The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Cover Stories

Wicked at the Burns Celebrates the Magic of Friendship and Self Acceptance

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Some stories are so iconic, they defy gravity. As the highly anticipated Wicked movie made its way to the Jacob Burns Film Center, the town of Pleasantville was all in on the celebration! In fact, Pleasantville has gone Wicked Wild, with pink & green decorations, food & drink specials, Wicked merchandise and a general warm wicked feeling permeating the village. Indeed Wicked has cast a spell on audiences nationwide and smashed several box office records in its opening weekend. The movie event of the year raked in an impressive $164.2 million worldwide, with $114 million in the US, according to Universal Studios.

Gleaming green lights illuminated the outside of the movie theater and inside hats were hanging from the ceiling that felt as magical as Elphaba’s spells! The Take 3 Wine Bar & Café offered Wicked-themed cocktails – green for Elphaba and pink for Glinda. Such a fun & festive touch.

The movie begins as Glinda, the good witch, floats into Munchkinland in a giant, pink bubble, declaring that the wicked witch of the west was dead. Glinda, brilliantly played by Ariana Grande, takes us back to Elphaba’s childhood. She paints a marvelous picture of the struggles that Elphaba, played by Cynthia Erivo in a captivating performance, is forces to deal with.

Glinda and Elphaba meet at Shiz University, where they unexpectedly become roommates. The two get off to a rough start and we see that their incompatible personalities spark conflict. Glinda, with her bubbly, popular nature, and Elphaba, with a stunningly fierce attitude, misunderstood manner and drive for independence, clash at every turn.

The good in Glinda shines bright as she helps Elphaba out of an embarrassing moment at a school event. Glinda joins Elphaba on the dance floor as the other students laugh at her strange style of dance. She transforms a cringy solo into an extraordinary duet and turns the moment around marking the start of their special bond.

As their journey unfolds, we have a front row seat to their blossoming friendship. Grande’s show stopping vocals and choreography in the song Popular are the solidifying moment that establish their close-knit friendship. The two become inseparable.  “Elfie” helps Glinda, get into the Madame Morrible’s sorcery class, which is her dream. Although the other students view Elphaba as strange and make fun of her green skin, Glinda doesn’t care what others think and sticks by her side.

Wicked does a great job of demonstrating the theme of embracing individuality and acceptance. Glinda’s realization that true friendship is more important than conforming to social expectations promotes the idea that loyalty and self-acceptance can break down superficial barriers to make room for genuine human connections regardless of judgment. 

As Elphaba impulsively decides to take Glinda with her to Oz, my heart was racing watching the intense scene as they walked towards the wizard. Nothing is as powerful as Elphaba’s moment of realization of what she must do to survive. The singing and stunts during the song Defying Gravity, performed by Erivo, were spectacular! Wicked leaves you on the edge of your seat with a large “To Be Continued” title across the screen to ponder what will happen next. I left the theater with my jaw on the floor thinking that I need to see this movie again!

Wicked is not just a movie, but an unforgettable experience that draws you into the enchanting world of Oz. The production was vibrant & striking, and the sets & costumes were like nothing I’ve ever seen! The overall message of friendship and the importance of standing up for what you believe in, even if it means going against the majority, and not judging someone solely based on appearance, leaves the audience feeling good and eager for more. I can’t wait for part two!

Anna Weber – Artistic Leader at the World’s Most Iconic Concert Venue

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PHOTO BY CATHY PINSKY

Living a stone’s throw from the cultural mecca that is New York City, it is no surprise that residing amongst us is someone who ensures the world’s most renown musical institution runs smoothly. Managing just about everything at Carnegie Hall, the premier destination for the world’s finest musical artists, is our very own neighbor, Anna Weber.

Carnegie Hall has hosted performances in its three iconic concert halls by the world’s finest musicians since 1891. From Tchaikovsky to the Beatles, the musical talent that has graced its stages is unsurpassed in its excellence. It has transformed from the 1950’s into a meaningful part of people’s lives through a commitment to music education and staging exceptional, world-famous musical performances. Weber, as the General Manager of Artistic and Operations, oversees the planning and implementation of 700 concerts and events each year, as well as the operations of the Resnick Education Wing.

