EMMA
From the novel by Jane Austen
Adapted by Michael Bloom
presented by
Oak Park High School Thespian Troupe 6074

	Directed by Ashley Sanft
Producer Noah Kratt	Assistant Director Davin Robillard	Stage Manager Tessa Anderson

Starring

Elizabeth Dusek Nick Ferrante Nico Heard Jayden Howell Celeste Goldes	Danika Koscelnick Dominic Land Mia McCabe Krishanu Nigam	Viktoriia Rudenko Emily Salzman Polina Sysoeva Andre Will Garrett Wilson

"Emma" is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc.
www.concordtheatricals.com

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DIRECTOR'S NOTE

When choosing shows, Emma by Jane Austen, adapted by Michael Bloom, felt like the perfect challenge for our troupe to undertake. Spotlight shows have infamously all been murder-mystery style shows, replete with physical comedy and similar character archetypes, leaving our troupe unchallenged. Emma is full of complex, interwoven characters that allow our actors to be creative and try new things! Also, since this is a time-period piece, I challenged us to attempt a historically-accurate rendering, which means empire-waistlines and ascots for costumes and tons of time on Facebook Marketplace for our scenic designers! I can confidently say that I, along with the entire troupe, feel incredibly proud of what we have been able to accomplish in such a short span of time!

Jane Austen’s Emma is a literary masterpiece of its time, but it continues to stay popular to this day! Austen’s novel has six remakes in film form - three movies and three mini-series - and many adaptations, such as Michael Bloom’s incredibly authentic rendering which we have the opportunity to present! With its themes of pride and privilege, as well as a very likable - and often relatable - young heroine, Emma has cemented itself as a tried and true classic! We are so excited for you all to watch along as Emma’s romantic schemes go astray and the town of Highbury turns upside down! Enjoy the show, or as they say in the Regency Era, PSHAW!

Scene List

ACT 1

Scene 1 The Wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Weston

Scene 2 The Drawing Room at Hartfield

Scene 3 The Hartfield Garden

Scene 4 The Hartfield Home

Scene 5 The Drawing Room at Hartfield

Scene 6 The Drawing Room at Hartfield

Scene 7 The Hartfield Home decorated for Christmas

Scene 8 Path to Miss Bates’ cottage / Miss Bates’ cottage

Scene 9 The Drawing Room at Hartfield

Scene 10 Beneath an awning during a thunderstorm

Scene 11 The Drawing Room at Hartfield

Scene 12 The Randalls Home

INTERMISSION

ACT 2

Scene 13 A Continuation of the party at Randalls

Scene 14 The Drawing Room at Hartfield

Scene 15 The Ballroom at the Royal Oak Inn

Scene 16 The Hartfield Garden

Scene 17 The Picnic

Scene 18 Miss Bates’ cottage

Scene 19 The Hartfield Garden / The Randalls Home

Scene 20 The Hartfield Garden

Scene 21 The Drawing Room at Hartfield

Scene 22 The Drawing Room at Hartfield

Scene 23 A Wedding

Who's Who

Elizabeth Dusek (Harriet Smith)
Hi! My name is Elizabeth Dusek, I am in 10th grade, and I play Harriet Smith in the show, and I am on the costume team. This is my sixth show at Oak Park High School, and I could not be happier to be involved with this show. I had such a fun time working with the cast, crew, costume team, and our amazing director and assistant director. Outside of the play, I am in comedy sports, and in my free time, I love to dance, draw, and watch movies. Thank you so much, and enjoy the show!

Nick Ferrante (Mr. Phillip Elton)
I'm a senior and a music focused student who decided to try out acting for the end of my senior year and couldn't be happier about it. My fellow actors and students on the crew and costumes are all such amazing people and so fun to work with. Working on this show has meant so much to me and I hope everyone enjoys it!

Nico Heard (Mr. Weston)
Greetings! My name is Nico Heard and I am a senior who has done three shows previously at Oak Park. I am extremely grateful to the OPHS ITS program for teaching me so much, giving me so many opportunities, and being a true family. I am excited to portray the amicable and non-contentious role of Mr. Weston! May this evening be charming and filled with delight!

Jayden Howell (Ballroom Dancer & Wedding Guest)
Hi! I'm Jayden Howell! I am so glad to be a part of this production with all of my friends! You'll definitely see me in the background!

Celeste Goldes (Emma Woodhouse)
Celeste is extremely thrilled to be performing in Emma for her last show with OPHS ITS. This is her 4th show with ITS. Celeste is grateful to her friends, family, and the entire cast/crew of Emma for the support during this show!

Danika Koscelnick (Kindly Woman & Servant)
My name is Danika Koscelnick. I am in 9th grade and this is my 4th production with ITS. Other productions I have done are The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Marcy Park), School of Sharks (Gabby/Nicky), and Pippin (Severed head/ensemble). I am so happy that I get to be a part of this production and that I get to work with such extraordinary people.

Dominic Land (Mr. George Knightley)
Hello! My name is Dominic Land and this is my 12th show here at OPHS! I am so grateful for the last 4 years I spent in this program and the wonderful family we’ve made along the way. I would like to thank my family and friends, as well as everyone who made this show possible, including our wonderful director Ashley Sanft, as well as Davin, Noah, Ellyn, and the entirety of the cast and crew. Everyone involved has worked so hard to make this show so special so I hope you enjoy!

