HOWARD ARONSON METRO SCHOLARS YEARBOOK

The Howard Aronson Metro Scholars kicked off the year with an exciting first day of learning, connection, and exploration. Students met their fellow Scholars and began their journey behind the scenes of professional theater before seeing the first show in Two River’s 2025/26 season, Murder on the Links. 

Metro Scholars went behind the scenes of Murder on the Links before diving into a hands-on casting workshop with Kate Cordaro and Brie Butler. Students explored how casting decisions help bring a production’s characters and story to life. 

In October, our Metro Scholars saw Ngozi Anyanwu’s The Monsters and got an inside look behind the scenes at the work that goes into bringing a production to the stage. They also learned the fundamentals of stage combat from Gerardo Rodriguez & Lucas Pinner, discovering how actors create convincing action while working safely. 

From high above the stage to the audience seating area, students explored two essential sides of theater operations. They learned about Two River’s fly rail systems from Stage Supervisor, Jamie Norris and the many responsibilities involved in creating a safe and successful backstage theater experience. Brie Butler then led the Metro Scholars in a House Management workshop, showing how front-of-house teams create a welcoming, safe, and engaging experience for audiences before, during, and after a performance. 

This month, our students stepped into the world of costume design with Two River Costume Shop Supervisor, Lesley Sorenson, exploring how clothing, color, texture, and character choices help tell a story. Students discovered how costumes can reveal just as much about a character as the words they speak. 

With playwright and teaching artist Iraisa Ann Reilly, Metro Scholars explored the collaborative art of devising and discovered how original theater can emerge from ideas, movement, conversation, and experimentation. The workshop encouraged students to create, take risks, and build a story together. 

Metro Scholars went behind the scenes of A Doll’s House and explored the many roles that helped this production come to life. Through workshops in fundraising (with Carmen Balentine and Amalea Vidas) and stage management (with Robbie Armstrong), they learned how theater extends beyond the rehearsal room and onto the business and organizational sides of the industry. 

Our Metro Scholars explored the creative world of props with Props Supervisor, Cedric Wright, discovering how objects can help establish character, setting, and story. 

Metro Scholars explored two important ways theater connects with audiences through dramaturgy and marketing.  With Literary Manager Fiona Klye and Marketing Campaign Specialist Jennifer Pisano, they learned how research, storytelling, and creative communication work together to shape how a production is understood and experienced. 

For our Last Day, Metro Scholars explored the set of the world premiere of Elephant Shoes while learning more about American Sign Language and accessibility in the theater with ASL Choreographer for Elephant Shoes, Colin Analco. The experience encouraged students to consider how theater can be made more welcoming and accessible to a wider range of audiences and artists.