Discovering A Career in Arts Administration

Growing up in nearby Harrison in a musical family, with a grandfather who was a professional musician playing in the big bands, Weber and her four siblings each played the piano amongst other instruments. Weber played flute in her high school marching band and orchestra, before moving onto other interests.

After college, Anna landed a job at the New York Youth Symphony, discovering her passion for arts administration. She navigated public relations, logistics, and the intricacies of orchestra operations. She later worked at the New York Philharmonic for nine years, eventually becoming Director of Operations. There, she organized subscription concerts, the free Parks concerts in all the boroughs, and their national and international tours.

Dream Job

Coming on board to Carnegie Hall almost 25 years ago, she began to make her mark managing productions and artist logistics. Now, as General Manager, she organizes performances at the Hall, festivals, and Carnegie Hall Citywide, a series of performances presented in venues across all five boroughs. She also oversees Ensemble Connect, a fellowship program for post-graduate musicians looking to make a real difference through music.

“I work with a phenomenal team that makes work inspiring and fun,” shares Weber. “Much of the role involves realizing an artist’s vision, scheduling, contracts, budgeting, problem-solving, logistics, and handling front of house and back of house operations.”

Elise Trainor sharing the Carnegie Hall stage with Anna Weber

PHOTO BY CATHY PINSKY

There is no “typical day” for Weber. With concerts and rehearsals happening, and her team planning future seasons, she juggles multiple responsibilities. “It’s living in the present, living in the future, and trying to manage all of that,” says Weber. “It’s not your 9 to 5 job. There are evening concerts, and I get to hear great music. It doesn’t feel like work at that point. That’s a great perk of the job.”

Influences & Relationships Along the Way

“I have a phenomenal leader in Clive Gillinson, (Carnegie Hall’s Executive and Artistic Director) who is not only a leader but a mentor for me,” says Weber. “He’s a real visionary, someone who leads with integrity, kindness, and humor – something that I try to emulate in what I do and how I lead.”

“Anna has led our artistic planning and implementation team at Carnegie Hall for over 20 years and she is the best person I’ve worked with in this role,” says Gillinson. “She is passionate about the Hall’s artistic and education mission and delivers on every aspect of her job with total commitment and a meticulous attention to detail… Her dedication to her work and her gift for friendship enable her to forge superb, collaborative relationships with artists, staff, partners, and the community. We are very fortunate to have Anna as part of our leadership team.”

Weber’s team, spanning different generations, also serves as a mentorship for her. “I’m constantly learning from my team members on how they think, solve problems, and how they are engaging with work.”

Anna has been most influenced by her mother, who earned advanced degrees, worked, and served on the Board of Education while raising five children. “I have no idea how she did it. She is a huge inspiration for me.”

“As a Trustee of Carnegie Hall for more than 25 years, I have had the pleasure of knowing Anna. Capable, calm, and always eager to help, she is a gem and a key player on the senior staff. Respected and adored by everyone, Anna shines with energy and joy,” says Susan Rose.

Living in the Byram Hills School District

Weber and her husband chose to live in the Armonk area as it allowed them to be close to family living nearby. Engaging with the Byram Hills schools, taking advantage of the beautiful outdoors at Cranberry Lake, enjoying the local restaurants, visiting the Armonk Art Show, and participating at CBY Synagogue have all contributed to Weber’s love of this community. Both of Anna’s daughters were devoted young soccer players and she enjoyed being a “soccer mom” and taking part in the athletic programs of the community. Although she loves the city, she enjoys coming home to the quiet suburbs.

Realizing a Vision for Carnegie Hall

Weber is passionate about bringing music beyond the concert hall. Carnegie Hall Citywide partners with neighborhood organizations and cultural institutions across the city to reach new audiences. “Music has the ability to impact people’s lives in so many ways and I think Carnegie Hall is not just a concert hall, but it is a place that is trying to use the power of the institution to bring music to the widest possible audience,” says Weber.

