HS Arts Department Follows Eurydice to the Underworld

By Arielle Karni ‘26
A young heroine in love.
A “Nasty, Interesting man”
A journey through the underworld.
Powerful string, and countless plot twists.

Golda Och Academy’s 2023 high school production of Sarah Ruhl’s play, Eurydice, delivered all of this drama and more.
    The Arts Department once again transformed the upper school’s multi-purpose room into a black box style stage and theater for this production.  
Eurydice is a reimagined story of the classic Greek myth of Orpheus. Ruhl’s unique and modern twist of the timeless love story spins the tale from the eyes of the heroine, Eurydice.  
GOA senior Hannah Weisz said, “Eurydice is a reimagined version of the princess and the pea, twisting common fairytale archetypes into a new comedic musical.”
The play opened with Eurydice, played by Katriela Nelkins ‘25, and Orpheus, played by Jesse Berkowitz ‘24, as bride and groom. On their wedding day, Eurydice meets the Nasty Interesting Man, played by Talia Rosen ‘26, who lures Eurydice away with the promise that he has a letter from her deceased father, played by Weisz. While leaving the Nasty Interesting Man,  Eurydice trips on stairs and falls to her death. Eurydice is welcomed to the underworld by  Little Stone, Big Stone, and Loud Stone, played by Leo Milch ‘27, Bradley Griffel ‘24, and Yael Benzaquen ‘26, respectively, who invoke the audience’s imagination while enforcing the rules of the underworld. 
All of this was brought to life (and death) by a stage crew that included seniors Adina, Peri and Shoshie Newman.
GOA arts teacher Mr. Yeshion, who directed the play, said, “It was truly a joy directing this exceptional cast in our production of Eurydice. The performers dedicated their entire being to the creative process, crafting extraordinarily beautiful characters through incredibly nuanced and captivating performances. Bravo!"
Sophomore Talia Rosen echoed Mr. Y’s enthusiasm, “Being part of the Eurydice production was an amazing experience. We really bonded as a group and the end result was really cool too.” 
Sophomore Gracie Sacks provided her service as makeup and hair artist for the play.
 “Working for the play was truly amazing. It is so inspiring to see all of the hard work done behind the scenes and minuscule details that transform the show. I gained a greater appreciation for both the actors, directors, and the arts themselves,” she said.
    The Arts Department’s next major production will be the high school musical Once Upon A Mattress, debuting January 11, 2024.

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