The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

Into the Woods

Graceful Gratitude

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By Grace Bennett

I recently started a “Mindfulness Boot Camp” with Jodi Baretz, whose etcetera column in this edition is an excellent reflection on gratitude. I’m not sure I can add more value on the subject than Jodi, but interesting to note: Jodi explained to our group that feeling grateful may not come naturally at all.

In fact, she said that us humans harbor a “negativity bias,” meaning we’re more likely to focus on the one negative aspect of say, a vacation, than on the many positive aspects of the experience. Similarly, in relationships, one negative experience can cast a shadow on an overall positive pairing, or one annoying personality trait might be your obsessive focus on an otherwise wonderful person.

As my mom might have put it, people like to kvetch…a lot. Seems we have to practice being more mindful about feeling grateful!  So I’m going to share just a few things I’m feeling grateful for today:

  • To fresh starts, professionally speaking. Like the redesign of this magazine. Chappaqua’s Lisa Samkoff came on board to give our Inside pubs a more contemporary look. We hope you agree that it has been a successful effort. Grateful for other key support from Caroline Rosengarden and Andrew Vitelli, and for all our contributors and of course, sponsors, to each edition.
  • The exciting new theatre productions underway at the Horace Greeley Theater Company. Rehearsals are underway for ‘Into the Woods,” directed by Jonathan Gellert. Tickets are on sale for the Nov. 17-19 performances. For more information, visit
    Cast members of "Into the Woods"
    Cast members of “Into the Woods”

    http://www.greeleytheater.tix.com

  • To the power of the written word. I’m thrilled that seven courageous girls took time out this summer to express to the community at large their smart and passionate thoughts about the election while pondering their neighbor’s incredible journey. I’m grateful to Dr. Keri Walsh, who brought her writing program at the Greeley House this past summer to my attention.
  • My ‘get fit’ journey at the Saw Mill Club in Mount Kisco. I announced on Facebook recently that I’d gained too much weight over the last year. I’m grateful for the opportunity to train twice a week with a wonderfully engaging personal trainer, Sarah Eichorn. She’s making a huge difference in how I feel both physically and mentally in these empty nest years. The changes in how I look and feel are showing in little increments, and I’m embracing Sarah’s belief that a positive journey is as important to my well-being and long term success as any weight loss I experience. I’ll be writing more about this special experience in the next edition, too!

So, tell me. What are you grateful for? Maybe it too could be a story in a future edition of Inside Chappaqua. Write to editor@insidechappaqua.com.

Greeley Theatre’s Upcoming “Into The Woods:” An Interview with HGHS Theatre Director Jonathan Gellert

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“Powerful Artistry” in Progress! Be sure to SAVE THE DATES for Into the Woods: November 17, 18 & 19

By Ellen Davis

The Horace Greeley Theatre Company is hard at work.  Rehearsals have begun for “Into the Woods” which is scheduled for November, 17th, 18th and 19th.   I hope you all come out to see how talented our students are. They are singing, dancing and acting. They are building sets.  They are creating costumes.  They are assistant directing.  They are playing music. They are working tech. They are designing hair and makeup.  I got a sneak peek.  The kids sound amazing and it is truly a joyous atmosphere.  Recently I had the opportunity to discuss the upcoming year with Horace Greeley’s Theater Director Jonathan Gellert.  Here’s what he had to say.

Ellen Davis:  I think “Into the Woods” is such a wonderful ensemble musical.  Why did you choose it?

Jonathan Gellert:  I’ve have wanted to direct “Into the Woods” for many years and have always held off because, although it provides a uniquely large number of roles, it is not written with an ensemble. It is very important to me to have at least one show a season that provides an opportunity for every student who wishes to perform. That said, I decided pretty early on last year that “Into the Woods” would be the best show to start off this year for a number of reasons (the cast breakdown–the challenge provided by the material – the timeless message) and I have been looking for ways to involve more cast members in as much action as the production will allow.woods2

ED:  It must have made you feel great to see how many kids auditioned? There seems to be some wonderfully talented students.

