By Ashley Hefner, Photographer and Staff Writer
Written by Jeffrey Finn and Bob Walton, Game Show, this year’s Yeshiva College Dramatics Society (YCDS) production, is an interactive play that follows a popular television trivia program called Game Show. What makes the play unique is that it not only follows the game show itself, where members of the audience serve as contestants and compete for prizes, but it also follows the production team working behind the scenes. Moving between the fun game show broadcast and the chaos of the backstage crew, the play perfectly blends audience participation with workplace shenanigans.
YCDS’s production of Game Show masters this blend, making it feel less like a play and more like stepping onto a real television show set.
The set design immediately establishes the tone. Walls with bright blue and yellow squares frame the stage and a glowing marquee border surrounds the game show podiums, reflecting the aesthetic of a real game show. Screens mounted on either side of the stage are used in a variety of creative ways. At different points during the show, the screens display the show’s logo, the contestants’ names and even a countdown timer for the “speed round.” Cameras also project members of the audience onto the screens, which is one of the many entertaining elements of the production. Suddenly seeing yourself or your friends appear on screen adds a layer of spontaneity and humor.
At the center of the action is Troy Richards, played by Shimi Rothman (YC ‘28), whose booming voice and charismatic stage presence effortlessly captures the exaggerated style of classic television hosts. Rothman’s ability to improvise stands out throughout the performance, especially when interacting with the audience contestants. Because many of the contestants are chosen randomly from the audience, each moment feels unpredictable. Rothman handles these interactions with impressive confidence and quick wit.
Behind the scenes of the show includes a comedic group of characters trying to keep the show running smoothly — or at least pretending to while quietly worrying more about their own ambitions. Allen Ryan, played by Moshe Lachs (SSSB ‘27), gives off the unmistakable energy of a shady television producer who always seems to be thinking three steps ahead of everyone else. Steve Fox, played by Kovi Pahmer (YC ‘26), is the show’s assistant producer and audience warm-up man, hovering just behind the spotlight with a sense that he might be a little more invested in the show’s internal drama than he lets on.
Another standout is Johnny Wilderman, the production assistant, played by JJ Ledewitz (YC ‘27), whose earnest and slightly awkward personality makes him such a loveable character. Alongside him are the two cameramen, Joe Maguire, played by Manny Ledewitz (YC ‘27), and Gerry Smith, played by Yudi Cohen (SSSB ‘28), whose silly personalities add to the workplace comedy that unfolds behind the scenes.
The set design cleverly supports the play’s dual world. While the bright game show set sits at the center of the stage, another set reveals the backstage office, where members of the production team gather between rounds. Positioned in the upper corner of the theatre, almost within the audience itself, the office allows the viewers to watch both the polished spectacle of the game show and the chaos that goes on behind the scenes.
The trivia questions themselves are another fun part of the show. Some are surprisingly difficult, some are just random enough to keep the audience guessing and others are easy enough to make you feel like you might actually know the answer. Watching contestants attempt to answer questions — especially when they are fellow students randomly chosen from the audience — is one of the most entertaining parts of the show.
Small details throughout the production help build the immersive experience. The playbill itself even includes a rule sheet explaining how the game show works, and t-shirts are given to those who play but don’t make it past one round, which adds to the realistic feeling of being at a game show.
One of the main reasons why YCDS’s production of Game Show is so enjoyable is because it embraces its own chaos. Between the improvisation, audience participation, quick comedic timing of the cast and absurd plot twists, every part of the show feels slightly unpredictable — just like a real life game show. At the Schottenstein Theater, the audience doesn’t just watch the show — for one night, they are a part of it.
See YCDS’s “Game Show: The Comedy (You) Play” on Sunday March 8th, Tuesday, March 10th and Wednesday March 11th at Schottenstein Theater. Tickets are available on CampusGroups.
Photo Credit: Ashley Hefner