Connor Zeitlin ’25 and Alexandros Antonopoulos ’26 share the stage in “The Future of Sincerity.”
By Eva Swanson ‘25
On January 26 and 27, students and faculty filled Gelb Theater to watch the annual production of Student Directed Scenes (SDS), a collection of short plays chosen and directed by members of the Honors Directing class.
SDS is the culminating project of the two-term-long course for developing student directors. With six members of the class staging a production, the Gelb saw the work of directors Ryder Rubenstein ’25 with “The Art of the Duel,” Leanne La ’26 with “The Future of Sincerity,” Andra Ionescu ’24 with “Murder by Midnight,” Qin Caldwell ’24 with “Because the World Needs Unicorns,” Nick Rubino ’24 with “A Tale of Two Spectators,” and Grace Walters ’24 with “Midnight Cafe.”
In the Honors Directing class, students directed excerpts of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” and took a deep dive into the logistics of theater production and behind-the-scenes work. “The first term, which is the fall term, we work on just learning the craft of directing,” acting teacher Ms. Deighna DeRiu said. “In the winter term, I’m just there to help the students or … [keep them] on track with what they’re supposed to do with their rehearsal schedules [for SDS].”
“The Art of the Duel,” directed by Rubenstein, is a witty and amusing take on pistol duels in the modern era. Though it covers an intense confrontation about honor and character, the play portrays the subject matter comically.
“The Future of Sincerity” was directed by La. It “is essentially a romance scene set a little bit in the future, but it has a few twists and turns,” actor Alexandros Antonopoulos ’26 said.
Growing up in theater, La said she looked up to her directors, “who led the company with a vision.” She enjoyed choosing and directing a short play, an opportunity that La would not have explored without the Honors Directing class.
“Murder by Midnight,” directed by Ionescu, follows detective Dick Piston in New York City as he attempts to solve a murder in 10 minutes. Jordan Dodd ’25, who played Piston, enjoyed the rehearsal process and working with his fellow peers. Namely, Dodd enjoyed working with his co-star, Valentina Askar ’25. “We’re very close, and it’s been fun playing her love interest,” he said.
Caldwell’s “Because the World Needs Unicorns” details the story of a legendary creature attempting to board a boat and find refuge from an impending flood. A veteran “techie,” or worker of the tech booth, Caldwell was familiar with the typical constraints of a stage production. He directed with the an idea of what other elements he could put on stage with his actors, and his experience allowed him to both articulate and execute his vision for lighting and setting.
“A Tale of Two Spectators,” directed by Rubino, follows two strangers who spy on their partners, and they become unlikely friends.
Finally, Walters’s “Midnight Cafe,” a vintage horror and murder mystery, opens with a screaming girl running onto stage covered in blood. “A little mysterious and unsettling,” described actor Friday Acuna ’26, “Midnight Cafe” is a gripping thriller that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats.
With a unique lineup of plays and talented students, this year’s SDS treated the Choate community to an entertaining theatrical experience. “The whole point of SDS is for the audience to enjoy themselves,” Dodd said. “I looked forward to the entire ensemble of SDS giving something to Choate.”