Mia McCabe (Miss Taylor/Mrs. Weston)
Hi, my name is Mia McCabe and I'm a Sophomore! This is my second show at OPHS and I'm playing Mrs. Weston and I'm also a part of the costume team! Thank you so much to everyone that worked on this production, you all are so amazing! Shoutout to my super awesome family and friends who have come to watch the show. And special thanks to my dad, mom, step-dad, grandma, and grandpa; I love you.

Krishanu Nigam (Henry Woodhouse)
Hey! My name is Krishanu, I’m in 11th grade, and I am so excited to be playing the role of Mr. Woodhouse for my seventh show at Oak Park! I hope you enjoy this light-hearted regency-era production as much as we had performing it! Pshaw! Enjoy the show!

Viktoriia Rudenko (Jane Fairfax)
My name is Viktoriia Rudenko, but I prefer when people call me Vika:) I am an international senior at the OPHS, and I am from Ukraine. It has been a really hard time for every Ukrainian, but theater and acting help me to go through this and continue my life and especially continue to achieve my goals. I have tried so many hobbies in my life, but I came to California 8 months ago with a big desire to become a successful actress. I am so grateful for taking part in such a beautiful play like "Emma". Thanks to my character I found something new in my personality, which I haven't seen before. Also, I was very lucky to work with the best cast and crew teams that I have ever seen! Thank you and enjoy the show!

Em Salzman (Augusta Hawkins/Mrs.Elton)
Hi! I’m Em, I’m a senior, and this is my 12th show at Oak Park. I want to thank all the beautiful people involved in putting on this show! Though I would prefer we all perform on donkeys!

Polina Sysoeva (Miss Bates)
Hello! My name is Polina Sysoeva and I am a Junior here at OPHS. This is my second ever show here at OPHS and I plan on many more! I am so happy to tell you that I play the amazing role of Miss Bates! She is spunky, fun, bright, and yet very annoying. Some cast members say that I am so good at the role that they don't even have to pretend to be annoyed. Hope you enjoy the show!

Andre Will (Robert Martin)
Hi, everyone! My name is Andre, and I am a 17-year-old high school senior, and this is my 8th production at OPHS. I am so happy to be playing the role of Mr. Martin, and to be able to contribute to such a great show with awesome directors and friends. When I'm not on the stage, you can see me singing in my free time, playing soccer, and hanging out with my friends and family. Hope you enjoy the show!

Garrett Wilson (Frank Churchill)
Hi!! My name is Garrett Wilson, I am a senior at Oak Park and this is my 12th show here!!! I am so excited to play Frank Churchill in this wonderful play! I hope you enjoy the show and thanks for coming!

Ashley Sanft (DIRECTOR)
Hi hi! I’m Ashley Sanft, I’m a senior, and I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to direct my final show with all my lovely friends! These past four years have been absolutely wonderful, and I hold all the shows we’ve done close to my heart, but “Emma” has been such a special experience and it’s definitely my favorite show we’ve ever done! I’d love to thank my wonderful production team - Tessa Anderson, Noah Kratt, and Davin Robillard - for their patience and dedication, through thick and thin. I’d also love to thank our wonderful troupe, I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to work with! Without further ado, enjoy the show!

Davin Robillard (ASSISTANT DIRECTOR)
Hello! My name is Davin Robillard and I am a proud senior at Oak Park High School. I would have to say that I absolutely love ITS and everything we do here! My biggest regret by far is that I just didn't get involved in anything sooner but I hope that I can continue doing what I love, which is singing and acting! Nothing brings me more 3am bliss than drinking sink water! Thank you!

Tessa Anderson (STAGE MANAGER & SET DESIGN)
Hi my name is Tessa Anderson and I have been a part of the stage crew for all four years of high school. I am very happy I was stage manager for this show! The set was so much fun to make and our crew worked so well together. I am sad this was is my last show but glad I was able to finish my high school career with such a fantastic show and team!

Noah Kratt (PRODUCER, LIGHTING & PUBLICITY)
Hi everyone! My name is Noah Kratt, I am in 10th grade and I am the producer/PR Lead/ Lighting Lead for this year's Spotlight show. This show has been so much fun to work on! It has also been incredibly stressful due to the lack of time given to put together this show for you. We hope this show can give you a taste of the past and I hope you enjoy the show.

Sadie Berger (Prop Design Lead)
Hello, my name is Sadie Berger! This is my second show and I'm very excited to be working as prop master. I'm very proud of everyone involved, so please sit back and enjoy Emma!

Kadyn Freid (Set Design Team & Running Crew)
Hi, I'm Kadyn! Working on Emma has been such a great experience. This is my first time on scenic design and it's been amazing! Break a leg to everyone in the cast and I hope you enjoy the show!

Cameron Lambe (Set Design Team & Running Crew)
Hi my name is Cameron Lambe and this is the second show that I have been a part of. I’ve done crew for both shows, and I have had a wonderful time doing it. I’m proud of the crew team for the work they have done this show.