In pursuit of this vision, the hall has the free Citywide concerts, a digital channel, and the Weill Music Institute – the Hall’s education and social impact arm engages people of all ages in multiple ways, including working with the juvenile justice system. Annual citywide festivals such as last year’s focus on the Weimar Republic and this year’s celebration of Latin culture take audiences on immersive cultural journeys through music, dance, theatre, and literature.

For upcoming events at Carnegie Hall and more information, go to carnegiehall.org.

Bill Gorlin – Inside the World of A Theatrical Engineer

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PHOTO BY CAROLYN SIMPSON

Bill Gorlin is an award-winning structural engineer and Vice President of the prestigious McLaren Engineering Group’s Entertainment Division. He has called Briarcliff home since 1998 and wouldn’t have it any other way. He loves the access to NYC, the woods and rolling hills, the great schools, and proximity to family in southern Westchester.

“I grew up in Westchester; I love the progressive attitudes, the excellent schools, and the vibrant culture. You have Tarrytown Music Hall, Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, which is an absolute jewel, The Jazz Forum, a world class jazz club in Tarrytown, Purchase College, and ArtsWestchester, an incredible organization that produces fantastic events supporting the arts,” said Gorlin.

From Blueprints to Spotlights

Bill had many influences that shaped his career path including working with an amusement ride manufacturer, different theatre scenery shops, sets of iconic concerts like The Rolling Stones, various TV & film productions, and many live events.

He developed the Entertainment Division at McLaren Engineering in 2000, where he still is today. “In my world, success is based on: Did the show or event happen on budget, on time, and was it enjoyable for the audience? As opposed to: Did I save 3% on the weight of steel? Which is a more relevant question when building a high-rise,” Bill explained. “If I get hung up on a certain engineering issue, I may lose sight of the big picture.”

Crafting the Magic

Gorlin described a difficult project he worked on last holiday season for the Christian Dior holiday display on Saks Fifth Avenue in Manhattan to suspend an eight-story display over the building’s façade. “When the audience, the people in the street, looked up, they saw the flowers, the lights, and the beautiful parts of the display – the steel framework we installed was imperceivable. The eye sees what it wants to,” Gorlin said.

In essence, engineering is the “magic” in a magic trick, and this is especially so in Gorlin’s line of work: entertainment engineering. They say a magician never reveals his tricks, and that is certainly the case in entertainment where much of Bill’s work is a tightly controlled trade secret. Back to the Future – The Musical (on Broadway now) has a fantastic mechanical effect with a flying DeLorean but unfortunately, we can’t talk about it,” said Gorlin.

Vision To Reality

“A good design of a bridge, for instance, celebrates the structure. The Mario M. Cuomo bridge is a very functional design that’s also very elegant,” Bill said. The difference between entertainment and function is just that – Gorlin’s clientele wants to suspend their disbelief, rather than suspending lanes of traffic! Think of an engineer as the rhythm section in a Broadway musical – they are in the background so that the soloist can look like they’re shining effortlessly. But take the rhythm section away and you find out just how important they are to the magic of the show!

“Sometimes clients want us to help market an event. For instance, House of the Dragon (a Game of Thrones sequel now on HBO) had a promotion where a huge dragon ‘landed’ on the spire of the Empire State Building. We were involved with the engineering, and they encouraged us to promote it on social media to create more buzz,” Gorlin shared. He stressed how important the secrecy and discretion of most projects can be in creating happy clients and excited audiences.

“Virtual reality and CGI can always defy physics, whereas engineers have to deal with it straight on. If we’re doing a physical performance with real people and real equipment, we can’t make something fly the way you see it on screen,” said Gorlin. With Back to the Future, Gorlin’s team and the special effects vendor had to create something from the ground up, rather than simply trying to emulate the special effects in the original movie.

In the show, the DeLorean time machine, from the classic ‘80s blockbuster, flies above the stage of the theater, as opposed to in the movie where it’s limited to the 2D screen. Gorlin’s job as an entertainment engineer required him to transport the audience through the fourth wall of the movie screen to pull off an effect meant for live theater goers only.

