It’s a Wednesday afternoon in late August and while most students were spending their last few days of summer poolside or catching up on their video games, almost 100 Carle Place students were in the unlikeliest of places: school.
Since July 7, students who are a part of the Carle Place Student Run Theater Company have been dedicating hours of their summer rehearsing for the upcoming production of 9 to 5. The student-led club has grown every year since debuting in 2009.
“Everyone at the school is very supportive. Telling a bunch of kids they can do whatever they want isn’t something you’ll see at every school,” says junior Thomas Vestuto, a three-year veteran of the company. “And everyone who’s here loves to be here and does a great job. It’s nice to see kids willing to give up their whole summer for this.”
This is Vestuto’s first year leading the company as director. And while managing a bunch of teenagers is no easy task, he is a natural leader, able to coordinate the 97 talented students who are on stage and behind the scenes. Helping Vestuto are producers Nicole Grima and Liam Lofgren. The two help actors with cues, dancing, and singing, and behind the scenes with designing sets, painting backdrops and whatever else has to be done.
Though it’s a lot of hard work, the students enjoy having something of their own.
“I like the idea that we do everything by ourselves,” says Lofgren. “It’s ours and we can put our name on it.”
And the payoff is rewarding. Several students noted the joy and pride that comes out of seeing all their hard work pay off during the two productions.
“My favorite moment is the week right before the show, when you see things finally clicking, and then right after the show when everyone just rushes together behind the curtain for a mass hug. It’s a great feeling to know we did it and invested so much time and seeing it all come together,” says Grima.
Vestuto echoed the sentiment, saying, “the best feeling is once it’s all said and done and you have a chance to see your hard work pay off.”
9 to 5, which is written by Dolly Parton, centers around three women—an overworked office manager, new divorcée and objectified secretary— who unite to overthrow their boss.
“It’s something different than what we normally do,” said Sydney Perruzza who plays one of the leads. “It’s going to make people laugh a lot.”
9 to 5 debuts on the Carle Place High School auditorium stage Sept. 12 and 13 at 7 p.m.
See more pictures here.