Abby Leduc (Costume Design Team)
Hi! I'm Abby Leduc, I am a sophomore and this is my second production at Oak Park. I am happy to say that I am a part of the amazing costume department for Emma. It has been such a journey but I am so glad that I was able to experience it with all these amazing people. This was something that I have never done before but I am so glad that we pulled through as a team and put together this show.

Giah Milo (Costume Design Team)
Hello! My name is Giah, I’m a sophomore in costumes and this is my second show at Oak Park. I have had so much fun these past few weeks helping put together this show. I knew I loved musicals but who knew I had a love for plays too! Hope you all love the show, feel free to compliment on the costumes too haha <3

Addison O'Grady (Costume Design Team, Tech Design Team & Cast Board)
My name is Addison O'Grady and I am in 9th grade. I am in crew and costumes for our production of Emma, and I am really proud of everyone who came together to help put on this show. Even though we didn't have a lot of time to do it, I know that this show will be awesome. Whether it was staining and polishing a chair or tailoring a dress to make it fit the time period, I really love the teamwork involved behind the scenes to make this play happen. I hope everyone else loves it as much as I do!

Elisha Tong (Set Design Team & Running Crew)
Hey everyone! My name is Elisha Tong, and I am stoked to be working on the sets and props team for my fourth show at OPHS. I still continue to be blown away by the talent of everyone involved in this program. Thank you to my family and friends for their support, and thank you to the cast, crew, and everyone involved in this production!

Charlotte Vogt (Costume Design Team)
My name is Charlotte Vogt. I am in 11th grade and am in costumes for this production. This is the 10th show I have been a part of. I would like to thank my mom for supporting me throughout the productions as well as my significant other, Drew. It has been such a pleasure working along with everyone to make Emma come to life.

Eden Yelinek (Sound Design Lead)
Hi! My name is Eden and I'm a freshman and the sound director for Emma. A fun fact about me is that I hate sandwiches but I love this show!!

OPHS International Thespian Society Troupe 6074 (PRODUCER)
Act well your part, there all the honor lies. The International Thespian Society (ITS) was founded in 1929, and is an honor organization for high school students at more than 4,900 affiliated secondary schools across America and abroad. The mission of ITS is to honor student achievement in the theatre arts. In addition to producing theatre at OPHS, our troupe's focus is to promote the importance of theatre arts in education and our community.

Ellyn Schneider (Troupe Director & Production Supervisor)
Congratulations to the creative team, cast and designers on a beautiful production of EMMA. Your dedication, enthusiasm, professionalism and love for the arts continues to amaze and inspire me. It has been a dream come true to work with you all this year and to watch you grow as actors, costumers, designers, technicians, directors and producers. So, so, proud of you! Break a leg!

Zachary Borquez (Tech Supervisor & Pavilion Manager)
Bravo to all of you students on YOUR production of EMMA. Your energy, enthusiasm, creativity, and ingenuity is unparalleled and inspiring. Enjoy your well deserved kudos! It has truly been a pleasure watching your progression throughout the productions this year. Thank you especially to our seniors for enduring two tough years, coming back to live performance with a positive attitude and passing on the traditions of the past to our next generation of OPHS drama students. Best of luck in all your future endeavors and job well done!

Congratulations Class of 2022!!

(back) Cameron Lambe, Davin Robillard, , Nick Ferrante, Zac Pelc, Nico Heard, Garrett Wilson, Dominic Land, Andre Will, (front) Tessa Anderson, Em Salzman, Vika Rudenko, Celeste Goldes, Ashley Sanft

COSTUME TEAM: (back) Garrett Wilson, Em Salzman (middle) Elizabeth Dusek, Mia McCabe, Charlotte Vogt, Krishanu Nigam, (front) Addison O'Grady, Giah Milo, Abby Leduc, (not pictured) Nico Heard

SET & TECH TEAM: (back) Tessa Anderson, Cameron Lambe, Kadyn Freid, Sadie Berger, (front) Eden Yelinek, Addison O'Grady, Noah Kratt

Tuxedo rentals generously donated by Friar Tux

SPECIAL THANKS

A Very Special Thank You To….

Loretta Brown, Kevin Buchanan, Michelle Di Camillo, Adam Findley, Friar Tux, Francisco Henning, Zoraida Kerr, Martin Kilner, Roxy Mora, Eleanor Moradi, Richard Ortega & staff, Brenda Pasqua, Zoe Reisman, OPUSD Superintendent Dr. Jeff Davis and the OPUSD School Board, Principal Mat McClenahan, Vice Principal Jason Meskis, Vice Principal Natalie Smith and the entire OPHS administration & staff for their enthusiastic support of our production.

Personal Ads

Congratulations Dominic on your 33rd play. 60+ productions in all. We have loved every single one of them. You have had an amazing theatrical career, can’t wait to see what comes next. Love your family.

So proud of you Celeste. Break a leg! Love, Mom and Fadre (Celeste and Garrett in Peter Pan at Red Oak Elementary 2013)

Elizabeth, We are very proud of you! Break-a-leg! Love, Mom & Dad