JG:  There are 22 students in “Into The Woods” who are completely new to Greeley Theater and 15 of them are Freshmen. It absolutely makes me and the rest of the Performing Arts department feel great to see those numbers and to be working with so many excited and motivated young artists.

ED:  You are starting your second year at Greeley.  How’s it going so far?

JG:   As I start my second year at Greeley I am incredibly optimistic about the future of this program. Chappaqua is such a special strong passionate community that is uniquely devoted to the arts and Greeley is an extraordinary place, full of bright, hardworking and talented students.  I will do everything I can this year and in the years ahead to give this school and community the program that it deserves.woods1

ED:  What can we expect this year from the Theatre Repertory company?

JG:  The Actors in the Repertory Theater class are learning “Linklater”–that is they are working carefully and thoughtfully to lay the foundation of grounded connected performance. Linklater work and work inspired by Kristen Linklater is a staple of every major theater training program in the English speaking world. It is an advanced training that requires serious focused work and does not offer immediate gratification; however, if the exercises are approached with professionalism, maturity and diligence then they are an investment in truly powerful artistry.  We are going to take this work and apply it to our first project which is an evening of the short later experimental plays of “Samuel Beckett”. These works explore stillness and motion, silence and stream of thought and light and darkness in beautiful ways. These short plays also provide tremendous challenges for the student designers in the class. The designers in the Repertory Theater class are being mentored for this project by Charles Kirby –a professional scenic designer based in NYC. Second semester the Repertory Theater class will work on more naturalistic scene work and designers will create models and renderings. We will then work together to create an original piece.woods3

 ED:  What other productions are on tap?

JG:  After “Into the Woods” the next production on tap is “Peter and the Starcatcher.” This prequel to Peter Pan is in my opinion one of the most exciting new plays in the last 20 years. It has just become available for licensing and is being produced widely in many theaters, universities and high schools. The original Broadway cast had only one female but I plan to cast the production of 12 principles and up to eight additional ensemble evenly between male and female. I am also lucky to be good friends with two members of the original cast and have been promised that barring out of town work, they would be very happy to come and work with us here at Greeley. The next production will be an evening of three plays by Thornton Wilder. Before Wilder wrote “Our Town” he experimented with form and created a number of profound, original short works. These works play with time and space as they capture the universals within the everyday interactions of people going about their lives in early 20th century America. Finally, Springfest this year will once again offer an exciting opportunity for playwrights and directors to present their original works.

ED:  Please let everyone know when “Into the Woods” will be performed and when tickets will go on sale?

JG:   Into the Woods will be performed November 17th at 7 p.m.,  November 18th at 8 p.m. and November 19th at 8 p.m. Tickets will be on sale by the last week in October.

ED:  What would you tell a student that is curious about the theater program?

JG:  I would tell a student who is interested in the Greeley Theater program that we offer a place here for you to stretch, grow, take risks, and explore. In addition to our full production schedule, design and technical students have an opportunity to learn stagecraft from the ground up and for those who exhibit the dedication and drive, to assume leadership positions in set construction, lighting, sound and costuming.

The Theater program offers acting classes at every level, beginning with Acting 1 that lays a solid foundation of improvisation and play which will help you to get more and more comfortable on stage; Acting 2,3,4 which will teach you a solid acting technique; Repertory Theater which is designed for the serious student to take on greater and great challenges and Play writing and Directing class which culminates in our annual festival of new work. There is a place for you here at Greeley Theater!

ED:  Please feel free to add anything you would like included.

JG:   “Love the art in yourself–not yourself in the art” is central to my philosophy. I deeply believe that this quotation by Konstantin Stanislavski–the founder of modern acting training is at the heart of a healthy and safe environment.

ellen-davis-photoEllen Davis writes, produces and directs video content. She is also a Friends of Greeley Theatre board member.