The curtain fell one last time on the closing night of Shrek the Musical at Nanuet High School on March 15th, 2025, at approximately 9:30pm. After the last show for the class of 2025, the Nanuet Drama seniors want to say their goodbyes and all express some sweet messages to their drama family.
As one of the seniors in the show, I can say it was a rollercoaster. Theatre has been, in my experience, the one activity I have participated in that shaped me into who I am today and the person I am still becoming. But I am not the only one who feels this way.
Senior Bridget Cording says the memories from this show will last forever.
“Theater has been the best part of my life the past four years,” she said. “I have gained so many friends and it truly made me who I am today. There were many ups and downs as life is, however, I wouldn’t trade my experience for the world. This was something I will never forget.”
While some members of the cast initially were unsure of how the production would turn out, the final product was perfection, according to senior Nina Zifcheck, NHS Drama Society Vice President.
”We all had our doubts at first, but Shrek was the most fun musical I’ve ever done, and some of us even dare say it’s the best one, –not just production-wise, but friendship-wise,” says Zifchek, who played Fiona. “We all had an amazing time in and out of rehearsal because we love each other so much as a family.
According to Zifcheck, the sense of family and the memories I’ve made is what makes it so hard to say goodbye.,
“But I am incredibly grateful, honored, and satisfied to have played Princess Fiona in Shrek for my final show,” she said.
Zifcheck is not the only one who feels sentimental about graduating and leaving the Drama Club.
“I have really enjoyed being a part of Shrek and theater as a whole and it really has become a second family to me,” said NHS drama’s very own Props Master Elizabeth Monaco.
For senior Aidan McDonagh, the following Dr. Seuss quote summarizes his experience with theater.
“When I think of theatre, this famous quote comes to my mind, ‘Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment, until it becomes a memory,’ repeated McDonagh. “This quote signifies that theatre has been monumental in my development as a leader and a team player, enabling me to get out of my comfort zone amongst those I can truly call good friends.”
For some, theater has been more than an extracurricular activity.
“Nanuet Drama Society will always hold a special place in my heart,” says NHS Drama President Sam Mazeriego. “Through this experience I learned so much about how to work in a group setting and create a sense of community. Theatre gave me a passion for music, a sense of individuality, and simultaneously a family. I have loved and cherished every moment and will continue to perform with the same love.”
This club was a “home away from home,” according to senior Swapna George.
“My sisters did theater, so it became a thing that our family did,” George explained. “I loved watching them up on the stage when I was younger so that’s why I was so excited to join theater in high school.
Taking the final bow was bittersweet, George said.
“But this cast and crew made it my favorite show,” she added. “The energy and the love brought was like no other and being able to see the hours of work and sleep deprivation come together to make this show was surreal. I’m certainly going to miss theater, but I think this was a good way to say goodbye and move on.”
Theatre really is one “big, bright, beautiful world” and we all made so many memories that shaped us into who we are now. With Shrek as our final production, we learned to laugh, we learned to cry, but most of all, “we learned to let our freak flags fly.”