Good Theatre Makes Good People. Chatting with the good people of our Young Company helping to make good theatre happen on our Mainstage.
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Greater Boston Stage is committed to providing ongoing professional networking and Mainstage performance and employment opportunities to students and alumni of The Young Company. We met with those involved in Last Night at Bowl-Mor Lanes to hear about their work and their time with us! 

Stephen Zubricki IV
Young Company Alumni
Assistant Director, Last Night at Bowl-Mor Lanes

Stephen Zubricki IV

Q.   When did you first join the Young Company and what was the class and/or production?
A.  I first joined the Young Company in 2011 for the Summer Festival where I played Lt. Frank Cioffi in Curtains! I also took a Shakespeare Workshop that summer and I still remember all of the words of Sonnet 29 which we had to learn!

Q.   What makes the Young Company special to you? What are your favorite aspects of it?
​​​A.   When I was a student, I loved that I was performing on a real regional theatre's stage every time I did a Young Co. show. I also loved the community that I got to be a part of. The students are all incredibly talented and supportive of each other so that I was always having fun but was also always pushed to improve and get better. 

Q.   What has been your favorite experience with the Young Company?
​​A.   I got to be in a production of a very strange, but beautiful new musical called Picnic at Hanging Rock for one Summer Festival. I got to learn all about the history of the story, learned an Australian dialect, grew sideburns, and had large mermaid tattoos drawn on my forearms for every show. I looked about as cool as you would expect.

Q.   What has been your involvement with GBSC and the Young Company since graduating the Young Company? What has made you want to stick around? 
A.   I've done a ton with GBSC since graduating Young Co. I have become a House Manager in the Box Office, worked in the Admin Offices as the Management and Development Intern, Assistant Directed Onegin last spring, sang in this year's Stoneham Chamber Concert, and I have come back to work three summers for Young Co. I have always wanted to stick around because of the people and the students. There is something very special about this community. I get to give back to a program that gave so much to me when I was in school, and it is a fantastic place for someone who is just starting out as a theatre professional or educator and is still learning too. 
 
Q.   The Young Company’s motto is “Good Theater Makes Good People.” What does that mean to you? 
A.   I have taken this motto with me everywhere I have made theatre since graduating Young Co. and I think it is the biggest part of what makes the program so special. It encapsulates the reason why theatre is important: it inspires empathy in those that make it and see it. In the Young Co., we believe that if you put on a good show, you will teach the young actors involved a little something about what it means to be a better, kinder person in this world - and it works both ways - good people make great theatre. The best Young Company shows I have seen have all started with casts and teaching artists that are dedicated to having fun and putting people first. 
 
Q.   How did you become involved as AD on Bowl-Mor? What excites you most about this project? 
A.   Last year, Weylin asked me to participate in a staged reading of one of the earliest versions of this play and I really enjoyed it. Bryn Boice, the Director of the show was my professor at Salem State so I reached out to her to see if she was open to having an AD. She said yes and here we are. We have already started rehearsals and I am learning so much from Bryn and our cast. 
 
Q.   What are you looking forward to in the future? 
A.   My dream since joining Young Co. has been to be in a Mainstage show here. I am looking forward to doing just that later on in Season 20! Keep an eye out for me on stage in Miracle on 34th Street!
 
Q.   If you could be a character in any book, who would it be? If you could play any character in any play, who would it be? If you could direct any show, what would it be? 
A.   I would totally be Harry Potter, I used to sit on our deck as a kid with a "wand" (stick) and try to "cast a spell" to start and stop the wind from blowing. It only worked once. If I could direct any show it would be Constellations by Nick Payne. 
 
Q.   Can you bowl? 
A.   Can I bowl. Yes. Can I bowl well? No. 
 
Q.   Who is the most interesting person you have ever met? Who would you like to meet? 
A.   There is a bartender that I used to work with in high school named Mike. He was a modern-day renaissance man. He was a painter and was two classes away from completing some three other degrees, played multiple instruments and seemed to know everything. I always thought he could be the new Dos Equis "most interesting man." If I could meet any other interesting person dead or alive, that person would be Robin Williams. 
 
Q.   Tell me something you would like people to know about you. Something unusual? Something silly? Something important?
​A.   I strongly prefer using a spoon to a fork whenever I can and it tends to really baffle other people.

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Stephen Zubricki IV in Curtains

Isabella Tedesco
Current Young Company Member
Teddy, Last Night at Bowl-Mor Lanes

Isabella Tedesco

Q.   When did you first join the Young Company and what was the class and/or production?
A.   I first joined the Young Company for Summer Fest 2018.  I played Donkey in Shrek, which was a real departure from anything I had done before.  I really enjoyed the physical comedy in playing Donkey. ​

​Q.   What makes the Young Company special to you? What are your favorite aspects of it?
​A.   ​The Young Company has a strong feeling of family and community.  Every show utilizes the entire cast, and constantly being together and working together bonds the cast.

​Q.   What has been your favorite experience with the Young Company?
​A.   ​My favorite Young Company experience was last fall’s 24-Hour Musical: Legally Blonde.  It was by far one of the most fun and exhausting theater experiences I’ve ever had.  The show actually turned out pretty well, despite the fact that we only had a day to put it on.

Q.  Where do you go to school? What grade are you in? What’s your favorite subject?
​A.   I am about to start my sophomore year at Winchester High School.  My favorite subjects are English and History.  This  year, I’ll be singing in WHS’s all-female choral group Bella Voce.

Q.   The Young Company’s motto is “Good Theater Makes Good People.” What does that mean to you?
A.   “Good Theater Makes Good People” means that the Young Company’s values are improvement, community, and working together to create the best possible product using everyone’s talents.  The Young Company fosters these values in the people who are part of it.
 
Q.   Why did you audition for Last Night at Bowl-Mor Lanes? What excites you most about this project? 
A.   I have always wanted to be part of a Main Stage production!  When I heard that Bowl-Mor had a part for a teen, I was excited to audition.  I’m eager to learn from all of the very experienced people in the cast, crew, and creative team—it feels like I get to take a private master class.  I’m also thrilled that this is the premiere production of Bowl-Mor. 

Q.  What are you looking forward to in the future?
A.   I’m looking forward to my sophomore year of high school and the upcoming Young Company Winterfest shows!  And oh yeah, performing on Broadway some day!  :)
 
Q.  If you could be a character in any book, who would it be? If you could play any character in any play, who would it be?
A.   I read a lot of true crime, thrillers, and mysteries, so I’m not sure I would want to be in any of them!  My dream role is Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd.
 
Q.  Can you bowl?
A.   I can, but not very well!  I’m much better at candlepin!
 
Q.   Who is the most interesting person you have ever met? Who would you like to meet? 
A.   Bill Selby, a family friend who went to Emerson College with my dad.  He’s an actor and director in NYC (though he’s originally from Melrose).   He really gives me perspective on theater, and makes me believe I can be a part of it.  He taught me about making important choices before you even enter an audition room.   I would love to meet Jeannette Walls, the author of the memoir “The Glass Castle.” 

Q.   Tell me something you would like people to know about you. Something unusual? Something silly? Something important? 
A.   I’ve taught myself to play ukulele and guitar, and really enjoy writing songs for both instruments.  Earlier this summer, I had the opportunity to perform two original songs at a songwriter’s open mic at the Douglas Corner Café in Nashville.  It really pushed me out of my comfort zone, but was a great experience.

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Isabella Tedesco in Shrek