On November 1, 2019, thirty-five Farmingdale High School theatre students and Playcrafters attended the annual Stage the Change theatre conference at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts. The mission of the conference is to provide communities with inspirational, original performances, which serve as catalysts for change and help students become global citizens through creativity and performance.
This year, Farmingdale was one of only six high schools selected— in a highly competitive process— to perform their student written scene for the conference. The scene, entitled “In my Mind” was written by Abigail Berge (Class of 2019) during a devising theatre unit in last year’s Theatre 2 class, and performed by students Olivia Espinosa, Terrilyn Brennan, and Cynthia Cruz. It’s about the internal struggle of a student battling personified versions of her ADD disorder and her need to remain focused on her task at hand.
Numerous students from Long Island, New Jersey, and the greater New York area came for the conference, which offered a plethora of workshops led by industry professionals from the world of theatre, film, and dance. The day concluded with a presentation by Broadway performer Gavin Creel.
“It’s a great day for students to get out of the classroom and be inspired to use their craft to instill changes that might affect peers and audience alike,” said teacher Glen Beck, who accompanied the students. “Often we forget that theatre not only entertains, but can also be transformative.”