THE HISTORY OF
THEATRE SOUTH 

   Theatre South has produced musicals, plays, and other theatrical events since the late 1950s when Great Neck South High School opened its doors.  In the past several years, they have produced shows such as Legally Blonde, Almost Maine, Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors, The Sound of Music, Mamma Mia!, Clue, and a virtual production of A Chorus Line.  

 

There have been several alumni over the years who have moved onto professional careers in show business including Sarah "Squid" Sherman from SNL, TV Producer David Miner (30 Rock, Parks & Recreation, etc...), Nikki Blonsky (Tracy in the 2007 movie musical Hairspray) and Steven Telsey (Broadway's Harmony, and The National Touring Company of The Book of Mormon).  

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   Past drama directors include Bernard Boressoff (the founder of TS), Burton Wolfe, Alan Lehrman, and Tommy Marr.

Currently Ms. Ilana Meredith is going into her fifth year as the drama director.

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Please take a look at our "Decades" slide shows of past productions! 

 

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Some TS History Fun Facts! 

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Bernie Boressoff opened the building and deserves much of the credit for the wonderful stage with its 34 back-drops (four stories high), the dressing rooms, the make-up rooms, the General Purpose Room, an FM station which was partially housed in the Yearbook room. Along with Gordon Rice, the Head of the Art Department, he also designed the double-high doors at the back of the stage and into an Art classroom for the creation and easy movement of large flats. They both retired in June 1971 and Burton Wolfe took over Drama in September 1971.

 

Past Faculty Shows We had our first Faculty Show (Pajama Game) in January 1973

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Coffee House, our open mic fundraiser event, was started in the 1992-1993 school year?  A student named Emily Wolper had seen something similar at a summer program at Vassar, and thought...Theatre South should have this.  ...and so it began!  Thanks Emily!

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The Student Directed One-Acts began around 1990, when four directing students working with drama teacher Mr. Lehrman, selected one-act plays to produce?

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   Note, that Ms. Meredith is the creator of this website and is excited to learn more about TS's history!  ...In other words, more will be posted here on this page in the months to come! Feel free to write to her if you have some TS history or pictures from TS's past productions!

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