Molloy University hosts annual Long Island High School Theatre Festival

Alyssa R. Griffin ~ LIHerald.com

The Long Island High School Theatre Festival returned to Molloy University for an action-packed day for area high school students. This fourth-annual event gave students a chance to learn tips and tricks from the world of theater.

Molloy brought together roughly 200 students from South Side and nine other Long Island high schools for a day of collaborative activities, performances, and workshops. Each session was designed to build skills and provide meaningful connections with peers and theater professionals.

This year’s festival, held on Nov. 7, had a special twist with the return of Molloy CAP21 alum Diego Enrico to the Madison Theatre stage. Enrico, now a Broadway star playing Elder Cunningham in “The Book of Mormon,” shared his experiences with the students.

“It’s really fun to be back so soon to the Madison Theatre,” he said. “And it's super nostalgic. Having been around the country doing shows and performing in different theaters, I sort of took this space for granted in college. It’s really a nice full-circle moment to come back and experience it in a totally different light.”

The festival began inside the theater, where students were introduced to Enrico.“Diego is an alum of the program here,” said James Bulleri, department operations director for CAP21. “We run a BFA musical theater program at CAP21 and we're really proud of all of our alums.” Enrico assured students that he was there to offer encouragement and guidance.

“There's so many voices telling you so many different things,” Enrico said. “I remember what that feeling was like, and looking for who I was in that moment was scary. I'm sure a lot of you are going through the same thing, but just know that you're not alone in that situation.”

After his keynote, students had the opportunity to ask questions before moving to their designated workshops.

“This is an opportunity for students to come to Molloy and not only experience Molloy itself, but also to explore what they can do in theater,” Bulleri said.

Students participated in hands-on workshops, including acting, choreography, and improvisation, with one workshop led by Enrico himself. Meanwhile, teachers from each visiting high school attended a session on high school theater production. Each student could visit three workshops.

“Meeting and working with Diego was so inspiring,” said Ben Behar, a student who attended the festival. “He taught me that no matter what, I'm always the best version of myself—and that who I am can serve so many different purposes, both on stage and in everyday life. Being in the same room with a professional actor who's now on Broadway was truly life-changing.”

For more information on Molloy’s CAP21 program, visit Molloy.edu.