The season started off with Marcus by Tarell Alvin McCraney directed by Page de la Harpe, Summer ’15 MFA Acting for Film. Marcus completed the Brother’s Size Trilogy by Mr. McCraney, which includes In the Red and Brown Water and A Brother’s Size, also directed by Page in the previous two semesters.
The second production was Hortensia & The Museum of Dreams by Nilo Cruz, directed by Morgan Aiken, Fall ’15 BFA 3A Acting of Film. Hortensia marks the second play done at NYFA by Latino writer Nilo Cruz, as a production of Ana & The Tropics was done last semester. Morgan has been heavily involved with Student Directed Plays since their inception two years ago, directing and acting in several productions.
The third piece was a poetry/movement piece conceived and written by Ria Patel, Fall ’14 BFA 2B, and co-directed by Federico Mallet Flores, Fall ’14 MFA alumnus, entitled If Light Never Comes. This production explored the complex dynamics of a relationship when one ends and another begins through dance. This was Ria’s first piece she’s written. “I grew from this experience by immersing myself with a small and wonderful cast,” said Patel. “I learnt there are many aspects to putting up a production. Also, as an actor, I feel that I have grown. By helping my actors I was able to understand my own characters better and how to work on building a character too.”
The fourth play was O.C.D., O.C.D by Laurant Baffie, adapted and directed by Gonzalo Maiztegui, Summer ’15 AFA Acting for Film. An unconventional comedy that explored the challenges of O.C.D. through humor. “This play helped me deal with my own mental disorder,” said Maiztegui.
The fifth play was Everything You Touch by Sheila Callaghan, directed by Camilia Mejia Duque, Fall ’15 MFA Acting for Film. Set in the 1970’s and present day, this play explored the themes of women’s bodies, image, and society.
The sixth play was the British comedy Nan by Catherine Tate, directed by Romeo Visca, Summer ’15 MFA Acting for Film. Of the experience Visca said, “I learned so much not only from the production process — which taught me how important key elements are when staging a play — but also the casting, the rehearsals, the preparation. But, most of all, it showed me how honest and open you have to be when working with a group of artists, and how many challenges we face in order to make the actors work as a group.”
The final production was a musical, Circle of Life, an adaption of The Lion King, adapted and directed by Simmie Sangian, Spring ’15 BFA Acting for Film. This production incorporated African body art and Brazilian Capoeria dance. This was such an amazing production that played to packed houses and an additional performance was added.
All of these productions were quite the ambitious undertakings and NYFA applauds all of the student directors’ hard work on these very successful productions. We are continuously impressed by the passion and talent they bring to their work.