Passion for the Stage

To the Editor:

As both a former Stern College Dramatics Society board member and a person attempting to forge a career in the theater world, I have been quite interested in the YCDS controversy unfolding in the pages of The Commentator. Students have been writing articles, letters and more letters postulating on and examining the merits and weaknesses of YU's dramatic societies.

Without even attempting to go into the details of the issue, I'd like to offer some insight on behalf of someone who has worked in professional theater for four years. I have this to say - lighten up, guys, you're all taking this stuff WAY too seriously. YCDS (and SCDS) may be many things, but they are just not all that serious.

In his article, Mr. Levovitz states that "an Orthodox boy in YU who has a passion for the theater is already limited," and that "the YC dramatics student is most severely limited by the intensity of a YC double curriculum." Well, take it from me - GET USED TO IT! An Orthodox person who has an interest in theater is limited by the intensity of his double life-balancing frumkeit with a desire to work in theater. It is a hard balance to achieve. You will constantly have to compromise. My first job was with the Tony Awards, and I gave my third row ticket back when I realized the show was on Shavuot that year. It was a huge disappointment, but I knew that my career in theater would be full of refusals, difficult halakhic questions and struggles in addition to just trying to make it in an impossible business.

So I'll say it again - you're wasting your energy taking YCDS so seriously. YU is not a theater school. It is not a school with an important theater program. It can't be, for there are too many issues that arise, too few people who really care. That's fine. If you want a meaningful theater experience in college, you shouldn't be at YU, or you should seek it outside of school. If you don't want to be restrained by mandates of the faculty and the politics that control the YU community, don't join YCDS.

I'm sure plenty of people will disagree with my opinion and say YU should have more respect for the First Amendment, be less controlling, less homophobic, more open to artistic expression, blah, blah, blah. But let me assure you - the Yeshiva University dramatic societies are the perfect introduction to the life of an Orthodox person trying to make it in theater. You will be limited, you will still be the misfit, you will be frustrated. However, if you really love it, it will be worth it and you'll continue to try and find a balance between a Torah life and a theatrical life. But you guys gotta stop taking YCDS seriously and calm down. Save the passion for your work!

Dina Bogner

SCW '97

To the Editor:

Many thanks to Mordechai Levovitz. I believe that his article is somewhat of a catharsis for what I felt when I was at YC.

Keep up the good work!

Zalman Mayberg

YC '95