The Overweight Production

When live entertainment shut down during COVID, the small screen was all we had, and the scale and beauty of performance disappeared. One of Gorlin’s first projects upon the return of the live entertainment industry was the long-awaited revival of The Music Man. “That was an important show because it was a big musical with big stars that was coming out right after the pandemic ended,” said Gorlin. Unlike a movie premiere where the final film can be done months prior to the opening, The Music Man came in right under the wire.

The show was set to open at the Winter Garden Theater (the same theater as Back to the Future) and when Gorlin and his team came on, he was astonished to find out that the show equipment above the stage had exceeded the venue’s weight limit by a whopping 40,000 pounds. Gorlin had upgraded the weight limit of the theater nearly a decade prior, and even still the production was almost doubling the limit. Back to The Future got to take advantage of the upgrades constructed to support the heavy Music Man set, and so will the next show, and the next show after that. There’s a lot of momentum in the Broadway culture of paying it forward,” Bill said.

Migrating Elephants

Bill was recently involved in another very high-profile project. This is one of largest outdoor installations in NYC, ever! If you’re walking around downtown Manhattan, you might stumble upon a herd of 100 life-size elephant sculptures in the Meatpacking District – The Great Elephant Migration.

These elephants are on a special mission to raise funds for non-profit conservation organizations and to create awareness about the challenges that wildlife face. Bill’s team was responsible for anchoring each of the five types of elephant structures to the ground so they could withstand such environmental issues as wind and earthquakes. “The anchoring consisted of stakes and/or ballast (weights) that were unique to each site, depending on local weather and seismicity and the supporting grade and soil composition,” explained Bill. Each of the sites for this installation has different challenges. Next the elephants head to Miami Beach!

Success & Happiness

Gorlin was chosen for the 2024 “Backstage Legends and Masters” Award Winner by the Broadway Technical Theatre History Project. “After three decades of providing engineering support for 200+ Broadway productions and renovation work on 40+ Broadway theaters, this recognition was truly a lifetime achievement,” Bill said.

For now, Bill seems to have found the perfect mix of engineering and entertainment. “I love my job because I get to solve challenging problems and create designs incorporating science, art, 3D spaces, and human interaction,” Bill shared. “I get to collaborate with talented people who are intensely driven to create something meaningful.” The work of engineers is all around us, but it’s rarely visible or the center of attention, and that’s exactly the way it should be.

Lights, Camera, Action: Why the Film Industry LOVES Our Northern Westchester Towns

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Many scenes from the “Gilded Age” were shot at Lyndhurst Castle in Tarrytown
Photo Courtesy of Westchester County Tourism and Film/Flickr

The iconic phrase “lights, camera, action” is often associated with films shot in Hollywood studios or perhaps with actors featured against a backdrop of the Manhattan skyline but Westchester County is starting to get its fair share of film production thanks to efforts from County Executive George Latimer and Westchester County Tourism & Film (WCTF). Despite industry-wide challenges in 2022 and 2023, film production in Westchester still yielded $2 billion in economic activity, 6,796 jobs and $656 million in wages during those two years. The Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild strikes in 2023 and lingering effects from the COVID pandemic significantly halted film and television production activity across the nation and unfortunately in our county but WCTF’s Senior Marketing Manager Sarah Marshall is optimistic about the industry’s future here in Westchester. “This year’s economic impact research showed resilience amidst the strikes and competitive pressures,” she noted.

WCTF provides location guidance, offers technical site visits, and facilitates the permit process for those wanting to film anywhere throughout the county’s 500 square miles. Westchester has actually had a long history with film production – dating back over 100 years to the silent film era. “We have film-friendly, camera-ready communities in Westchester that are receptive to production and welcoming to the industry. They appreciate the economic benefits and the excitement that filming brings. It’s a point of pride for communities,” notes Marshall. In addition to movies, episodic TV shows, music videos, fashion photography and commercials are all shot throughout Westchester. “We get hundreds of inquiries a year,” notes WCTF’s Director Natasha Caputo. Many of the episodic shows have renewed their contracts for the following year and have multiple episodes in a season such as FBI: Most Wanted offering a steady revenue stream for the county.

