"Dead Man Walking" Takes Center Stage in Founders Hall

This year’s Upper School fall play, Dead Man Walking, is taking center stage in Founders Hall this week. The show, which is directed by Broadway veteran and MBS faculty member Jim Ruttman, will be staged in Founders Hall at 7:30 p.m. on November 8, 10, and 11. There will be a 3:30 p.m. matinee on Thursday, November 9.

Dead Man Walking by Tim Robbins is a play based on Sister Helen Prejean's memoir as well as the Academy Award-winning film of the same name. It explores the emotional and moral complexities surrounding capital punishment. Centering on Sister Prejean’s relationship with a death row inmate, the play offers a gripping portrayal of the human side of both the condemned and the victims' families. Dead Man Walking challenges the audience to confront their beliefs about justice and forgiveness while shedding light on the deeply divisive issue of the death penalty.

The talented cast includes (in order of appearance):
Sister Helen Prejean - Bridget Ewing ‘24
Sister Marie Augusta Neal/Sister Helen’s Mother/Woman #1 - Charlotte Sussman ‘25
Herbie - Jake Breslow ‘27
Louisa Montoya - Louisa Marks-Sergent ’25
Matt Poncelet - Henry D'Andrea ‘24
Guard #1/Man #3/Mitch Poncelet - Joey Laviola ‘26
Female Guard/Mirabeau/Nurse - Juliana Falzon ‘26
Chaplin Farley - Jay Spencer ‘25
Sister Colleen - Shira Radin ‘24
Reporter #1 - Tyler Pottratz ’26
Reporter #2 - Julia Karosen ‘26
Reporter #3 - Gwyneth Geoghan ‘25
Purvis Slade/Hilton Barber - Adin Kasmin ‘24
Lucille Poncelet - Indiya Weinmann ‘25
Guy Gilardi/Walter Delacroix/Man #2/Warden Hartman - Oliver Blum ‘26
Clyde Percy/Trapp - Patrick Birnbaum ‘25
Marybeth Percy - Kaitlin Brown ‘24
Earl Delacroix/Governor Fredericks - Daniel Raimer ‘26
Mrs. Delacroix - Gwyneth Geoghan ‘25
Hope Percy/Emily Percy - Sydney Samson ‘25
Reporter #4 - Suri Shah ‘27
Man #1- Jack Gonyea ‘25
Woman #2 - Andie Bergman ‘25
Woman #3 - Gigi Graziano ‘27
Sgt Believeau - Jack Gonyea ’25
Troy Poncelt - Jake Greenwood ‘28
Jim Poncelet - David Mattle ‘30

Members of the crew include:
Stage Managers – Peter Buchanan ’25, Abigail Ewing ’24, Jaya Pally ’25, Jonah Tinkelman ‘24
Deck Crew – Jaya Pally ’25, Will Spencer ’25, Sophia Sullivan ‘25
Sound Crew – Kayla Ruggiero ’24, Kevin Tone ’24, Chris Yermack ’24, Nick Troiano ‘25
Light Board Operator – Mae Bailey ‘25
Production Stage Manager – Abigail Ewing ‘24
Projections Operator – Peter Buchanan ’25, Jonah Tinkelman ‘24
Props Crew – Chris Blancuzzi ‘26
Archival Video – Ellis Conroy ‘26
Box Office Manager – Noah Gehrmann ‘24
Box Office Assistant – Ian Patchett ‘24
House Manager – Katherine Chandler ‘26
Ushers – Allison Delzo ’26, Ellie Sparkman ‘27