Hudson Stage Explores Human Flaws in Latest Whippoorwill Production
Stephen Nachamie discovered the stage when he was four years old, the first time his parents took him to a Broadway show.
After high school, when he got his first acting job and through 25 years in theater as an actor and later a director, Nachamie was fascinated by the way he could be transported to other worlds through the stories and productions he has been involved with.
“Just the idea of being able to inhabit and explore this other world really attracted me,” Nachamie said. “What really is interesting to me, is that I feel like I’m learning something I didn’t know before, getting fresh perspectives. Every show, I have to get a master’s degree in another world and take on something that I didn’t know existed.”
Starting on Friday, Apr. 29 at Whippoorwill Hall in Armonk and continuing for three weekends, Nachamie gets to travel to yet another world as the director of “Animals Out of Paper,” a production for Hudson Stage, that is both humorous and a poignant love story. It was written by Rajiv Joseph, the Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright.
The story centers on the play’s three characters, Andy, a high school teacher who is an avid fan of a world-renown but reclusive origami artist Ilana, who pressures her to become a mentor to one of his students, the troubled Suresh.
Similar to the paper that they fold, they begin to reshape each other’s lives.
“What’s interesting about this play is that it’s about people who have survived one way and find another way,” Nachamie said. “They have some pain they’re dealing with, some loss, some needs they’re dealing with. It’s interesting because they all come together, and not to connect with each other right away, but they have this art form and their devotion to their craft of origami.”
He said what he loves about the play is that it takes twists and turns that should take the audience by surprise.
Hudson Stage producer Denise Bessette said having Nachamie direct this spring’s production is a find for Hudson Stage. The nine-performance engagement of “Animals Out of Paper” over three weekends coincides with his serving as associate director for “She Loves Me,” Nachamie’s first Broadway credit. “She Loves Me” opened at Studio 54 on March 17.
“We’re always looking to forge new partnerships with directors,” Bessette said.
Nachamie said he has been attracted to various productions in recent years where the characters are in some way trying to make a personal change but don’t always know that what they’re looking for is in front of them.
In “Animals Out of Paper,” there are multiple metaphors using origami as the vehicle to address life issues, Nachamie said.
“In life, whatever experience we have, good or bad, creates a crease in our memory, in our psyche,” he said.
Performances of “Animals Out of Paper” continue on Apr. 30, May 1, 6, 7, 8, 13 and 14. Friday and Saturday performances are at 8 p.m. and at 3 p.m. on the two Sundays (May 1 and 8). On the final day, May 14, there are two shows, one at 3 and 8 p.m.
Following the May 8 performance, there will be a question-and-answer session.
The production stars features Michael Guagno (Andy), Jenny Sheffer Stevens (Ilana) and Adit Dileep (Suresh).
Tickets are $35; for seniors and students they cost $30. Student discounts are available for $15. For tickets or for more information, visit www.hudsonstage.com.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
