Theatre

Fall 2025, Padua Academy proudly presented Waiting for Lefty, a groundbreaking work originally written by Clifford Odets and first produced by the Group Theater in 1936. The play, along with Odets’ earlier work Awake and Sing, helped introduce the concept of ensemble acting to American audiences—an approach rooted in the methods of Konstantin Stanislavski and the Moscow Art Theatre.

Set against the backdrop of 1935 New York City, Waiting for Lefty dramatizes the urgency of economic instability, labor unrest, and the rising political tensions that defined the era. Its focus on the human experiences of workers and families made it both artistically rich and culturally provocative in its time—and still deeply resonant today.

Fifteen Padua and Salesianum students dedicated eight weeks to building their characters and immersing themselves in the emotional and historical landscape of the play. The Padua Academy Social Studies Department provided invaluable support by guiding historical research, introducing audiences to relevant political and economic context, and facilitating post-performance audience discussions with the cast. These conversations deepened the community’s engagement with the themes of voice, justice, and solidarity.

This production marks Padua Academy’s third fall play—and we were thrilled to welcome our largest audience turnout yet. The collaborative effort of student actors, stage crew, faculty, and community partners made Waiting for Lefty not only a performance, but a meaningful shared learning experience for all involved.

Cast:
Riley Alls ‘28
Juliana Carranza ‘27
Kassidy Derico ‘28
Allison Drushler ‘28
Olivia Jones ‘29
Erin Kelly ‘27
Sophia LaRosa ‘27
Avery Ott ‘28
Ray Pescatrice ‘28
Gianna Plumley ‘27
Jude Pryor ‘28
Jenna Simione ‘28
Abby Wakeman ‘28

Stage Manager: Emily Anderson ‘28
Production Manager: Juliana Carranza ‘27
Assistant Stage Manager: Ash Donahue ‘27