to come, the mood is betrayed by the damp, blue-green summer light which bathes it (excellently rendered by Isabella Byrd). Its young inhabitants have regular teen conversations, about crushes and their home lives and who’s been craving too much attention, but their vibe is decidedly off – eerie, even. None of them seem to be able or willing to connect with each other, as if in avoidance.

Of course, as the title conveys, they are there because they’re each dealing with some sort of grief, one which might hopefully be resolved by season’s end. To divulge the details of their grief would not really spoil anything, but feels beside the point. The tone of their interactions, and what their timbre says about how they all cope, form the backbone of the play, which Smith and director Les Waters present in an unusually cinematic way. Some scenes stretch the length of a conversation, others offer glimpses of bedtime chats, brief morning routine, or interludes by a zen, speechless guitarist (Alden Harris-McCoy). A particularly cryptic one gestures at the kind of therapy they might be receiving there: its seven participants lined up at the edge of the stage, sitting silently with different comfort foods (a glass of milk, a bowl of spaghetti), which they eat when prompted by the camp’s unseen head psychiatrist, Rocky (Danny Wolohan).

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The company of Grief Camp | Photo: Ahron R. Foster

The effect is almost that of skipping through security camera footage, or a timelapse carefully calibrated between the lighting’s cuts. That need-to-know basis is also how we get to know the campers: Cade (Jack DiFalco), an adult counselor who’s mother’s passing led him there years prior; sisters Ester (Lark White) and Olivia (Renée-Nicole Powell), the latter of whom grasps at control by hypersexualizing her interactions with Cade; Luna (Grace Brennan), who wields her weirdness defensively; Blue (Maaike Laanstra-Corn), whose oddness comes naturally, and through the thinly-veiled plays she writes; Bard (Arjun Athalye), a shy, hurting boy; and Gideon (Dominic Gross), who’s toughness shields him from the brink of collapse.

A stunning sequence finds them all haphazardly exorcising their emotions during a thunderstorm (designed, not superfluously, by Jeremy Chernick), and the closest descriptor within reach here – emblematic of the whole play – is that they all act as if on psychedelics; as if each is undergoing something immense and overwhelming but cannot express it, left alone to wander through a subjective experience where the cleanest past forward is through, and through impulse alone.

It’s not all traumatic. Grief and its manifestation are funny that way. Grief Camp offers plenty of room for humor and for touching insights into the ways we move about our lives carrying memories both burdensome and beautiful. The play trusts us to consider its title’s significance throughout with the gentle nudge of a catharsis-in-waiting, and to trust in continuing power from Smith.

Grief Camp is in performance through May 11, 2025 at the Atlantic Theater Company on West 20th Street in New York City. For tickets and more information, visit here.

Theatrely News
EXCLUSIVE: Watch A Clip From THEATER CAMP Starring Ben Platt, Noah Galvin, and Molly Gordon
Theatrely News
READ: An Excerpt From Sean Hayes Debut YA Novel TIME OUT
Theatrely News
"Reframing the COVID-19 Pandemic Through a Stage Manager’s Eyes"
EXCLUSIVE: Watch A Clip From THEATER CAMP Starring Ben Platt, Noah Galvin, and Molly Gordon
By: Maia Penzer
14 July 2023

Finally, summer has arrived, which can only mean one thing: it's time for camp! Theater Camp, that is. Theatrely has a sneak peak at the new film which hits select theaters today. 

The new original comedy starring Tony Award winner Ben Platt and Molly Gordon we guarantee will have you laughing non-stop. The AdirondACTS, a run-down theater camp in upstate New York, is attended by theater-loving children who must work hard to keep their beloved theater camp afloat after the founder, Joan, falls into a coma. 

The film stars Ben Platt and Molly Gordon as Amos Klobuchar and Rebecca-Diane, respectively, as well as Noah Galvin as Glenn Wintrop, Jimmy Tatro as Troy Rubinsky, Patti Harrison as Caroline Krauss, Nathan Lee Graham as Clive DeWitt, Ayo Edebiri as Janet Walch, Owen Thiele as Gigi Charbonier, Caroline Aaron as Rita Cohen, Amy Sedaris as Joan Rubinsky, and Alan Kim as Alan Park. 

Theater Camp was directed by Molly Gordon and Nick Lieberman and written by Noah Galvin, Molly Gordon, Nick Lieberman & Ben Platt. Music is by James McAlister and Mark Sonnenblick. On January 21, 2023, Theater Camp had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.

You can purchase tickets to the new film from our friends at Hollywood.com here.

