The Heidi Chronicles make their NYU debut
Outside of Tisch, a different acting group will soon take center stage
The Heidi Chronicles: Set during the baby boomer generation, and continuing through to the 80s, this play follows the titular character, who is a feminist, during a time when women’s roles were radically changing. She struggles to find love, friendship, and a general sense of happiness in a society where male influence dominates. Although written in the 80s, major themes, such as the relationship between the genders and their societal roles, are still commentaries that are being had today.
Theaters that have produced this play include two Broadway ones, one in Chicago, and even The English Theatre of Rome.
Oh, and add NYU College of Arts and Sciences Theater (CAST) to the list.
With productions this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and a Q/A session with the cast after the Saturday one, from the looks of rehearsals, it’s going to be a production to be remembered. In the process, I was able to have a few interviews with some of the main members.
Kirsten Sweeney: Director
Photo cred: NYU CAST
2017, Gallatin (conc. entertainment and identity)
Why did you join CAST?
I signed up for their mailing list at Club Fest my semester at NYU. They put out a call for directors for a one-act festival. I put in an application and got accepted. So I directed that show. And then I got asked to work again on their next show, and the following one…the snowball effect. So I’ve been with CAST every semester.
Why this play?
When I knew I was going to be directing a play this spring, I knew I wanted it to be one with a female lead and that was strongly focused on women because I’m a woman and a feminist. I also wanted a show that reflected my own ideals because I don’t often get to work on shows where the majority of the cast are women. So that was really exciting for me to do. And this is also exciting because these characters are so relatable to the world today.
And why now?
It’s about a generation that’s different from ours (the baby boomers), and as millennials, there’s quite a disconnect between us and them. If we’re asking baby boomers to understand us, then we also have to try and understand them. So by doing this play, it’s made me realize the similarities in that even though this was written 30 years ago, we’ve still been fighting for the same things. Today, the mainstream media is so focused on social justice and feminism and things like that. And this (feminism) isn’t a movement that started just 30 years ago – it’s something women have been working toward for a long time.
Kristen Vaganos: Heidi Holland
2018, Tisch Drama (Strasberg)
Why did you join CAST?
Three of my friends were in Spring Awakening (a different CAST production) last year and had only good things to say.
Do you find anything appealing about this particular play?
Oh, absolutely. I love The Heidi Chronicles as a play regardless. As a feminist myself, I think it’s very important and I also love the witty humor, which I very much relate to. She’s (Heidi’s) a fun character to play and I was drawn to her when I heard they were doing the show.
Nicky Boulos: Scoop Rosenbaum
Photo cred: NYU CAST
2018, Tisch Drama
Why did you join CAST?
As an actor I want to take work where I can get it. I really like the story they were telling. And also the cast in the show is really great; I enjoy working with them and the crew is very helpful. It’s an all-around great environment to be in.
Do you find anything appealing about this particular play?
Yea, definitely. There’s a lot of romance, fun, and sad moments. So it’s a play that incorporates a lot in it and it’s really about taking ownership of being who you are, being a woman in this world and what that means. It takes a look at Heidi through the course of her life and how she struggles–deals with men, work, friends. Everyone will relate to it in some way, which is what makes it such a great play.
Tickets are currently being sold on Eventbrite for $7. Regardless of which performance you watch, it’s a wild ride back to a previous generation, with themes that are still applicable to today and tomorrow.
And a few scene previews:
It’s a baby shower! But for whom?
Scoop and Peter have a heated conversation early on. Find out why at the actual performance.