The Pushcart War

Director’s Note

Finding a play that truly suits the spirit of middle school students is not easy. This past summer my nightstand was filled with copies of plays purportedly written with students ages 12-14 in mind. Of the 20 or so plays perused, most were either exceptionally childish or disturbingly angst ridden. However, after a picnic table conversation with Michael S. Robinson (meaning I was at a picnic table with my phone), I was introduced to The Pushcart War. First, I listened to Jean Merrill’s classic novel while taking my afternoon runs and while driving my son to college in North Carolina. It’s a playfully serious book with a narrative style that almost convinced me that the war actually happened! Gregory Falls’ play adaptation, as you will see, emphasizes and reconstructs the concept of fictional history that Merrill so clearly relished. In that sense, it is almost a perfect play for middle school students. It has a serious point, and a curiously, if not subversively, creative way of making it.

To make such a play work, you need an ensemble of sharp and creative actors with a subversive streak. The 17 actors cast in this play more than meet that criterion. As a director, you hope to create a space that encourages a level of focused play that you can eventually shape into an effective story. These actors not only embraced the mechanics of playmaking, but also arrived at rehearsal looking to challenge themselves and each other. They shared ideas and engaged ideas. They have held each other (and their director) accountable on a daily basis not only to do things the right way, but also to have a good time doing so. I am quite confident that this spirit will permeate the Richard Perry Theatre tonight.

As the newest member of the Poly Performing Arts Department, I am incredibly grateful to Ashley Hacker and Mr. Robinson for their faith, guidance, and support. David Higham’s experience and creativity inspire me while his honesty keeps me on track.

Kim Griffin and Daniel Patrick Hogan are remarkable designers. Every choice of stitching, shape, or color tells a specific story. In a short time, Mariko Watt, Cynthia Babak, and Sam Turner have become wonderful friends, tremendous sounding boards, and reliable sources of laughter.

TO OUR ACTORS: I am thankful for your dedication, invention, and growth. To their families: your trust and support are extraordinary gifts.

TO OUR AUDIENCE: Thank you for joining us tonight! Thank you for letting us share our work with you.

Andy Cooper-Leary Director

A Note from the Performing Arts Department

I am overjoyed to welcome you to our theater space, among construction protocols and the advancement of our arts spaces, to celebrate the work of our Grades 7 and 8 students. Over the course of the past two months, these students have been dutifully rehearsing, often in a variety of spaces, to fully commit to the feelings of strife of truckers and vendors alike. Tonight, their antics and embellishments will be on full display.

Andy Cooper-Leary, our new Middle School Drama teacher and the sole adult tasked with leading these students, has dazzled, amused, and challenged them throughout the process. Hand-in-hand, they’ve created lasting memories and a spectacular show.

I am beyond amazed by our students, faculty, and designers each day and am so grateful to continuously celebrate Poly Arts through a pandemic, construction, and beyond. Welcome, and enjoy the show!

Ashley Hacker MS/US Dance, Debate & Drama Coordinator

Old Anna & Old Wenda

Quinlan Truta Walter Alistair & Mayor Jax Powers Wojtowicz

Soleil Peña

Newscaster, Frank the Flower-M & Big Moe Mick Waldman Big Mack, Police Commissioner & Mr. Jerusalem Téa Sabbagh

Tiger Sweet, Morris the Florist & John-John Johnny Savannah Parks Driver #1, Little Miltie & Maxie Gabby Pipitone

Barbara Walker, Young Wenda & General Colt Brianna Sylvain

Mobile Announcer, Old Woman & Trucker

Louie Livergreen, Pea Tack Squad & Trucker Annabelle Thompson

Lila Dubin

Mr. Posey, TV Actor, Groupie, Woman with Initiative & Trucker Harper Blumberg Harry the Hot Dog, Trucker & Pea Tack Squad Bryson Sylvain

Floor Manager, Artistic Man & Trucker Sean Reddy

Actor, Rescue Team & Trucker Aviva Treister

Charlotta, TV Announcer (Bear Mountain), Groupie, TV Actor & Trucker

Sam Harris Man with Leash, Pea Tack Squad, Police #2, Driver #2 Alex Mezhburd

Show Announcer, Taxi Driver, Young Woman, Police #1 & Trucker Olivia Chu

Young Girl, Wardrobe Girl, Big Moe’s Heavy, Woman with Flower & Trucker

Meet the Production Staff

Andrew Cooper-Leary (Director) has directed over 40 plays and musicals with students ranging in age from kindergarten through high school during his teaching career. Before coming to Poly Prep in 2022, Andrew was the Performing Arts teacher at Leadership Prep Brownsville Elementary Academy. He has also taught/directed at New York area independent schools, including the Hackley School and Friends Academy. From 2009 to 2018, Andrew was part of the Emmy Award-winning research team at MLB Network. He has a degree in Drama & English from Tufts University and an MA in Educational Theatre from NYU. In between degrees, Andrew trained professionally as an actor at Circle in the Square and Brandeis University.

