By Performing Arts Committee, Bronxville High School

Nov. 18, 2015:  Bronxville High School students opened the newly renovated auditorium this past weekend with their performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Peter Royal, realizing the dream of many for a completed new performance space and auditorium. Dr. David Brashear, president of the Bronxville Board of Education, welcomed the audience.

Student actors mastered the Shakespearean language and mesmerized the audience with only a handful of props in this humorous performance, which was staged against a minimalist set and featured the auditorium's lights and balconies. The new automatic rigging features LED lights (allegedly more than in the entire inventory of the prior light rental company), with increased possibilities for color and nuance compared to the limited capabilities of the old space.

There's a new catwalk above the stage and an enclosed soundproof tech booth at the back of the first level. The acoustics are also greatly improved, eliminating the need for body microphones. Every seat has clear sight lines, ensuring there are no "bad" seats. Bradley Ashley is the technical director of the auditorium.

Senior Natalie Arenzon, who played Puck, or Robin Goodfellow, stated of the performance: "To get to break in the new theater felt absolutely magical. It's a certain honor to be the first one to create a production and memories in a new auditorium."

Sophomore Tomas Gibbons, who portrayed Oberon, commented that the language was interesting but was not easy, noting that words were used differently than they are today. Memorizing his role was particularly challenging, and he worked with and learned from peers, including senior Lauren Gray, to learn new methods. He noted that the "space is very captivating and awesome," the actors are much closer to the audience, and discovering all of the new elements of the new space was fun, including an electronic pad at the back of the stage that controls house and stage lights.

In the final scene, strangely prescient of the world events on opening day, the actors took their bows against a blue, white, and red backdrop, perhaps in an unintentional though moving tribute to the victims of the Paris tragedy.

Cast:

Will Tague  (12th, Theseus, Duke of Athens); Caroline Dent (12th, Hippolyta, his fiancée); Patrick Krall (9th, Egeus, father of Hermia); Rachel Bothwell (12th, Hermia); Thomas Neville (12th, Demetrius); Max Clark (11th, Lysander); Allison Barker (10th, Helena); Matthew Pytosh (9th, Peter Quince, a carpenter); Liam Smyth (11th, Nick Bottom, a weaver); Hana Eddib (10th, Flute, a bellows mender); Grayson Elder (11th, Snout, a tinker); Rachel Billings (10th, Snug, a joiner); Natalie Arenzon (12th, Puck, or Robin Goodfellow); Amy Kwok (12th, Peaseblossom, a fairie); Tomas Gibbons (10th, Oberon, King of the Fairies); Lauren Gray (12th, Titania, Queen of the Fairies); Maxine Devitt (11th, Cobweb, a fairie); Ashley Kaye (10th, Mustardseed, a fairie).

Production:

Parent producer, Betty Geiling; lighting, alumnus Charlie Diserens; sound, Chad Lawrencz of Sound Associates; graphic design, Maxine Dewitt and Lauren Gray; makeup, Mandy Gersten (faculty) and Johanna Rabsey (10th); technical crew, Libby Bishop (9th), Camila Blikstad (9th), Tim Caruso (12th), Michelle Coppola (9th), Maxine Devitt, Maddie Hanley (9th), Andrew Howson (9th), Luke Redman (9th), and Kenny Taylor (10th). 

To see photos, click here: Bronxville High School's A Midsummer Night's Dream 2015

Pictured here:  Final scene of Bronxville High School's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Photo above and photos in link by Nancee Adams-Taylor