Film professionals are attracted to Northern Westchester for a variety of reasons. Scenic landscapes abound in Northern Westchester. With rolling hills, forests, and rivers, locations like Muscoot Farm, Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard and Hilltop Hanover Farm provide stunning backdrops for various types of scenes. Northern Westchester towns offer many filming locations including farms, parks, lakes, and small-town settings. This versatility can reduce the need and expense of extensive set building. A mix of historic homes, estates, quaint villages, and modern architecture allows for a wide range of filming possibilities, from period pieces like The Gilded Age to contemporary stories. Northern Westchester’s proximity to NYC means access to experienced crew members, equipment rental companies, and post-production facilities without the high costs associated with filming in the city itself.

Director of the The Gilded Age (HBO), Michael Engler noted: “It’s all about location, location, location. [Westchester has] these magnificent homes and estates which bear the unmistakable imprint of The Gilded Age. We also shoot up there because of the space – land, big parking lots, parks, and pathways. People were extremely friendly and gracious. We all love shooting in Westchester.” Many of the scenes were shot at Lyndhurst Castle in Tarrytown.

Recent award-winning and popular productions that filmed in Westchester in 2022 and 2023 included The Crowded Room (Apple TV+); FBI: Most Wanted (CBS); Feud: Capote vs. The Swans (FX, Hulu); The Gilded Age (HBO); The Girls on the Bus (HBO); Leave the World Behind (Netflix); Life and Beth (Hulu); Maestro (Netflix); Poker Face (Peacock); Succession (HBO); Severance (Apple TV+); and The White House Plumbers (HBO). This past summer, the county earned 32 Emmy nominations for films and television shows filmed throughout Westchester during the past year.

Caputo and her team act as the facilitators for each municipality. Each municipality often has their own town liaison and often it is the town clerk who handles the permit process for filming. Her team however provides permits for all county-owned property – trailways, jails, morgue, parks etc. “A lot of times it is vistas and views here in Westchester but sometimes it can be something more mundane like a garage. We want to increase film activity for the economic benefits here. Filming supports jobs and wages,” Caputo says.

For example, lodging-related tax revenue (sales and occupancy tax) associated with film industry activity contributed $2.9 million to the County and municipalities in 2022.

Filming also can provide a different revenue stream for local businesses. One such example is Pleasantville’s Pace University which has a very modern facility and a lot of acreage. “Pace University is a sought-after filming spot due to its versatile 200-acre campus, modern facilities, and proximity to New York City. The campus offers ample green space and diverse facilities that can accommodate wardrobe, makeup, and craft services,” explains Marshall. Additionally, Pace provides an on-site liaison to assist productions from start to finish. With plenty of room for parking and ancillary production space, the university has also been used as a base camp for HBO productions, including The Time Traveler’s Wife, The Gilded Age, and a not-yet-released film limited series starring Robert DeNiro, called Zero Day and a Netflix film starring Brie Larson that is not titled as of press time.

Another example is Pleasantville’s Club Infinity, a private nightclub style event space that is often used to celebrate Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, fundraisers, corporate functions and birthdays. “We have been involved in a number of television productions through the years including The Blacklist (NBC), Divorce (HBO), the Netflix movie Leave the World Behind and most recently a new series on Apple TV called The Savant. They all used the club as the location to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner for both cast and crew. For Divorce, they were filming in a mansion in Armonk, but they needed to do their cast readings in our Bose Club. “So that’s how I got to chat with Sarah Jessica Parker and Thomas Haden Church and it was pretty cool,” exclaimed Ed Gaynor of Club Infinity.

“The film industry is a very fluid business and a lot goes into filming a live scene,” notes Caputo. Script changes, timing of events and weather can all impact the set.

“There are a lot of freelancers in this business and it is so important to be film-friendly. It’s great when they recall doing a base camp at Pleasantville and they remember that they were flexible, accommodating and were solution-oriented for any challenges that arose because they will [hopefully] remember that for their next project,” Caputo remarks.

