Three bright urbanites want to make their mark on the world. Paul, a master of irony and distance, is a hardworking film maker on the rise. His girlfriend Karen, a grad student, must get on with her thesis or find a life outside of academia. Dave, a life long buddy whose brilliance is being consumed by increasingly severe episodes of manic depression, is camping on Paul’s couch. Paul and Karen decide to turn Dave into a documentary. The camera is on 24 hours a day, capturing up close images of his jags and torpors and their responses. How far will love, friendship and ambition take this hip trio?
Jump/Cut was NHS’ intended submission to the Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guild’s High School Theatre Festival and a product of an Honors-Level Theatre Independent Study. Students in Honors Theatre Ensemble work together each year to produce a piece for Dramafest in March as well as a Student Directed Festival in May. The course is designed for students wishing to pursue theatre after high school either in college or professionally. The class focuses on building an ensemble as well as furthering skills taught in previous courses. Students pick a concentration in performance, tech, directing or writing and work toward a set of goals that they design for themselves at the beginning of the year.
Jump/Cut is approximately an hour-long cutting of the full-length play by Neena Beber. This play was chosen as it challenges the dual interests of the students in the class: theatre and film. Some of the show is shot on location and projected on stage. These particular students were all drawn to a small-cast, modern, dramatic work that allowed them to explore realistic characters that were experiencing great change in their lives. The students did copious research on Bipolar Disorder in preparation for this piece. They met with clinical therapists as well as patients and their families coping with this illness. Cast and crew were recently seen in NHS Theatre Department’s RENT School Edition–one show certainly fed the other in terms of character exploration as the genre of film, the act of storytelling and the joys and perils of friendship are integral in both works.
Cast Information for Jump/Cut
The play stars Michaela Good as Karen, Matt Tolley as Paul and Jordan Dunn-Pilz as Dave. Alyx Allen is the company’s Stage Manager. The show is directed byStephanie Williams & Lisa Zaleski. Their past shows at the Firehouse include The Laramie Project and Footloose.
The full-length drama is the winner of the Williamstown Theater Festival’s L. Arnold Weissberger Award.
Reviews for Jump/Cut
“Could not be more timely…. Fearlessly dives into provocative issues and ideas.”
Washington Times
“Savvy, solid play … about our fascination with victims and voyeurism, … friendship and ambition, striving and its worth. Beber builds her characters … carefully with efficient and graceful layers of personalities and ideas…. An accomplished piece of work structurally sound, snappily written and shot through with humor.”
Washington City Paper
“Fresh and compelling … clever and witty.”
Arlington Weekly News
“A sharp, funny, heartbreaking play that just pulls you in.”
Montgomery Community Television
“Quick and sharp … [with] something to say about the emotional environment we live in.”
The Georgetowner
“A remarkable, absorbing, complex and
intelligent play.”
Variety
This event is presented by the Newburyport High School.
This play contains mature themes including adult language, sexuality, mental illness and suicide.
Detail on Jump/Cut at The Firehouse in Newburyport
As a part of NHS Theatre’s mission to use theatre as a means to educate, create awareness and generate discussion; we, along with the Firehouse, will be hosting a post-performance talk-back with a panel of mental-health professionals, cast and crew.
Tickets: Adults $12; Students $8
For more information visit The Firehouse Center For The Arts