Oak Hill Academy Sets the Stage for a New Jr. Thespian Troupe

Oak Hill Academy, the best private school in Monmouth County, is one of the few schools in the entire state of NJ that offers students in grades Pre-K through 8th an opportunity to participate in an Educational Theatre program as part of their weekly curriculum.

Theatre in school is an enormously valuable experience.  Involvement in theatre builds confidence, and it enhances students’ abilities to work in groups toward a common goal. Theatre stimulates creativity and problem-solving skills. Theatre also helps students develop self-discipline and encourages commitment to a cause.  And, if you’ve ever been involved in a theater class or production, then you know that experience creates memories and bonds that will last a lifetime.

Director of Oak Hill Academy’s Drama Program, Mrs. Bridget DeVivo, was looking for a way to celebrate and acknowledge Oak Hill Academy’s strong program and the many talented and dedicated student actors.  Therefore, she petitioned the International Thespian Society, the student honorary division of the Educational Theatre Association, for the privilege of chartering a Junior Thespian Troupe. The Drama program oat Oak Hill Academy was determined to meet the standards required by the Board of Directors of the Educational Theatre Association, and the application was accepted.  Oak Hill Academy has been granted the Charter of New Jersey Jr. Thespian Troupe #89635.

To celebrate this honor, the school hosted an induction ceremony on Thursday, January 10th held in the Scire Student Activities Center.  16 students in grades 6th-8th were inducted into the Thespian Society as a reward for the fine work they have done in Oak Hill’s theatre program. Students become members by earning points for their work. Junior Thespian membership is granted for the performance of meritorious work in theatre arts that meets the International Thespian Society’s guidelines. Points are earned for hours spent in rehearsal and performance in the Upper School play, working on stage crew, also creating meaningful work during weekly drama classes, and participating on the Forensics Team or in the Veteran’s Day Assembly.

The following Jr. Thespians were inducted: Lexi Cassino (8th), Isabelle Darman (8th), Sarina Dhaliwal (8th), Thibaut Fabricant (8th), Samantha Garber (8th), Isabella Incognito (8th), Kevin Kinsella (8th), Ayla O’Conner (8th), Robert Schweikert (8th), Karsten Sima (8th), Audrey Yan (8th), Catherine Zhang (8th), Avery Duffy (7th), Isabella Cantalupo (7th), Nicholas Codispoti (6th) and Benjamin Peters (6th).

Following the induction, select Thespians performed excerpts of monologues and duet scenes.  It was just a small sampling of the enormous talent that we have at Oak Hill Academy.  Actors are called Thespians in honor of the first actor, Thespis, who emerged from the ancient Greek chorus and became an individual character in the play.

Thibaut Fabricant performed an excerpt from a monologue entitled “Accumulating Cats” by Kelly Meadows.  Then, Isabelle Darman performed an emotional monologue excerpt from “The Diary of Anne Frank” followed by Catherine Zhang who made the audience chuckle with her comedic monologue entitled “And the Broom you Rode in On” by Jerry Rabushka.

Congratulations to the new Inductees and to Mrs. DeVivo.  Welcome to membership in the International Thespian Society as Junior Thespians and always remember the International Thespian Society motto, “‘Act well your part; there all the honor lies.’”