The Williston Times, Friday, March 18, 2016
WT
Moving from the court to the stage
3
Ex Wheatley hoops star Zachary Libresco brings teamwork to production of Shakespeare By N o a h M a n s k a r Zach Libresco spent at least as much time on the basketball court as he did on stage in his time at East Williston’s Wheatley School. The Mineola native said he was an athlete first — he made a Nassau County all-conference team as a senior in 2009 — but he also got time in the spotlight in school productions. His star turn came in his junior year, he said, when he played the lead role of Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof,” despite looking a little young for the part. “They drew my beard on me a little bit,” he said. While his experiences on stage and in the classroom at Wheatley shaped his interest theater and the works of William Shakespeare, Libresco said basketball taught him lessons about teamwork that have proved fruitful in his theater career. “Actors are players, and the key to being a good teammate is kind of knowing when you need to shoot ... and knowing what your good spots on the floor are,” said Libresco, the son of Blank
Wesleyan’s liberal arts approach to teaching acting emphasized working together to solve problems, Libresco said, and the “Double Falsehood” company did a lot of that over the past year. The actors, directors and others had many eight-hour rehearsals and went on a retreat last summer to the Catskills to grow closer, he said. “As it is with families, sometimes it’s frustrating when there are so many people with ideas, but that’s the job of the director, that’s the job of the ensemble, to figure out how to edit and figure out how to put the story together,” Libresco said. Libresco has long been interPhotos courtesy of Kampfire PR ested in Shakespeare, he said — Mineola native and Wheatley School graduate Zachary Libresco (right, inset) plays Julio in one moment that inspired him to “Double Falsehood,” running through April 9 at the Irondale Center in Brooklyn. pursue theater was analyzing “Romeo and Juliet” in his ninth-grade The company started a year- “The things in the play have been English class at Wheatley. Slate Media columnist Michael long collaborative process last marinating for a long time.” D’Innocenzo. He memorized a monologue While he said Wheatley’s the- from “Hamlet” for extra credit in Shakespeare, performance March to produce the play, which and teamwork are coming togeth- Libresco called “a greatest hits of ater productions built community 11th grade, and the work stuck er for Lebresco in the process of Shakespeare.” It opened March 12 among the student actors, Libres- with him, he said. He adapted creating Letter of Marque Theater at the Irondale Center in Brook- co learned most of what he knows “Hamlet” into an “immersive” about collaborative theater work theater installation for a senior Company’s production “Double lyn. ”The words and the story are, at Wesleyan University in Con- capstone project at Wesleyan. Falsehood,” a play thought to be a like, in my bones,” Libresco said. necticut. lost Shakespeare work. Continued on Page 57
HAPPY HOLIDAY!!
HOMEMADE GEFILTE FISH
We carry Whitefish, Winter Pike & Carp. We will grind or fillet…your preference… with ground carrots and ground onions
Fully Decorated Poached Salmon Platter
FRIED…GRILLED…BAKED…
Order For EASTER & PASSOVER FREE DELIVERY Call for details
Prepared Specialties • Grilled Bronzoni • Calamari • Fried Shrimp • Fish Kabobs • Grilled Veggies • Fried Scallops • Live Lobster & More
Albertson Seafood • 621-1164
$3 OFF
Any Purchase of $30 or more
With coupon only. Not to be combined with any other offers. Exp. 4/30/16
Albertson Seafood • 621-1164
$5 OFF
Any Purchase of $50 or more
With coupon only. Not to be combined with any other offers. Exp. 4/30/15
1032 Willis Avenue, Albertson 621.1164 www.AlbertsonMarket.com
Mon.-Sat. 8am-6pm, Sun 10am-4pm