READ: An Excerpt From Sean Hayes Debut YA Novel TIME OUT
By: Kobi Kassal
29 May 2023

Actor Sean Hayes is what we in the biz call booked and blessed. On top of his Tony-nominated performance as Oscar Levant in Good Night, Oscar, Hayes has partnered with Todd Milliner and Carlyn Greenwald for the release of their new YA novel Time Out

Heralded by many as Heartstopper meets Friday Night Lights, Time Out follows hometown basketball hero Barclay Elliot who decides to use a pep rally to come out to his school. When the response is not what he had hoped and the hostility continually growing, he turns to his best friend Amy who brings him to her voting rights group at school. There he finds Christopher and… you will just have to grab a copy and find out what happens next. Luckily for you, Time Out hits shelves on May 30 and to hold you over until then we have a special except from the book just for Theatrely:

The good thing about not being on the team the past two weeks has been that I’ve had time to start picking up shifts again at Beau’s diner and save up a little for college now that my scholarship dreams are over.

     The bad part is it’s the perfect place to see how my actions at the pep rally have rotted the townspeople’s brains too.

     During Amy’s very intense musical theater phase in middle school, her parents took her to New York City. And of course she came back home buzzing about Broadway and how beautiful the piss smell was and everything artsy people say about New York. But she also vividly described some diner she waited three hours to get into where the waitstaff would all perform songs for the customers as a way to practice for auditions. The regulars would have favorite staff members and stan them the way Amy stans all her emo musicians.

     Working at Beau’s used to feel kind of like that, like I was part of a performance team I didn’t know I signed up for. The job started off pretty basic over the summer—I wanted to save up for basketball supplies, and Amy worked there and said it was boring ever since her e-girl coworker friend graduated. But I couldn’t get through a single lunch rush table without someone calling me over and wanting the inside scoop on the Wildcats and how we were preparing for the home opener, wanting me to sign an article in the paper or take a photo. Every friendly face just made the resolve grow inside me. People love and support the Wildcats; they would do the same for me.

     Yeah, right.

     Now just like school, customers have been glaring at me, making comments about letting everyone down, about being selfish, about my actions being “unfortunate,” and the tips have been essentially nonexistent. The Wildcats have been obliterated in half their games since I quit, carrying a 2–3 record when last year we were 5–0, and the comments make my feet feel like lead weights I have to drag through every shift.

     Today is no different. It’s Thursday, the usual dinner rush at Beau’s, and I try to stay focused on the stress of balancing seven milkshakes on one platter. A group of regulars, some construction workers, keep loudly wondering why I won’t come back to the team while I refuse proper eye contact.

     One of the guys looks up at me as I drop the bill off. “So, what’s the deal? Does being queer keep ya from physically being able to play?”

     They all snicker as they pull out crumpled bills. I stuff my hands into my pockets, holding my tongue.

     When they leave, I hold my breath as I take their bill.

     Sure enough, no tip.

     “What the fuck?” I mutter under my breath.

     “Language,” Amy says as she glides past me, imitating the way Richard says it to her every shift, and adds, “even though they are dicks.” At least Amy’s been ranting about it every free chance she gets. It was one thing when the student body was being shitty about me leaving the team, but the town being like this is even more infuriating. She doesn’t understand how these fully grown adults can really care that much about high school basketball and thinks they need a new fucking hobby. I finally agree with her.

     [She’s wearing red lipstick to go with her raccoon-adjacent eyeliner as she rushes off to prepare milkshakes for a pack of middle schoolers. I catch her mid–death glare as all three of the kids rotate in their chairs, making the old things squeal. My anger fades a bit as I can’t help but chuckle; Amy’s pissed-off reaction to Richard telling her to smile more was said raccoon makeup, and her tolerance for buffoonery has been at a negative five to start and declining fast.

     I rest my arms on the counter and try not to look as exhausted as I feel.

     “Excuse me!” an old lady screeches, making me jump.

     Amy covers up a laugh as I head to the old lady and her husband’s table. They’ve got finished plates, full waters. Not sure what the problem is. Or I do, which is worse.

     “Yes?” I say trying to suppress my annoyance.

     “Could you be bothered to serve us?”

     Only five more hours on shift. I have a break in three minutes. I’ll be with Devin at Georgia Tech tomorrow. “I’m sorry, ma’am,” I say, so careful to keep my words even, but I can feel my hands balling into fists. “What would you—?”

     And suddenly Amy swoops in, dropping two mugs of coffee down. “Sorry about that, you two,” she says, her voice extra high. “The machine was conking out on us, but it’s fine now.”

     Once the coffee is down, she hooks onto a chunk of my shirt, steering us back to the bar.

     “Thanks,” I mutter, embarrassed to have forgotten something so basic. Again.

