Amidst complicated set lists, extravagant set designs and hectic costume fittings, Adam Brody ’14, Esther Cohen ’14 and Casey Durant ’14, can be found at the center of all the action during the weekly DramaLabs – and loving every minute of it.
As the DramaLab Producers, Brody, Cohen and Durant oversee the production and execution of brief plays, all of which are entirely student-directed and student-performed. Each Friday night, students, faculty and parents gather in a large crowd in the Theatre Classroom to watch students from all walks of life at Andover perform.
As a large draw for many students, DramaLabs are often advertised as something to participate in to take off one’s “Andover Bucket List.” Whether one is a varsity athlete, cello player or mathematician, starring in a DramaLab is an accessible and accepting format to try the art of theater.
“The DramaLabs provide a safe space for learning about theater,” said Brody. “We are not necessarily looking for brilliant acting; rather, we seek to give students the tools to put on a show to the best of their abilities. Therefore, I will encourage my directors and actors to experiment with different tactics, blocking or motivations – but all of that is just to service the pursuit of learning.”
Though each of the Producers is highly skilled at acting and leading these performances, their journeys to the center stage are varied. Brody, who has been involved with theater from a very young age, found the Drama Program at Andover to be the obvious next step in his acting career and has found great success; he is accompanying the Andover Dance Group (ADG) to South Africa this summer to perform.
Cohen has been trained in a path similar to Brody’s.
“I have been pursuing theater for about ten years now. I fell in love with watching plays and listening to musical theater before I began acting, about seven years ago. I remember being enticed by the stories of musical soundtracks of shows like ‘Rent’ and ‘Wicked,’” she said.
Durant, on the other hand, lacked acting experience before Andover, and first became involved in theater through DramaLabs. It has been a growth process for Durant, as she has grown from actor, to Director, to Producer in a very small period of time in comparison with Brody and Cohen.
Beyond DramaLabs, each Producer manages to squeeze in other commitments, such as participating in or directing various other productions. Brody played the lead role of Eugene in last year’s play, “Brighton Beach Memoirs,” and felt that this role helped him expand his capabilities as an actor. He emphasized the connection he felt with the character’s realistic qualities.
“The best part about Eugene was his quirkiness,” said Brody. “Eugene is such an interesting kid; he is extremely bright, eager and humorous, but he is also just an adolescent boy. I loved exploring his eccentricities, especially in his relationships with the other characters.”
Cohen, a gifted leader as well as actress, directed Grasshopper Night this fall, and cites this experience as one of her most proud moments in the Theater Department at Andover. She felt overwhelming pride and excitement upon having constructed the theme of literature on which the acts in Grasshopper were to base their performances, and built a show around it. Cohen organized casting, tech, working with Masters of Ceremonies and fundraising for the Theater and Dance Department Scholarship Fund, and found this to be an incredibly challenging, yet rewarding experience.
It is the rewarding nature of helping fellow student artists find great success that prompts the Producers to be so passionate about their job. Through their love of theatre and their knowledge on the subject, they really connect with fellow students. Brody, especially, has found this aspect of being a Producer to be incredibly fulfilling.
“My favorite part [about being a Producer] is working with the Directors,” said Brody. “It is so exciting to lead them through the process of putting a show onto the stage. This past year, I even had the chance to witness the complete development of a few plays; I helped the writer with edits and revisions, and then I supported the director as they transferred that idea on the page to a fully-realized production on the stage.”
Above all, the Producers emphasized the sense of community that drew them in to the Theater Department.
“DramaLabs have always been an integral part to my Andover experience, and I am thrilled that I was able to finish off by giving back to this organization that I love so much,” said Brody.
