By Kiki Arochas, Opinions Editor
For the third year running, Leah Gottfried will be bringing her talents to the Stern College Dramatics Society (SCDS) for their production of The Man Who Came to Dinner. Along with a crew of talented actresses, the director blends a passion for theater with a drive for excellence that promises to produce another fantastic showing this December.
Gottfried is quite experienced in theater. She graduated from Yeshiva University in 2014 with a major in film studies. Though she has worked mostly in film since then, she has also written, directed and developed many productions. She also worked as a cultural consultant for orthodox Jewish characters. Currently, she is focused on her first feature film, which will highlight her speciality: “surprising stories” about Jewish characters.
“When I was in Stern, SCDS gave me a great outlet to explore something I really loved,” Gottfried told the YU Observer in an interview. “It’s an extremely rewarding experience – we have a lot of fun.”
From a young age, Gottfried cherished a desire for acting. Due to her Orthodox values, however, finding opportunities in theater was a difficult road to travel. SCDS, while not her first, was an amazing theater opportunity which gave Gottfried the freedom to express herself creatively. In many ways, Gottfried views directing the SCDS plays as a way to give back to the institution that gave her such great theater experiences.
Gottfried finds significant meaning and purpose in giving theater opportunities to young orthodox women. “If you are someone born with a passion for performing, if it’s not expressed, it can be very stifling,” she said. “That creative expression helps you feel the most alive.”
She explained that for Jewish women in particular, there is often a misconception that they are meant to be “behind the scenes,” which she believes is a dangerous message. “It is so important for them [Jewish women] to have these opportunities, as it tells them that you can express yourselves in that way. It’s kosher and we value it,” she said. “No matter how busy I get, I will always find time to lift up young women.”
Gottfried stayed connected to Stern far past her graduation, even being a guest at the Dramatics Shabbatons (or Dramaton) in recent years. However, it was a surprise connection to SCDS that landed her the directing gig: the president of the club at the time.
“I had been teaching Elisheva Hirsch acting since she was really little,” Gottfried said. She went on to explain that although the two hadn’t been working together for a few years, they had always looked for opportunities for each other in the Jewish theater scene. “Once she became president of SCDS, she recommended me for The Mousetrap,” Gottfried said. “The rest is history.”
For her two previous directed masterpieces– The Mousetrap and The Anastasia Trials in the Court of Women – it was clear from the outset which plays SCDS would be performing. That was not the case this year, as Gottfried and Co. initially struggled to find a suitable play. The problem was the inherent difficulty in finding a play that would be deemed both ‘appropriate’ for a religious institution, while simultaneously possible for an all-female cast to perform. Compounding the issue was that specifically this year, a goal of SCDS was to ensure as many actresses were able to participate as possible.
Luckily, current SCDS Co-Presidents Rivka Inger (SCW ‘25) and Eliana Diamond (SCW ‘25) had the solution: The Man Who Came to Dinner. The play allows for not only a large cast, but has characters that the actresses can truly make their own. “The characters have a lot of personality, so there’s plenty of opportunity for them [the cast] to explore and have fun,” Gottfried said, “A comedy feels right about now with all the stress in the world; we want to make people laugh.”
Although she takes great pride in her craft, Gottfried expressed that her most fulfilling moments as a director is when her actresses are able to take on a portion of the mantle. “When it really clicks, when the actresses truly become their characters and they bring their own ideas and it works, that is very rewarding.” The best gift of all, however, is uncovering hidden gems within their midst. “It’s happened a couple of times where, someone who maybe was a sound designer or stage manager the previous year, auditions the next and stuns me with their talent,” Gottfried said. “It’s incredible to see them step onto the stage from behind the scenes.”
Be sure to go see the Stern College Dramatics Society’s production of “The Man Who Came to Dinner” on December 8, 10 and 11.
Tickets can be purchased here: https://yeshiva.campusgroups.com/SCDS/events/
Photo Caption: Leah Gottfried (center) with the cast and crew of “The Anastasia Trials in the Court of Women”
Photo Credit: Stern College Dramatics Society