Way to Go! Hewlett student pens schoolwide production

A student's first full-length play was recently selected as the schoolwide production at George W. Hewlett High School.

Emma Tsoglin, a senior, earlier this year wrote "(Don’t) Tell Anyone I Have This," which has been turned into a 75-minute production. She was given the opportunity to write the script by Dawn DeMaio, an English and theater teacher at the school.

This is the first time the school has staged a student play as its schoolwide production, DeMaio said.

"My initial reaction was honestly shock," Tsoglin said of the opportunity. Of the play itself, she said: "It's kind of a slice of life; it's about ordinary people and the ordinary moments in their lives."

The 10-actor play is a collection of monologues that offer a poignant look at the human connection to possessions that are passed down, loved, re-purposed or even discarded, Tsoglin said. It was staged three times from March 31 through April 2.

"I've had Emma as a student for a few years and have known her to be an extraordinary writer with a strong voice," DeMaio said. "I knew she could create dynamic characters that students in her age group could connect to."

Tsoglin is also president of her school’s literary magazine and a member of the fencing team and National, Foreign Language, Science and Thespian honor societies.

— MICHAEL R. EBERT

By Michael R. Ebert

michael.ebert@newsday.com

Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.