By Ellie Smith
Features Editor
For the sixth time in seven years, Westford Academy Theater Arts has won the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild Festival. This past weekend, WATA placed at the festival for the fifth year in a row with the production of My Name is Asher Lev.
Previous wins at the festival include last year’s production of Sonia Flew, The Hairy Ape in 2012, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar in 2011, Chamber Music in 2010, and Dancing at Lughnasa in 2008.
The 40 minute play, directed by Michael Towers and student assistant director Jillian Baker, began showing at Westford Academy on February 27th and was performed in the various rounds of the METG Festival.
A total of 61 people, including 3 actors and over 50 stage crew members, have spent over 4 months working on this production. The entire set is constructed on stage in front of the audience as members of the stage crew put together the wooden base of the stage and carry tables, chairs, carpets and other props onto the stage.
The play tells the story of Asher Lev, a Hasidic Jewish painter who hopes to break free of his parents’ strict ways and become a true artist. Through his journey from youth to adulthood, he meets multiple men and women who help him reconcile his religious faith with his need to express himself as a painter.
In total, the METG Festival is a month long event, encompassing multiple performances spread out over five weeks.
The festival consisted of 14 different rounds at 14 different sites across the state of Massachusetts. Three schools from each of the 14 sites were selected to advance at the end of the preliminary rounds at Danvers High School on March 1st. At the semi-final rounds at Westford Academy on March 15th, two schools from each site were selected to move on.
In the final round, the remaining 14 top schools in the state competed at the Back Bay Events Center in Boston. Westford Academy was one of three schools chosen as winners of the state festival.
Two of the three winners of the METG finals were invited to move on to the New England Festival in Vermont this April. However, WA opted not to partake because by the time of the festival, WATA will be in the middle of their next season.
METG Festival judge Georgia Bills was impressed with the production and recognized that multiple scenes throughout the play were extremely powerful.
“[The actors] removed me from my world and transported me to the world of the play. This piece shines in its thoughtful, intelligent, honest and raw examination of a drama built upon some very timeless conflict,” said Bills in her written feedback. “This production will remain in my mind’s eye for a very long time, certain moments perhaps forever.”
Both Towers and the cast faced multiple challenges when preparing for performances. The biggest challenge for junior Sam Nudler, who played Asher Lev, was venturing out of his comfort zone for this role.
“The role was so different from what I would normally play,” said Nudler. “It was difficult for me because I was so exposed to the audience and speaking directly to them.”
A major component of the production was sophomore Matt Gagnon’s musical performances throughout the play. He composed an original ensemble on cello and performed his pieces during the performances.
“My biggest challenge was finding the right feel of the music, the right genre, the right notes to play and ultimately, when to play and when not to play,” said Gagnon. “I had to learn to find the right balance.”
Both Towers and the actors felt extremely relieved after receiving the news of their win. After all the hard work they had put in to the production, they felt satisfied with their performances during the festival.
“Our job is to sustain this level of achievement and excellence that people have had in previous years,” said senior Renee Craig, who played the women. “It is really a relief that you’re not the one to break the chain.”
Senior Nick Nudler, who played the men, also added, “It was such a journey getting to this point. It is hard to imagine that we managed to get there again.”
