Kids & Family

'Metamorphoses' Comes to Westfield High Theater

The play will feature a 1,500 gallon pool on set.

The Westfield high School Theatre Department will kick off their fall play, Metamorphoses, this Thursday.

The award-winning play brings classic myths and legends to life in a new and mesmerizing way, according to the department. Each of the shows stories takes place around a giant pool of water built into the stage.

Opening night is Thursday at 4 p.m. and additional performances will take place on Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

The show is based on Ovid's epic poem Metamorphoses.

"The show offers morals on the importance of love and humility, while also reminding us why the myths themselves retain importance and relevance,” said director Daniel Devlin, the drama teacher at Westfield High School. “It is, in many ways, an exploration of the transformative power of love."

Westfield High School Art Teacher, Roy Chambers, designed the set. The set features a 17-by-20 foot pool of 1,500 gallons of water on a multi-level set created by a team of students led by Cambers and senior Hannah Mackenzie. The pool  presented the biggest challenge for the cast of Metamorphoses.

Senior Stage Manager, Samantha Gruskin, said the play "is like nothing we've ever done before." She explained that the actors moving in and out of the water and working around the pool was an unusual challenge. "The water affects the props, the costumes, the lighting, the sound -- every aspect of production," she said.

"The students embrace these challenges and work very hard to guarantee a great production," Angela Ko, Publicity Chair for the production said.

Additionally, pieces such as blankets, pillows, towels and rugs, which were donated by the WHS community will be donated to a local animal shelter after the production.

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Metamorphoses features an ensemble cast of Westfield High School students, who each play multiple roles.

The cast is as follows:  Elena Arida, Colin Barry, Sarah Boyle, Catherine Bruno, Daniel Coelho, Jackie Daaleman, Lauren Echausse, Nicholas Gabuzda, Isabella Gelfand, Frank Guerriero, Victoria Guerriero, Maddie Hudelson, Katherine Ko, Julian Mone, Emmanuelle Nadeau, Abbie Paone, Megan Pinna, Michael Poyntz, Jill Rosenfeld, Madi Rosenthal, Kim Roth, Lisa Simon, Fraser Weist, Connor Wynne and Jesse Zimmermann. 

The show's technical crew includes: Matt Binkowitz and Mary Kate Miller (lighting and sound); Alexa Derman (hair and makeup); Maddie Kevelson (costumes); Ellie Smith (props) and Alex Pallatucci (graphic design).

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Tickets can be purchased for $10 by emailing WHStickets@Westfieldnjk12.org or at the door.


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