     “Just keep it together, man,” she says. “Maybe you’d be better off with that creepy night shift where all the truckers and serial killers come in.”

     Honestly, at least the serial killers wouldn’t care about my jump shot.

     It’s a few minutes before my break, but clearly I need it. “I’ll be in the back room.”

     Right before I can head that way though, someone straight-up bursts into the diner and rushes over to me at the bar. It’s a middle-aged dad type, sunburned skin, beer belly, and stained T-shirt.

     “Pickup order?” I ask.

     “You should be ashamed,” he sneers at me. He has a really strong Southern accent, but it’s not Georgian. “Think you’re so high and mighty, that nothing’ll ever affect you? My kid’ll never go to college because of you and your lifestyle. Fuck you, Barclay Ell—”

     And before this man can finish cursing my name, Pat of all people runs in, wide-eyed in humiliation. “Jesus, Dad, please don’t—”

      I pin my gaze on him, remembering how he cowered on the bench as Ostrowski went off, how he didn’t even try to approach me. “Don’t even bother,” I snap.

     I shove a to-go bag into his dad’s arms, relieved it’s prepaid, and storm off to the break room.]

     Amy finds me head in my arms a minute or two later. I look up, rubbing my eyes. “Please spare me the pity.”

     She snorts and hands me a milkshake. Mint chocolate chip. “Wouldn’t dare.” She takes a seat and rolls her shoulders and neck, cracks sounding through the tiny room. “Do you want a distraction or a shoulder to cry on?”

For more information, and to purchase your copy of Time Out, click here.

Reframing the COVID-19 Pandemic Through a Stage Manager’s Eyes
By: Kaitlyn Riggio
5 July 2022

When the COVID-19 pandemic was declared a national emergency in the United States in March 2020, Broadway veteran stage manager Richard Hester watched the nation’s anxiety unfold on social media.

“No one knew what the virus was going to do,” Hester said. Some people were “losing their minds in abject terror, and then there were some people who were completely denying the whole thing.”

For Hester, the reaction at times felt like something out of a movie. “It was like the Black Plague,” he said. “Some people thought it was going to be like that Monty Python sketch: ‘bring out your dead, bring out your dead.’”

While Hester was also unsure about how the virus would unfold, he felt that his “job as a stage manager is to naturally defuse drama.” Hester brought this approach off the stage and onto social media in the wake of the pandemic.

“I just sort of synthesized everything that was happening into what I thought was a manageable bite, so people could get it,” Hester said. This became a daily exercise for a year. Over two years after the beginning of the pandemic, Hester’s accounts are compiled in the book, Hold Please: Stage Managing A Pandemic. Released earlier this year, the book documents the events of the past two years, filtering national events and day-to-day occurrences through a stage manager’s eyes and storytelling.

When Hester started this project, he had no intention of writing a book. He was originally writing every day because there was nothing else to do. “I am somebody who needs a job or needs a structure,” Hester said.

Surprised to find that people began expecting his daily posts, he began publishing his daily writing to his followers through a Substack newsletter. As his following grew, Hester had to get used to writing for an audience. “I started second guessing myself a lot of the time,” Hester said. “It just sort of put a weird pressure on it.”

Hester said he got especially nervous before publishing posts in which he wrote about more personal topics. For example, some of his posts focused on his experiences growing up in South Africa while others centered on potentially divisive topics, such as the 2020 election and the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Despite some of this discomfort, Hester’s more personal posts were often the ones that got the most response. The experience offered him a writing lesson. “I stopped worrying about the audience and just wrote what I wanted to write about,” Hester said. “All of that pressure that I think as artists we put on ourselves, I got used to it.”

One of Hester’s favorite anecdotes featured in the book centers on a woman who dances in Washington Square Park on a canvas, rain or shine. He said he was “mesmerized by her,” which inspired him to write about her. “It was literally snowing and she was barefoot on her canvas dancing, and that seems to me just a spectacularly beautiful metaphor for everything that we all try and do, and she was living that to the fullest.”

During the creation of Hold Please, Hester got the unique opportunity to reflect in-depth on the first year of the pandemic by looking back at his accounts. He realized that post people would not remember the details of the lockdown; people would “remember it as a gap in their lives, but they weren’t going to remember it beat by beat.”

“Reliving each of those moments made me realize just how full a year it was, even though none of us were doing anything outside,” he adds. “We were all on our couches.” Readers will use the book as a way to relive moments of the pandemic’s first year “without having to wallow in the misery of it,” he hopes.

“I talk about the misery of it, but that’s not the focus of what I wrote... it was about hope and moving forward,” Hester said. “In these times when everything is so difficult, we will figure out a way to get through and we will move forward.”

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