SHS Drama Society Fall Play Nov. 9-10

SHS Drama Society presents a look at Family with “Over the River and Through the Woods.”

In what will be the final show presented in Stratford High School’s JFK Memorial Auditorium, the SHS Drama Society is presenting “Over the River and Through the Woods” Nov. 8th, 9th, & 10th. All seats are $10. Tickets are available by calling 203.380.6777 (ext. 1234), at www.stratfordk12.org/stratfordhigh and at the door.

“It’s going to be hard to leave this stage,” said SHS senior Caeley Ott who is playing Emma Cristano. The current auditorium will be removed over the next few months, as part of the ongoing renovations to the Stratford High School campus.

“Over the River and Through the Woods” was written by Connecticut native Joe DiPietro, and looks at the relationship between Nick Cristano- a modern businessman who works in New York City, his two sets of grandparents and their efforts to keep family close to them. When he breaks the news that he is taking a job promotion in Seattle, his tenacious, tender-hearted, loud, loving, and well-fed Italian-American grandparents, who live two doors down from each other in Hoboken never let him forget where he belongs: close to them in New Jersey! This warm-hearted, boisterously funny, and touching story focuses on deep familial love and the inevitable little heartbreaks that occur as time passes and children grow up.

The show, which looks at this relationship among family members, is also reflective of the family-quality among the cast members, said Matthew Pond, who is also a senior. “This show has only six people in it. It’s more heartfelt and emotional than other shows we’ve done. The cast couldn’t be more of a family … this being the final show on this stage and also my last year at SHS is bittersweet in a way.”

Because of the small number of characters in the show, there are two casts, one which will perform Thursday and Friday nights, and the other which performs both of the Saturday shows.

“Looking back at my time in the SHS drama society, I’m really going to remember all the good friends I’ve made and the memories of being here,” said senior Evan Fernandes. This is his seventh show at SHS.

Senior Charlotte Gilbert, wants people to leave the show with a sense of family and “the ties we have to people which may not last forever.”

The cast for Thursday and Friday night performances is: Matt Pond as Nick Cristano, Nick Nunez as Frank Gianelli, Stephanie Iodice as Aida Gianelli, Lucas Smith as Nunzio Cristano, Caeley Ott as Emma Cristano, and Katelyn Ferrari as Caitlin O’Hare.

The Saturday matinee and Saturday night cast is: Ronan Johnston as Nick Cristano, Evan Fernandes as Frank Gianelli, Charlotte Gilbert as Aida Gianelli, Matt Coutinho as Nunzio Cristano, Abbie Joy as Emma Cristano and Abby Walsh as Caitlin O’Hare. The understudy for both shows is Angelina Gambino.

Backstage personnel for this production include Brooks Matthews (Stage crew manager), Madison Winter and Antonio Pensanti (Wing Managers), Jeff Leinen (Stage Director, Tech Director and Co-Producer), and Kathleen Murphy (Assistant Director and Co-Producer).