YC Actors Ensemble

Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov
Adapted from Chekhov by Lavina Jadhwani

“Lorraine” High School Ensemble | May 10 at 5:30 p.m.

Directed by M. Graham Smith

Uncle Vanya and of all Chekhov’s late plays are hilarious dark comedies where ordinary people struggle to maintain their dignity as life tries to peel it away. Whether it’s the forces of unfulfilled love, massive wealth inequality, or ecological destruction, they attempt to contend with spirit, humor, and often find themselves screaming into the wind. The absurdity of the human condition, both then and now, is our theme. Sometimes classics like Uncle Vanya feel stuffy, but not in Lavina Jadhwani’s streamlined contemporary remix of the play that cuts the play's two hours down to 75 quick minutes. Lavina is a fast-rising playwright whose work has been performed on stages throughout the country. Join us as we tackle one of the theater’s greatest classics through a lens of a contemporary Asian-American artist and activist in an entertaining and thought-provoking staged reading performance.

En Garde!: Acting Through Stage Combat and Movement

“Tennessee” Middle School Ensemble | May 11 at 5:30 p.m.

Directed by Gendell Hing-Hernandez

Master the art of working together as one! This spring, the Middle School Actors Ensemble brings classic scenes from theater to life through stage combat and movement choreography. Using iconic scenes from works such as Romeo and Juliet, Pirates of Penzance, and Hamilton, students will learn the art of shifting focus, lifting up others, and stepping in to create specificity out of chaos as a unified ensemble. Join award-winning actor/choreographer Gendell Hing-Hernandez as we discover the power of collaborative play.