Some films or TV shows filmed over the years in local towns include:

Pleasantville

Elementary – Pleasantville Diner
A Netflix film starring Brie Larson (title TBD) – Pace University
The university has also been used as a base camp for HBO productions, including The Time Traveler’s Wife, The Gilded Age, and a not-yet-released film limited series starring Robert DeNiro, called Zero Day

Briarcliff Manor

Greatest Showman, Madam Secretary, The Good Wife, Gotham, The Blacklist – Sleepy Hollow Country Club
The Sinner – St. Theresa’s Church

Chappaqua

Bodies, Bodies, Bodies – private home on Haights Cross Road
Billions
The Sinner

North White Plains

Manifest – Cranberry Lake Preserve
Mr. Robot – Kensico Dam
A Beautiful Mind – New York Medical College

Arc Stages’ Jonathan Evan Goldberg on the Art, Joy, and Possibilities of Improvisation

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At an ‘after party’ following an August improvisation performance at Arc Stages (L-R) First Row: Grace Bennett, Joanna Schaffer, and Rose Pagano; Second Row: Jonathan Evan Goldberg, Mary Noecker, Andrew Laden, and Paul Carousso

When I came across the “improvisational comedy” workshop description for Pleasantville’s Arc Stages, I felt my heart leap. In transition, I thought this could tap my lighter side and get the creative juices flowing. I also had no idea just how much fun I was about to have.

So now, as I write this, I’m well into a second eight-week class working with instructor Jonathan Evan Goldberg. His popular class at Arc Stages began in 2017 when Jonathan, a labor and employment lawyer (by day) moved to Pleasantville with his wife, Tara, an elementary school principal in Rye Neck, from the Upper West Side with their then preschooler.

Each Monday evening class Jonathan runs two back-to- back, 1.5 hour sessions four times a year) with students who engage in goofy exercises (“ice breakers,” as Jonathan calls them) to warm up. Scene work follows with each of the students employing their own unique wit and personality quirks. The results can be entirely unpredictable and downright hilarious.

At the workshop’s end, we ‘perform’ for family and friends on stage at Arc.

So how did Jonathan, an accomplished legal mind by day, come to develop a lifelong passion for improv and become such a popular Westchester-based improv instructor?

Inquiring about his journey, I was delighted to learn of an avant-garde volunteer improv troupe he had launched in the city with friends called Cherub Improv.

But some background, first.

Some 20 years ago, in the midst of an intense legal career, Jonathan shared, an actress friend encouraged him to try improv. A Craig’s list ad for a $10 improv workshop proved hard to resist! He worked with John Swist, “the ‘Ninja’ of improv instruction,” he said, and models his own class today in a similar fashion. “His class was called ‘Quick Thinking Improv’ and had a very nice mix of people; most were like me… not there to ‘make it in the industry’; rather, they were doing it for fun, to laugh and destress… Improv helped me survive a career in which I was slaving away.”

Jonathan also found Improv a way to make brand new “very likable and funny friends” who enjoyed making each other laugh. Swist’s classes often ended in a class show performed on stage at the city’s iconic Producer’s Club.

At the time too, Jonathan, still unclear about his life’s direction, had agreed to getting life coached by his father, Edward Goldberg, the former Chancellor of Higher Education in New Jersey. When I met with Jonathan, his dad had recently passed at Calvary Hospital. He proudly recalled that his dad encouraged him to combine his spirit of volunteerism and passion for improvisation and form a volunteer improvisation troupe.

“Cherub Improv” (cherubimprov.org) was thus born in NYC in 2007. Jonathan assembled a core group who travelled to hospitals, assisted living, and other venues (“wherever laughs were needed!”) to perform and teach free improv comedy. Before long, the troupe boasted scores of volunteers with 15-20 gigs a month. But then Covid hit.

Jonathan vows to bring the troupe back to Westchester, NYC, NJ, and wherever they can travel. “You have a captive audience aching to laugh; they might be lonely or miss their loved ones or have lost friends; it’s not easy.”

