The Oceanside Broadway Club, formerly known as Club X, recently gave students a firsthand look at the professional theater world during a special trip to the Off-Broadway production of “Little Shop of Horrors.”
The experience included not only a performance of the hit musical, but also an intimate private talkback with lead producer Tom Kirdahy and cast members Jordan Fisher, Nikki M. James and Andy Karl.
Students Sofie Wolfe, an 11th grader, and sophomores Donovan Pectol and Cora Harpur joined work-based learning coordinator Iris Wiener for the event, which combined arts education with career exploration.
Wiener, who became a co-advisor for the Broadway Club this year, said she wanted students to gain a deeper understanding of the theater industry beyond simply watching a performance.
“The Broadway Club is for students who love theater and enjoy seeing shows together,” Wiener said. “As the work-based learning coordinator, I wanted to take it a step further and connect students directly with professionals in the industry.”
Wiener explained that Kirdahy, a colleague of hers in the theater world, agreed to make the evening even more memorable by speaking with students about producing and introducing them to members of the cast.
Kirdahy, a Long Island native who attended Hauppauge High School, is a Tony and Olivier Award-winning producer. He is also a lead producer on the current Broadway revival of “Ragtime,” which recently won Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk awards for Best Musical Revival and is nominated for a Tony Award.
Students said hearing directly from accomplished theater professionals gave them valuable insight into the realities of careers in the arts.
“They talked about what it’s like to be an actor and a producer, and how there are so many moving pieces behind a production,” Pectol said. “Jordan Fisher spoke about balancing being both a performer and a producer and seeing both sides of the industry.”
The cast also shared advice about auditions, rejection and maintaining confidence while pursuing creative careers.
“They told us that when you don’t get an audition, it’s not always a ‘no,’” Harpur said. “Sometimes you’re just not what they’re looking for at that moment.”
For Wolfe, who hopes to continue studying theater and production, the opportunity was especially meaningful.
“It was amazing getting to meet people we admire so much on such a personal level,” Wolfe said. “You see actors and producers on stage and online, but hearing about their real experiences and struggles makes everything feel more possible.”
Students also said the intimate Off-Broadway setting made the production especially memorable, particularly the elaborate puppetry and staging of the show’s famous man-eating plant, Audrey II.
“The show felt so immersive,” Wolfe said. “Even from the back of the theater, you could see all the work and rehearsal that goes into making something like that happen.”
Wiener said opportunities like these are an important extension of classroom learning and help students envision future career paths.
“Experiences like this teach students that the people they admire are real people with stories, challenges and advice to share,” Wiener said. “The exposure helps students grow creatively and professionally.”
The Broadway Club has previously connected students with professionals from productions including “A Wonderful World” and “The Outsiders.” Wiener said she hopes to continue creating similar experiences for Oceanside students in the future.
