Central High thespians will act in statewide productions

Four members of the Valley Stream Central High School Thespian Honor Society have been selected to take part in two statewide productions sponsored by the New York Thespians. Azriel Perez, Emily Monfort, Josh Nixon and Elodie Jason sent in their audition tapes and have been cast in the virtual production of Tilda Swinton Betrayed Us alongside student performers from across the state. Additionally, Emily and Josh will also be taking part in the New York Thespian production of The Door.

“These four are incredibly dedicated students,” said Central Theater Director Elizabeth Kott. “It takes a lot of time and effort to balance your life as a student with extracurricular activities, and this just goes to show how much they’re dedicated to the performing arts,” she stated.

As proof of their dedication, Kott noted that the four selected students went from taking part in Central’s fall production of Pippin to auditioning for the school’s winter production of She Kills Monsters the following week to submitting their audition tapes for the statewide performance the week after.

“They literally can’t go a week without theater in their lives,” she said.

Monfort and Nixon are also no strangers to the New York Thespians, having been cast in the organization’s 2021 production of Kodachrome. The two also currently sit on the New York Thespians Board as officers while Jason serves as Chair of the organization. Because of the pandemic, the students will film their parts separately and the final production will then be streamed on February 18.