HDA’s Sketch Nights Deliver Joy and Laughter to Hopkins Community

From December 12–14, the Hopkins Drama Association (HDA) presented “Live From New Haven… It’s Sketch Night!” written by Tim Kochenderfer and produced by Michael Calderone. The show featured comedy sketches, spoof TV commercials, and stand-up routines, all directed and performed by seasoned HDA students.

Math teacher Bob Studley performed the opening monologue, cracking jokes about his Resting Coach Face (RCF) and the dad jokes he always has in his pocket.
 

The sketches were directed by Angela Zhao ’25, Asher Joseph ’25, Miri Levin ’26, Bar Avraham ’26, Rosie Liu ’25, Jesse Piazza ’25, Elissa Matthews ’25, and Lena O’Malley ’25. While the performances delivered laughs from the audience, tech students and stage managers kept the show flowing backstage.

For the first time in “Live From New Haven” history, a musical guest—Chenoa, also known as Nia McKeithen ’26 —performed, singing self-produced original songs across three evenings. Featuring a cast of over 50 students, ranging from freshmen to seniors, “Live From New Haven… It’s Sketch Night!” was a hit, filling seats every night.

 

Director: Angela Zhao ’25

Stage Manager: Anyanna Osakwe ’28

Principal: Benjamin Kruger ’26

Bob Studley

Director: Asher Joseph ’25

Stage Manager: Rebecca Spiewak ’27

Teacher: Riley Junkins ’25

Britt: Nora Brock ’25

Christa: Ava Morello ’27

Tammy: Ryann Holden ’26

Sarah: Anya Mahajan ’25

Amelia: Naomi Schwartz ’28

Giant Frog: Annie Gnidula ’25

Pythagoras: Annika Aslanian ’25

Director: Miri Levin ’26

Stage Manager: Cora Turk-Thomas ’26

Principal: Tai Candelario ’26

Mr. Johanson: Asher Joseph ’25

Mrs. Johanson: Ryann Holden ’26

Narrator: Jesse Piazza ’25

Dr. Jekyll, Thomas Edison: Jack Beauclair ’27

Mister Hyde, Crew Member #1: Sarah Galvani-Townsend ’25

Dean: Leila Abate ’27

A Whale: Kelsey Reichart ’27

Captain Ahab: Henrietta Hall ’27

Crew Member #2, Leon: Rebecca Spiewak ’27

Director: Bar Avraham ’26

Stage Manager: Greta Lee ’28

President: Nora Brock ’25

Vice President: Maggie Russell ’25

Treasurer: Emi Fridman ’26

Secretary: Claire Russell ’25

Narrator/Principal: Vincent Sze ’27

Director: Bar Avraham ’26

Stage Manager: Greta Lee ’28

Robber: Daven Kaphar ’27

Clerk: Xander Ciminiello ’27

Student #1: Ava Morello ’27

Student #2: Laila Rivera Good ’27

Student #3: Kelsey Reichart ’27

Director: Rosie Liu ’25

Stage Manager: Sabrina Hu ’25

Instructor: Benjy Novemsky ’25

Student #1: Tai Candelario ’26

Student #2: Claire Billings ’25

Student #3: Justin Wang ’25

Student #4: Samia Kirton ’25

Paramedic #1: Henrietta Hall ’27

Paramedic #2: Em Martinez ’25

Chenoa

Nia McKeithen ’26

Director: Asher Joseph ’25

Stage Manager: Rebecca Spiewak ’27

Kenan: Logan Matthews ’25

Sydney: Aerin O’Brien ’26

Chloe: Laila Rivera Good ’27

Mikey: Matthew Palsa ’27

Ego: Shreya Rao ’25

James: Aaliyah Padilla ’25

Heidi: Annabel Zuse ’25

Director: Jesse Piazza ’25

Stage Manager: Alicia Cheng ’25

Tim: Holden Scheps ’27

Mat: Avonna Wilkes ’25

Brian: Em Martinez ’25

Jason: Alan Ziqi Xu ’26

New Girl: Kaitlyn Miller ’25

Another Person: Sarah Galvani-Townsend ’25

Director: Jesse Piazza ’25

Stage Manager: Alicia Cheng ’25

Troy Bolton: Gabe Ciminiello ’26

Kelly: Samia Kirton ’25

Tyler: Mike Shewaye ’25

Ms.Darbus: Claire Corwin ’25

Isabella: Annika Aslanian ’25

Alex: Wave Walters ’25

Walt Disney: Ben Kruger ’26

Director: Elissa Matthews ’25

Stage Manager: Molly Calderone ’27

Clerk/Robber: Riley Junkins ’25

Customer: Laila Rivera-Good ’27

Director: Miri Levin ’26

Devil: Maggie Russell ’25

Dave: Gabe Ciminiello ’26

Judy: Logan Mathews ’25

Narrator: Claire Corwin ’25

Director: Lena O’Malley ’25

Stage Manager: Grace Zhang ’25

Coach: Munib Kassem ’25

Player #1: Jayden Wang ’27

Player #2: Holden Scheps ’27

Player #3: Michael Illuzzi ’26

Player #4: Mike Shewaye ’25

Player #5: Daven Kaphar ’27

Player #6: Ethan Liu ’25

Player#7: Jeet Bhatnagar ’25

Player #8: Brennen Catino ’26

Coach’s Assistant: Wahnya Palmer ’27

Production Stage Managers: Grace Zhang ’25 & Cora Turk-Thomas ’26

Light & Sound Design: Jaden Lee ’25

Light Board Operator: Grace Zhang ’25

Sound Operator: Sabrina Hu ’25

Video Operator: Cora Turk-Thomas ’26

Costume Organization: Maia Cort ’28, Ananya Biederer ’28

Prop Runners: Amelia Anderson ’28

Poster/Program Cover Design: Vicki Zhao ’27