The other day, Playbill ran a story about “Broadway Senior.”
The program — a counterpart to Broadway Junior, which adapts and licenses shows for middle schools, in age-appropriate ways — offers opportunities for people 60 and older to perform shows like “Guys and Dolls” and “Into the Woods.”
Why do they need to be adapted? In some cases, references to youth don’t work for older actors. Other times, they can’t exactly sing and dance as if they were 20.
The article — highlighting a production at Lenox Hill Neighborhood House in Manhattan — was moderately interesting. (Best line: “This is a ‘Guys and Dolls’ where, if you need help standing back up after sitting down and rockin’ the boat, a stage manager will be there to assist.” (Click here to read the full piece.)
But what caught my eye, in a Facebook post about the show, was that it was directed by Isabel Perry.
Isabel Perry
A 2015 graduate of Staples High School, where she was a key member of the Players drama troupe, she’s now a Brooklyn-based director of theatre and film. She has worked at La MaMa, Lucille Lortel, Lincoln Center and Second Stage.
Isabel is also a script reader for The Playwrights Realm, a member of Roundabout Director Group, and an instructor at The Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. At Northwestern University she studied theatre and Asian American studies, and directed “The Dolphin Show,” the largest entirely student-produced theatrical production in the country.
Which got me thinking: What are other Staples alums doing, in the entertainment world?
Plenty.
Players directors David Roth and Kerry Long keep close tabs on their grads. Here is a partial — but very wide-ranging — list of what their (and our) “kids” are up to.
(We apologize in advance for any names we’ve omitted. Click “Comments” to add other great Players’ alumni achievements.)
Justin Paul (Class of 2003) got an Emmy nomination for his music in “Only Murders in the Building.”
In addition, Justin and Caley Beretta (2010) spent the past 3 weeks in London workshopping a new musical.
Justin Paul has not forgotten his Staples Players roots. In March, he joined directors Kerry Long and David Roth to discuss “James and the Giant Peach” — a show he co-wrote — prior to Players’ production of it. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Whitney Andrews (2010) graduated from the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University, with an MFA in acting.
Clay Singer (2013) is playing Perchik in “Fiddler on the Roof” at The Muny in St. Louis.
Samuel Adelmann (2014) is also playing Perchik, in a different production of “Fiddler on the Roof”: at Valley Opera and Performing Arts in California.
Christian Melhuish (2016) is in “Legally Blonde” at the John W. Engeman Theatre at Northport, New York.
Jack Baylis (2015) is playing Warner in “Legally Blonde” at Theatre Aspen.
Zoe Mezoff (2017) is playing Hodel in “Fiddler on the Roof” at the Lexington Theatre Company in Kentucky.
Nick Rossi (2019) is performing in “Jersey Boys” and “La Cage Aux Folles” at the Lake Winnipesaukee Playhouse.
Georgia Wright (2019) played a show of her songs at the Brooklyn Music Kitchen. She was booked for the gig by talent agent Cara McNiff (2014),
Sophie Rossman (2021) is studying at NYU Tisch’s International Theatre Workshop in Amsterdam.
Cameron Mann (2024) starred in the movie “Greg’s Going to Rehab,” shot in St. Louis in June.
This is not Cameron Mann’s real hair. Then again, is not in rehab in real life, either.
Cooper Sadler (2024): in the ensemble of “Mary Poppins” at The Summer Theatre of New Canaan.
As for Players co-director Kerry Long — a 1997 Staples grad — she and Players set designer Jordan Janota worked on the film “Miracle on 74th Street.” It was shot in Manhattan in June.
(“06880” is proud to cover the accomplishments of Staples graduates — and everyone else in Westport — in every area of life. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
From my own experience 20 years ago producing a show at the New York International Fringe Festival—about The Remains, of course—I can attest to the incredible talents of the people involved with the Staples Players and can add to this list.
That show’s director and assistant director, by the way, were David Roth and Kerry Long—and they both did a remarkable job given the time and budget constraints of an Actors Equity Showcase production.
The actors in that production included Daryl Wein and Daniel Hall. Daryl, of course, has made it big-time as an actor-director-writer-producer, Daniel has had ongoing success as an actor and most recently was on a TV show last year and was part of an award-winning cast in a movie that is on the film festival circuit right now.
And last, but not least, on the tech side there was our lighting designer, Alec Bernstein, who, to the best of my knowledge has made a career in this field.
Hi Dan,
I want to mention; Noah and Alexi Hawley were in my Staples graduating class 1985. They should be added to your list.
Back in the day we knew them as musicians. It turns out they have both made successful careers as writers and producers.
We have been enjoying the show, The Rookie for the last 5 yrs. One day I caught a familiar name on the credits, I realized that Alexi created, produces and is also a writer for his show. Sadly it is coming to a close. However if you look him up, it is just one of his many projects.
I haven’t seen any of Noah’s work yet. Taken from Wikipedia. “Noah is screenwriter, director, producer, author, and singer. He is best known for creating and writing the FX series Fargo (2014–present) and Legion (2017–2019). He also worked on the series Bones (2005–2008), The Unusuals (2009), and My Generation (2010).”
Hey all, I know I’m late to the party, but better late than never!
Some may remember my brother, Carmine Picarello (class of 2000). He ran a spot up in the catwalk at Staples when Megan Clawson (now Megan Nathanson) reigned as our beloved stage manager. After attending Savannah College of Art Design (SCAD), Carmine became a sound designer for film and television. Most notably, he was the boom operator for the tv show, Marvelous Miss Maisel, where his department won an Emmy! He’s worked with so many big names and famous people, it makes me angry… Like when he was working with J-Lo and didn’t tell her I said hi, or Lady GaGa when he shot that commercial, and especially when he worked with Nicole Kidman and forgot to tell her I said hi and that I loved her in Practical Magic and to please call up Sandra Bullock and make a sequel!!?? …yeah, we could have had a sequel, people. But no! He forgot 🙄 (I’m mostly being funny—but still!!) 😭😭😭
I guess I’m forever “Carmine’s (now envious) little sister” — how most people referred to me at Staples.
Look Carmine Picarello up on IMDB and see if he’s worked on any of your favorite shows or movies!