Talia Cutler ’23
The final rehearsals for Lost In Yonkers have just concluded in the Simon Theatre, followed by opening night on October 9. The process began only a few days after school began, and the cast has been working ever since. “Tech week has definitely been a challenge,” says Schuyler Waters ‘23, who plays Arty Kurnitz. “It’s very draining to be onstage for 5 hours on a Saturday, but we hope that we can deliver the best version of the show to the stage by the end of the week.”
The small cast is made up of only seven people- three boys and four girls. “In some ways, working in such a tight-knit group makes the process easier,” says stage manager Elliott Cole ‘24. The show’s director, Matt Maurer, English teacher and director of arts programming, commented, “A lot of the qualities needed to make a strong cast for this show are actually reinforced by the script itself. Values about family, togetherness, and building a community can apply to our small family of actors. From the get-go, every member of the cast and crew has given their all to this production.”
Tech crew is also an integral part of the show and has been dedicating their time and energy to setting up the performance of Lost In Yonkers. “Having tech crew means getting to take advantage of all parts of the theatre- adding lights, sound, and amazing costumes – they really help the show come together,” Tony Huang ‘24, who portrays Jay Kurnitz, comments.
Laurie Mufson, the former director of theatre and the Burgin Center for the Arts, retired last year. This change in leadership has offered both new challenges and new opportunities to the department. While she was adored by the entirety of Stony Batter, her absence has left space for new perspectives and directing approaches. “The thing about theatre is that everyone can enjoy it,” says new Stony Batter member Ryan Casey ‘23. School minister Will Whitmore admits to having stopped by several rehearsals. “It was a privilege to watch the cast prepare and I am excited to see their hard work come through on the stage,” he says.
Lost in Yonkers opened at the Simon Theatre on October 9, and reprised October 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m.