Archbishop Stepinac High School's New Theater Lab is a "Smash Hit"

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. - March 23, 2016 - PRLog -- Since 1949, Stepinac High School's Drama Club has nurtured the talents of  many students by staging more than 100 fall dramas and spring musicals on the school's Major Bowes Theater and has consistently won critical claim for its productions.

Some Stepinac Drama Club alumni went on to fame including Academy Award-winner actor Jon Voight and Emmy Award-winner actor Alan Alda. Others like Christian Amato (Class of '06) successfully pursued a career as a director and producer.

Continuing a tradition of inspiring a love of the theater arts among high school students, Stepinac's Drama Club this year launched a new initiative-the Theater Lab-in which the students star, direct, design and produce a production entirely of their own creation.  In February, audiences had the opportunity to see the results of the students' efforts during two riveting performances of 12 Angry Men.

Frank Portanova, Vice Principal for Academics and Curriculum who serves as Director of the Drama Club, says that the seed for the Theater Lab was planted four years ago when a freshman student-Christian Prato of White Plains-expressed a "true and interest for directing, a talent he then went on to hone over the next few years as an assistant to me."

Meanwhile, two other talented Drama Club members-Kevin Ulrich of White Plains and junior Nicholas Tabio of Croton-on-Hudson- also had ambitious plans. That was made clear to Portanova last fall when they both came to his office expressing the desire to start their own theater company. "The idea for the Theatre Lab crystallized because we had the complementary talents and burning desire of students who wanted the opportunity to turn their vision of a play into a reality," explained Portanova, adding: "The Theater Lab concept would provide them with the first-hand experience of executing and managing a complex array of activities and tasks entailed in successfully mounting a theatrical production."

The decision was made for the Theater Lab to stage 12 Angry Men as its first production with Prato taking the helm as director. Joining him in the creative enterprise were Ulrich and Tabio who served as assistant directors and assistant producers. Ulrich also played the role of Juror 3, one of the key acting roles in of the classic courtroom drama.

Prato, who will graduate in May, applied to colleges to further his studies to become a professional director. Ulrich, also a senior, applied to major in acting. But, before heading to college in the fall, Ulrich will team up with junior Tabio to prepare the first production of their nascent theater company which will be housed in the Play Group Theater in White Plains.

The selection of a venue was the result of Ulrich and Tabio meeting with the artistic directors of area theaters to explore rental opportunities. "I gave them a list of the theaters and they ran with it in terms of preparing for face-to-face meetings and establishing a realistic budget," Portanova stated.

Another critically important decision was to select the drama that will put their talents to the test, not only for staging but for casting, marketing, budgeting among others. Their choice?  Arthur Miller's classic, Death of a Salesman, which will be presented sometime in July (details to follow).

In September, Tabio will start his senior year at Stepinac during which he will direct the Theater Lab's next production (details to be announced in the fall semester).

But, for now the three Theater Lab pioneers- Prato, Ulrich and Tabio- are busy rehearsing for their next big moment on the Major Bowes stage as members of the cast of the rousing musical, Sister Act, that the Stepinac Drama Club will present at 7:30 PM, Fridays and Saturdays, April 29- April 30 and May 6-7 and at 2:00 PM, Sunday, May 8.

Ticket prices are $22 for adults and $18 for children under the age of 12 and seniors.  The May 6 performance will feature "Nun Night" when all religious nuns can pre-order one complimentary ticket (based on availability). Tickets can be ordered by calling914-946-4800, ext. 200 (tel:914-946-4800%20ext.%20200).

About Archbishop Stepinac High School

The mission of Archbishop Stepinac High School is to offer young men of the Archdiocese of New York a highly competitive academic and extracurricular program that will prepare them for college and leadership roles. The faculty and staff accomplish these objectives by pursuing excellence and creating a supportive, disciplined atmosphere with a strong sense of camaraderie and Christian values that is unique to the Stepinac experience. For more information, visit www.Stepinac.org.