Kim Griffin (Costume Designer) has designed for theater, musicals, dance, and opera; collaboration with directors, the design team, and the actors is integral to her process from beginning to end. Kim has worked at theaters, including the Williamstown Theatre Festival, New Jersey Repertory Theatre, Florida Repertory Theatre, Houston’s Theatre Under the Stars, Ohio Light Opera, Stageworks Theatre, Boomerang Theatre Company, Opera in the Heights, and The Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Houston. She has toured with the Ringling Bros. & Barnum and Bailey Legends Blue Unit and has stitched for The Met Gala, Broadway shows, and national tours. She has also designed for Theatre for Young Audiences tours, along with university and high school productions. Kim is originally from Houston, Texas and earned her BFA in Theatre Design & Technology with a minor in music from Baylor University and her MFA in Costume Design from Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University. As part of the fulfillment of her master’s at MGSA, she studied at Rutgers Conservatory at Shakespeare’s Globe, and The School of Historical Dress in London, England.

Meet the Production Staff (Cont.)

Daniel Patrick Hogan (Scenic/Set Designer) has designed scenery, props, hair, and makeup for numerous productions. As a scenic designer, his favorite projects include Little Shop of Horrors, The Seafarer, The Pirates of Penzance, In the Heights, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and A Doll’s House. Recently, Daniel designed scenery for The Wallace Theatre’s production of Sweeney Todd. He created an immersive, multi-levelled set that placed the audience in between different locations. His design utilized existing elements of the derelict Wallace Theatre and offered a unique viewing experience for each audience member. Daniel thoroughly enjoys transforming found spaces and designing new works.

David Higham (Lighting Designer & Technical Director) is in his thirtieth year at Poly, where he has been responsible for designing the lighting, sound, and scenery for over 170 productions. In addition to his work at Poly, Mr. Higham has designed lighting for productions at The Public Theatre, Lincoln Center, the Irish Arts Center, The Women’s Project, The Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre, and The National Shakespeare Company, among others. Mr. Higham also has worked as a lighting designer for several New York City architectural and landscape design firms.

Our Production Would Not Be Possible without the Generous Support of:

Audrius Barzdukas P’20

Head of School

Michal Hershkovitz P’16, ’18

Assistant Head of School, Academics

André Del Valle P’29, ’33 Head of Middle School

Michael S. Robinson Head of Arts

Daniel Doughty Director of Music

Ashley Hacker

MS/US Dance, Debate, & Drama Coordinator

The members of the Performing Arts faculty, the Engagement & Communications Department, the Admissions Department, the Poly Prep IT Staff, the Facilities and Maintenance Department, the Security Staff, the Kitchen Staff, and the Middle School Deans.

Please follow our new Poly Prep ARTS social media pages on Facebook and Instagram for all-things-art at Poly featuring students Nursery–Grade 12. FOLLOW US @polyprepARTS POWERED BY ANNUAL

Join Us for These Upcoming Performing Arts Events

Afternoon of Student Choreography

Sunday, January 29, 2023

3:00 PM | RICHARD PERRY THEATRE

Upper School Musical—The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee Book by Rachel Sheinkin, Music and Lyrics by William Finn, additional materials by Jay Reiss

Thursday–Saturday, March 2–4, 2023

7:00 PM | RICHARD PERRY THEATRE

Sunday, March 5, 2023

2:00 PM | RICHARD PERRY THEATRE

Spring Dance Concert

Friday & Saturday, April 14 & 15, 2023

SAVE THE DATES! RICHARD PERRY THEATRE

Spring Arts Festival Vocal Music Concert

Thursday, April 20, 2023

7:00 PM | MEMORIAL CHAPEL

Arts Festival & Instrumental Music Concert

Thursday, April 27, 2023

7:00 PM | MEMORIAL CHAPEL

MS Musical ( TBA )

Thursday & Friday, May 11 & 12, 2023

7:00 PM | RICHARD PERRY THEATRE

Stay tuned for more information about our upcoming events!