By Olivia McGuire
On Friday, November 7th, Nyack High School’s drama department opened Our Town. Our Town, written by Thornton Wilder, is set in 1901-1913 and it focuses on family, love, and loss. After last year’s productions of Peter and the Starcatcher and The Prom, some felt that Our Town was an interesting pick as it strayed away from the usual comedic and uplifting shows. However, the play seemed to really resonate with the audience. Asher Glass, who played George Gibbs, said, “It was a very different kind of show from what we usually do, the pacing was different in a very contemplative way. It was very character based rather than plot based, and I think that showed in an interesting way. It was done, I think, with a lot of nuance and care.”
The cast and crew spent weeks rehearsing, dedicating countless hours to the production. During the long rehearsals, students were able to connect with each other and form new relationships. “It was nice to hang out with all sorts of different people that I usually wouldn’t get the chance to hang out with,” said Jack McGuire, who played Mr. Webb. Participating in the school play allowed all different types of students to come together. Ruby Schutzbank, who worked backstage as a stage manager, said, “The long hours I spend with my already close friends strengthen our relationships and create lasting memories.”
After the show’s run came to an end, the stage manager, Abby Ryan, reflected on the final performances: “I thought that each performance was so good. Every one had its ups and downs, but in the end, it really showed the true product of what we’d worked on for the past few months.” Nyack Drama Club’s rendition of Our Town received a lot of positive feedback. Members of the audience said that the performance was emotional and moving. Kenzie Lynch, who watched the show on opening night, said, “I thought that everybody did a great job acting, and going to the show with friends and connecting with people was a great experience.” Our Town is a story about love and community, and it was able to bring the Nyack community together.