“In honor of my dad, I’m going to make it happen,” said Jonathan, all while continuing teaching at Arc Stages–Pleasantville’s beloved theater community that he discovered while playing basketball in an over 30 group at Pleasantville High School. During that time, one of the players, Matt Finkelstein, introduced Jonathan to Arc’s executive director, Marlene Canapi, and the rest of the team invited Jonathan to teach.

States Stephanie Kovacs Cohen, Arc’s Artistic Director of the Educational Stage, “Jonathan is truly a gifted teacher of improvisation. He is very warm, friendly, and clever. He has a great sense of humor… The class is filled with laughter from everyone much of the time.”

Jonathan, adds Stephanie, started this class with just a handful of people and it has grown to two classes of different levels. “The students return because they love what they are learning from Jonathan.”

Understanding Improv

So much to love.

Jonathan offered: “It’s a way for the students to communicate freely, creating something real and funny and spontaneous and insightful…

“The discipline of improv is to ‘say yes.’ If someone makes a statement, the improv actor accepts the role and information in a scene, so that they can work together to build something from scratch.

“Some people are naturally funny… But you can develop skills that make you funnier… Through the warm-up exercises, students feel supported and free to say things that might otherwise be outside their comfort zone.”

Ultimately too, improv is a huge confidence builder that can enhance different facets of your life.

Per Stephanie: “Jonathan imparts the idea that mistakes are gifts on stage–that it’s OK to take a risk, dare, and fall, so that next time when you try, you might fly.

“The students learn skills such as listening, staying flexible, and being in the moment, as well as working as an ensemble, making your partner look good and having a blast while you do all of it!

“The benefits they gain in this class like confidence, focus, and working with others can be useful in life anywhere, no matter what their occupation.”

Jonathan concurs: “No one is singling anyone out for being wrong, or not funny, or not smart… you start to feel, ‘hey I can do this. And if I can do this, I can do anything!”

For more information about Jonathan’s Improvisational Comedy class and about Arc Stages, visit arcstages.org

From the Mouths of Improv Students

A few students explained their own motivation for taking improv and their experiences studying with Jonathan.

Paul Carousso, a Chappaqua resident and CFO at a chemical manufacturing company, who has been studying with Jonathan for five years:

“Jonathan is a fantastic teacher…
I began classes simply to let off some steam, not to take myself so seriously, and to get a little silly. But my favorite aspect of the class is seeing my classmates open up and be unfiltered and freely creative…

“I have seen people who appear shy or reserved outwardly come up with the most wild and crazy scenes or lines. Hilarious.

“My kids are (mostly) grown by now, but after so many years of eyerolls and head-shaking when I’d spout Dad Jokes and act generally silly, it’s so nice to have a safe space to act like a goofball!”

Whitney Harris, a Sleepy Hollow-based screen writer and freelance health and parenting reporter:

“A good friend and writing partner suggested we enroll in Jonathan’s class, so we did it together… I was looking to have fun, challenge myself in a new way, and spark some personal creativity… I’m currently working on a television pilot with my writing partner, and we were very interested in expanding our creative process and meeting like-minded people.

“Improvisational skills make every conversation infinitely more engaging and empathetic… It makes human interaction purely playful and energizing since you’re working together to create funny moments…

“It helped me sharpen my mind, think on my feet, and meet great people along the way. And the occasional boost of confidence from a well-delivered line is priceless.”

Joanna Schaffer, a self-proclaimed introvert who commutes to the class from Brewster:

“A friend in my Toastmasters Club gave a speech on how impactful Jonathan’s improv class had been. He encouraged me to come to a class. That was two years ago, and I haven’t missed a session since… Jonathan makes us all feel welcome and special and talented… I tell everyone… it’s recess for adults.

“Throughout life, I wanted to be a participant, I wanted to step into the circle – be the one cracking jokes or singing a song to entertain everyone, but… I was just too introverted… now I feel I can fully participate in life.

“In our last show, for over three minutes, I shared the stage with one other “player” as we created a scene on the spot – all while performing as if we were in an opera. The laughs were the most powerful feedback anyone could ever hope to receive…”