Seniors Wax Poetic about
‘Into the Woods’
The Huntington High School drama club will graduate many talented seniors in June. Members of the group are going out on a high note after turning in a remarkable set of performances in this spring’s musical, “Into the Woods.”
The drama club will say goodbye to seniors Zach Burden, Mattison Chadwick, Nicholas Luke Freiman, Katherine Gerdes, Julie Gray, Chelsea Holmes, Bobby Marcus, Sarah Mosden, Darius Nash, Monica Owen and Stephanie Shea.
The teenagers are still riding the crest of the sensational effort that made “Into the Woods” such a smash hit. Huntington School District second graders were treated to the first public performance when the youngsters were bussed over to the high school auditorium during the school day. The public was invited to the show for a Friday night performance, Saturday matinee and Saturday evening finale.
The actors were very pleased with how the show. English teacher and drama club advisor Michael Schwendemann served as the production’s director. Ms. Gray, Mr. Marcus and Patrick Lombardi were the student directors. Music teachers Veronica Mainville (vocal director) and Jessica Castaneda (musical director) also play key roles in the show’s success.
“Thrilling performance”
“The end result of what we spent weeks preparing was everything I had hoped for and more,” Ms. Gerdes said. “Although I am sad to be leaving, I couldn’t have asked for a better show, a more thrilling performance, or such an amazingly talented, passionate, and loving cast to be spending my final moments in drama club with!”
Longtime stage manager Kenneth Harlan Gilbert, who said he plans to retire at the end of the school year, was the show’s technical director. Dana Freed and Norcostco Costumes, Inc. handled costumes and set dressing. Mary Pulizzotto was the costume assistant. Ms. Freed and Victoria Lombardi coordinated sets and props. Brendan Higgins was the assistant to the director. Phil Jordan was a scene painter.
“I could not have been more proud of the way the cast accepted the challenge of a very difficult show and performed above and beyond my expectations,” Mr. Schwedemann said. “My 11 seniors stepped up to the plate and really knocked one out of the park. On the flip side the underclassman will make sure that the future of the drama club stays bright All this could not have been accomplished without ‘the team’ - Veronica Mainville; she took a difficult score and made it seem easy. Jess Castaneda; her first year as pit director and a great addition. Dana Freed; who makes us look great. Victoria Lombardi; she gave her time freely to help out. Last but not least Ken Gilbert; a man of vision with boundless energy who has given his all to this club since I arrived 11 years ago. His retirement will leave a void in both our hearts and on stage.”
“The highest quality production”
“Of all the shows I’ve done at Huntington over the years, ‘Into the Woods’ is probably the highest quality production I’ve ever been a part of,” Ms. Holmes said. “Every cast member really did an incredible job with their respective parts and I am proud to have worked with such a talented group of individuals. Many times throughout the rehearsal process I wondered whether or not we could really pull off such a challenging production but at the end of the day, I think we managed to do it justice. Our last performance, Saturday night was bittersweet because for many of us it was our last production at Huntington High School, but that only motivated us to make it the best it could be and leave on a high note.”
James Montefusco, Sebastian Rojas and Alex Ulloa were stage managers. Ellen Fleury designed the show bill. Mr. Burden and Ms. Mosden were cast photographers. Chelsea Holmes created the show bill’s cover illustration.
“Heard rave reviews”
“I think the show went amazing,” Mr. Burden said. “We have heard rave reviews back and as a final show in the high school as a senior, I couldn’t ask for any more. I have only heard great things about our production. It was a lot of fun to put on, but was still a very challenging show, musically, acting-wise and emotionally. We couldn’t have done it without the help of our director Mr. Schwendemann or the help of Ms. Lombardi, Ms. Castaneda, Ms. Mainville, Dana Fried or Mr. Gilbert. It was a great way for the seniors of drama club to leave their final mark on the school and also as a farewell show to Mr. Gilbert as he retires.”
“Each of you has shared your dedication, your talent and part of yourselves with me,” Mr. Schwendemann wrote in the show bill about the seniors. “We have had quite the rollercoaster ride – and like any amusement park attraction our ‘ride’ has been exciting and scary. We’ve had our share of laughter and tears, but more important than that, I hope we have created memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.”
“A fantastic experience”
“Being a part of this show was such a fantastic experience and it was truly wonderful to have had the opportunity to work with such a talented and hardworking cast,” Ms. Owen said. “I know that the rest of the seniors and I are bittersweet that it was our last show, but it was definitely a perfect way to end our time in drama club.”
“We have shared our thoughts, our hopes, our dreams, our loves, our losses, our successes and our disappointments – never judging (well, almost never), never shunning and never forgetting we are a family,” Mr. Schwendemann wrote about the seniors.
“All three performances of the musical went well,” Ms. Shea said. “I think the best one was the Saturday night show because everyone was so full of emotion and was giving it their all. The whole cast, crew and pit worked so hard to put everything together and it really paid off. It was so hard saying goodbye to the Huntington High School stage with my fellow seniors and it was sad seeing Mr. Gilbert say goodbye to it as well, but I think we all went out with a bang and the audiences seemed to agree.”
The seniors are well aware of the efforts of all the folks who have made their great run possible. “We really couldn’t have done any of it without Mr. Gilbert, Mrs. Freed, Schwen, Ms. Lombardi, Mrs. Mainville and Ms. Castaneda,” Ms. Shea said. “It’s been a privilege working with such amazing staff and all of my talented peers. I will miss it so much!”