50° and Clear
Image
Bridgewater-Raritan High School’s auditorium will be the theater site for the play that will start
at 7 p.m. on both Friday, January 26 and Saturday, January 27. The matinee on Sunday, January
28, will begin at 2 p.m.
Tom Gunning, who serves as the director of the Bridgewater-Raritan High School's Drama Club
with his wife, Teresa Gunning, and Heather Day, explained the challenge that these student
actors were up against.
“The play is a challenge because our students are playing characters in multiple acts,’’ Mr.
Gunning revealed. “They have to explore different roles.’’
His wife added:
“Yes, an actor may play the part of a grandfather in one scene and then play a kid in another,’’
said Ms. Gunning, who is directing this performance with her husband.
The actors are cast in a total of 18 scenes in “The Dining Room,” which is a play by the
American playwright A.R. Gurney.
According to Wikipedia, the play is a comedy of manners, set in a single dining room where 18
scenes from different households overlap and intertwine. Presumably, each story is focused
around a different family during different time periods, who has in their possession the same
dining room furniture set, manufactured in 1898.
The summary also stated the play tells the story of the dying and relatively short-lived culture of upper-middle class Americans, and the transition into a much more efficient society with
emphasis on tradition and more emphasis on progress.
Sidak Chahal, a Bridgewater-Raritan High School junior, has relished the quest to play various
parts.
She shared her feelings during a recent rehearsal session that was held in the high school’s
auditorium. “I like playing different characters. In one act, I am a rich old lady, and then in another, I am a maid,’’ Sidak said. She is intrigued with the theme behind this play.
“We explore a lot of different people from the upper class and from the rich to the workers,” she
said. “ There are a lot of family structures. We see how the old guard wants to keep the family in
place but the young family members want to break free as the years move on to the present.’’
This is Sidak’s fourth performance on stage but she has enjoyed playing various roles during the
rehearsals.
“It is very interesting,’’ she said. “I never did a show like this before but it is different and super
fun.’’ Ms. Gunning has been impressed with how the students have addressed their numerous parts. “Hey, why not give them a challenge,” she claimed.
To witness these numerous challenges, and to enjoy what is expected to be another sparkling
performance by the Bridgewater-Raritan High School Theater Arts, tickets can be purchased in
advance at: https://our.show/brhs-tad-room
Advance tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased at
the door for $14 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. Senior citizens who live in the
Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District are admitted free with proof of residency.
Here are the Bridgewater-Raritan High School students who will bring you this presentation.
Cast:
Alvarado, Jayleen
Andrews, Evan
Aponte, LJ
Beck, Grant
Castillo, Ava
Chahal, Sidak
Falcon, Charlotte
Fisher, Libia
Gaffney, Tim
Maloney, Julianne
Marquardt, Amalia
Murray, Franny
Pelc, Matthew
Puszkin, Rebecca
Saini, Jasmine
Shahane, Agastya
Shoaf, Oliver
Weinstein, Aaron
Zagare, Josh
Staff:
Pedroso, Julia
Student Director
Jimenez-Heymann, Matthew
Stage Manager
Fitzgerald, Brianna
Assistant Stage Manager
Saini, Harjas
Assistant Stage Manager
Hassouna, Emilia
ASM Intern
Lu, Indiana
Technical Director-Sound
Scaglione, Isabella
Technical Director-Lights
Hoff, Caitlyn
Properties Master
Nowakowski, Christina
Assistant Properties Master
Hathaway, Ava
House Manager
Csik, John
Assistant House Manager
CREW:
Violet Dunsavage
Richa Sorathia
Addison Lewis
Anisha Amin
Natalia Placek
Ava Burns
Tia Sharma
Jordan Velasco
Mattingly Niles
Sinjin Niles
Anya Murdock
Oliver MartinezBRHS THEATER ARTS DEPARTMENT PERFORMANCES THIS WEEKEND
BRHS Theatre Arts presents a new play:
The Dining Room by A.R. Gurney
WHEN: Friday and Saturday, 1/26 and 1/27 at 7pm, Sunday, 1/28 at 2pm
WHERE: BRHS Auditorium.
COST: $12 for Adults, $6 for Students & Seniors when purchased in advance
$14 for Adults, $8 for Students & Seniors when purchased at the door
TICKETS: Purchase your tickets here
More News from Raritan
- Farewell and Good Luck to Mr. Matt
Eisenhower BRCares - Well Wishes - Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) announced that Parinita Chandrashekar won the 2025 Congressional Art Competition Two runners-up were also recognized: Laurie Wu of Ridge High School and Deeksha Chaganur of Somerset County Vocational and Technical High School.
