On Thursday, Jan. 16, at 7:30 p.m., Cherry Hill High School East’s Studio II Advanced Acting class presented Studio Night Live, a student-led production inspired by the long-running NBC Show “Saturday Night Live.” Hosted by Emily Mashman (‘25) and Alexis Nowakowski (‘26), Studio Night Live returned from a multi-year hiatus — though previously devoid of this “Saturday Night Live” approach — and featured original skits written, directed, and performed by the class in the Little Theater.
Kicking off the project in November, the students embraced the idea of creating their own comedy show, first holding a pitch day to brainstorm and present ideas.
“My favorite part was being able to have the creative freedom of directing and writing a skit in class,” said Jamiir Rose (‘26).
Still, planning for this event proved more difficult than previous productions due to the need for originality and the pressure to form relevant humor that engaged the audience.
“All of the skits did have the common struggle of having to write comedy, which is hard to do in a way that will be funny not only on paper but on stage,” said Nowakowski. “Every skit had to cut at least a few jokes that didn’t work, which was just part of the process that made it more challenging.”
However, with theater and film teacher Mr. Peter Gambino overseeing the event’s setup, Isabella Laster (‘27) managing sound and visual production, and Rephael Sohat (‘25) handling lighting — and the class’s overall enthusiasm for this project — their combined efforts culminated in a successful performance. In fact, nearly the entirety of the Little Theater was filled by audience members.
Among the skits, many explored memorable moments from D-wing and other humorous aspects of East. Additionally, the students pre-filmed fake commercials, a format they don’t typically act in. A weekend update segment hosted by Grace Gellert (‘25) and Aline Tang (‘25) comprised current events, requiring continuous editing of their material leading up to the show to keep the jokes relevant. Following the show, the audience received the opportunity to engage in a question-and-answer session with the cast. Overall, everyone involved expressed satisfaction with the outcome, reflecting on their shared sense of accomplishment.
“I feel like producing [Studio Night Live] and getting it together was so bonding, and we all supported [one another] so much,” said Tang. “I also don’t think I’ve been so proud of something in a long time, and I was so proud of Studio Night Live.”
While Studio Night Live was a one-time event with free admission, East’s theater program has more exciting events lined up for the future, including Thespian Troupe 213’s “Mary Poppins” production throughout late February and early March, with tickets available for $15.