There’s nothing quite like the thrill of being backstage on opening night, ready to burst into song as soon as that curtain flies open. For many years, theater has been a significant part of my life because of the community and joy it brings. Being a part of last year’s production of Legally Blonde was memorable and had me feeling more connected than ever to the stage thanks to the guidance of director Nick Tavares.
Last year’s successful production of Legally Blonde marked the debut of Nick Tavares’ directorial position at Oyster River High School (ORHS). Since then, he has been contracted to not only direct ORHS’ fall play and spring musical this year, but to assume the role of AV technician for the entire district.
I distinctly remember our first rehearsal of Legally Blonde. Everyone was a little nervous and unsure of what to expect. Before playing a single note on the piano, Tavares welcomed the whole cast and asked a seemingly simple question: “What is your favorite movie?” We went around, row by row, and shared our thoughts. When it was my turn, I immediately blurted out La La Land. Tavares smiled and asked me which ending I believed to be true. I answered thoughtfully and he nodded. Then, the rest of the cast continued to state their favorite films before we dove into rehearsal.
It was a small moment, but an important one to me. Having a director take a second with each student to get to know just one small thing about them before embarking on a huge production is valuable. From my perspective, that instituted the positive relationships Tavares built with each individual cast member.
His connection with the cast was largely based on creating a fun, constructive environment for everyone involved. Peighton Curran (‘28) was a member of the Legally Blonde cast and remarked that Tavares helped her immensely to become braver and more passionate on the stage. “My experience doing a show with [Tavares] was one of my favorite shows I’ve ever done,” said Curran. “He was so confident and that helped a lot of younger kids, and me, feel way more [comfortable] on the stage.”
In my experience, a show that is not backed by a supportive community is a show doomed to fail. You cannot build a great production off a mediocre relationship between cast members. Throughout the entirety of Legally Blonde, I felt connected to my cast mates. We all enjoyed the art we were producing and that drove our collaboration and tight-knit feel.
When I asked Tavares about this, he emphasized the idea that being a part of a community that you love and enjoying the time you spend putting together a production will always be more important than the outcome and quality of a show. “The second someone doesn’t want to be here, we need to figure out … what we can do differently,” Tavares said. “If we come from a place of all having fun, collaborating, being confident, making bold choices and just enjoying ourselves, then the show is going to be great.”
Zoe Mulholland (‘29) was a freshman when she secured a role in the Legally Blonde cast. She mentioned that Tavares worked hard to unite the actors and make one cohesive group. As a freshman, she found it easier to connect with upperclassmen and make friends because of his efforts to keep the cast clique-free. He dedicated the first few rehearsals to group bonding and activities, which played a large part in building the community-feel of the musical.
A good director helps students take on their roles and become better actors. But in my opinion, a great director helps a student emerge from a show as an improved performer and encourages their growth as a young adult exploring their possible future paths. Tavares quickly became a role model and supportive adult for many in the cast. “I prided myself on [the fact that] each individual student I had worked with could come to me because I knew that in high school if I didn’t have theater, I would have no one to go to,” said Tavares.
Legally Blonde marked Tavares’ first time working with a student production team. The purpose of a student production team is to give upperclassmen a chance to experiment with the creation and planning of a show. They learn how to direct, produce and stage manage – all higher-level roles of theater. A crucial element of all these roles is learning how to take on a leadership position and help peers become better actors in order to put on a great show. Tavares was a support for the student production team members and coached them to become the best leaders they could be.
Izzie Fenton (‘26), student director of Legally Blonde, expressed that Tavares meaningfully helped her take on this larger role. “[With Tavares,] I felt like I was able to come into my own as a leader. I’ve never been a leader. I’ve always been an actor, [so] it was unfamiliar to me. Mr. T assured me and made me feel like I was capable of doing something like this. Anytime I needed advice, he always knew what to say and how to communicate,” Fenton said. “He understood what it was like to be a student and to want to lead your peers, while still being their friend.” Curran agreed, saying he let Fenton fill the role as primary director, instead of Tavares making all the choices. He supported and encouraged when needed, but she made the ultimate decisions surrounding the show.
Fenton was also a student in ORHS’ former acting classes taught by Alexander Eustace. After Eustace’s departure in 2025, the school’s sought-after acting classes were terminated, as there was no one to teach them. “I think that that would be an amazing job for [Tavares] to fill,” Fenton quickly replied when asked about the possibility of Tavares taking the position. “I honestly cannot think of anyone better suited for that sort of role.”
Curran and Mulholland agreed that Tavares was the perfect candidate to restart the acting classes at the school. “I think it would be such a great opportunity if we made another acting class,” said Curran. “Mr. T would be great at [teaching a class and] would be the perfect [person] for helping people, whether they are new to acting or they … just want to get better.”
Tavares indicated that he had considered this idea, however he would prefer to teach a wider array of classes. Having classes that teach students how to produce a show, manage the stage, or learn how to use the technology necessary to put on a production would be just as important as improving the skills of the actors.
“[Eustace] was the person who created my love for theater because he was such an amazing teacher,” said Fenton. “I felt so happy that I was able to leave the [theater] department with somebody… so similar to who I grew up with. I’m hoping [Tavares] will be able to ignite that love of theater in other kids like Mr. Eustace did for me.”
On a similar note, Morgan Righini (‘27) has worked with five different directors in her time at ORHS. She said that Tavares’ approach was student-focused, and he always made sure the cast members and student production team were part of the process. She specifically noted that Tavares spent time supporting each actor in their character development.
“When I played [Professor] Callahan, it was hard for me to get into the shoes of an evil old man [because] that’s quite the opposite of me,” said Righini. “He would sit me down [and ask], ‘What are [Callahan’s] motives for doing this? Why is he acting this way in this particular scene?’ It really helped me [understand] how I should be acting and the emotion I should be [portraying].”
As the director of both ORHS productions this year, Tavares hopes to build upon the preexisting drama department while also adding some new elements. One of his hopes for the year is launching more of a club-like drama group where ORHS students can go see shows together, learn more about the art of theater, and interact with other theater groups in the school district.
Tavares also expressed his interest in helping students become involved in theater outside of ORHS. There are many opportunities for students to act and work in local theaters and performance spaces. He hopes that students can take the risk to connect better with their craft, even if it’s not at Oyster River. His ultimate goal is that his students are successful and love the work that they produce.
If you’ve ever emailed Tavares, you know he signs his emails with the quote, “When you help someone, you help everyone.” As made evident by his cast and colleagues, no one embodies this quote more than Tavares himself.
Through just one production at Oyster River, Tavares has made large strides in advancing the high school drama department. ORHS’ next production will be Silent Sky, running November 19th through the 21st. With Tavares at the helm, the show is sure to be remarkable.
-Ada Gerard
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