York Town News
Shtick Happens: York High School students using humor to support teacher battling with leukemia
By Jennifer L. Saunders
Members of York High School's brand new Shtick Happens Players are gearing up for two very special performances this weekend in honor of longtime local teacher Jack Hoyt, who is battling leukemia. Pictured are members of the troupe, including Jhames Steinsiek and Candace Yorston (foreground), taking part in an improvised scene.
Photo by Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK - If Jack Hoyt's health allowed him to attend the upcoming Shtick Happens Players Improv Night, he would be right in the front row, laughing out loud.
That's how Hoyt's past students and those who know the longtime York High School teacher have described him, and it's why the newly-formed Shtick Happens Players decided to bring their improvisational antics to the auditorium stage this weekend in a benefit performance.
Hoyt was invited as the guest of honor, but due to his ongoing battle with leukemia, will not be able to attend. So, his fellow York High School faculty member Lisa Stathoplos and the Shtick Happens Players and Production Crew have arranged for this never-the-same-way-twice evening to be recorded for his at-home viewing pleasure.
Last week, several of the approximately 20 students involved took time out from rehearsing to talk about why love being a part of Shtick Happens, and their decision to use a night of comedy in the style of the hit television show "Whose Line is it, Anyway?" to give back to a teacher who has inspired so many.
"He's very dear to some of the students here," explained Sara Demos.
Hoyt's students spoke of his love of humor, and how a performance like this is just the type of evening he would enjoy.
"If Mr. Hoyt could be here he'd be in the front row, cracking up louder than anyone else," said Candace Yorston.
Robert Cook said Hoyt would appreciate seeing his students acting and having fun for a good cause.
Hoyt is a teacher of industrial technology, York High School Principal Bob Stevens explained, and in his more than 20 years with the school, he has touched the lives of innumerable students.
"It's all deserved," Stevens said of the support Stathoplos and her troupe of actors are showing to Hoyt and his family.
In addition to her life's work as an actress, choreographer and director, Stathoplos is an educational technician in the school's special education department, and first met Hoyt in that capacity.
"He is so beloved. Jack is so amazing. He is just the salt of the earth," adding when she learned he had been diagnosed with leukemia, "My first thought after, 'Oh my God, Jack,' was 'Oh my God, the kids.' He has made an impression on every kid he has ever taught."
Interweaving a chance to support Hoyt with the interests of her students, Stathoplos came up with an idea.
"We decided to do a show for Jack to make him laugh," she said, adding Stevens immediately gave his support to the idea, and fellow teacher Beth Nowers agreed to arrange for a recording of the performances.
"I thought it was perfect. Jack's a guy who has been with us for at least 20 years," Stevens said, adding Hoyt has always been able to reach out to students who may have struggled with traditional classroom education. "He has always been an advocate for kids who struggle to come to school."
And it is about more than time spent in the classroom, Stevens said, describing Hoyt's willingness to help students who were having car trouble by fixing their cars after school.
"Here he is, facing this big challenge in his life, and he's cut from that cloth that it would kill us to take any help from anyone around us. He's a die-hard Yankee and fiercely independent," Stevens said.
However, he added, he knows Hoyt appreciates what Stathoplos and the students are doing.
"This is the type of stuff that we can do," Stevens said. "The most important therapeutic move that anyone has made in Jack's treatment is letting him know that they care about him."
Stathoplos in touch with Hoyt as he continues treatment, she said, adding, "He seems really touched and I think he realizes it's the kids' way of thinking of him."
The Shtick Happens Players were born out of the success of the production of "Peter and the Big Bad Wolf" at the end of the last academic year, Stathoplos explained.
"I'm just so lucky because, I think, except for my graduating seniors, I have almost everybody from that show," she said. "I had this great group and we had this great experience, and we talked about continuing this improvisation program."
In addition, she said, students who had never tried acting in a play before decided to be a part of the troupe.
"I wish we could be doing this for an entirely different reason," she said. "These are amazing kids. … This is such a gift. They have no idea what they give to me and what they're teaching me."
Stevens said he has no doubt Hoyt will enjoy the video of the production.
"I thought Lisa came up with a truly creative and revolutionary idea, and it involves a whole bunch of kids that are Jack's kind of kids," Stevens said.
For her part, Stathoplos described the upcoming event as a "fun-filled evening for all ages with 20 of York High School's new improv artists performing."
And there is no question about the students' enthusiasm for this project.
"I hadn't done any prior performances, but it's really fun," said Dave Lorandeau. "It's different every day."
Gelsey Hubbard said taking part in a troupe like this with fellow teenagers has been a very positive experience.
"It's really refreshing to just be yourself," she said.
As Demos put it, "Anybody can join, and we have so many new people that might never have done theatre."
Both Yorston and Dani Dauth described themselves that way.
"I hadn't really planned to do this, but I tried it and now I love it," Dauth said.
Yorston had never done a theatre production before "Peter and the Big Bad Wolf," she said, adding, "It's acting, but it's not having a script written for you and a character you've seen before."
"We didn't really have any kind of theatre at the middle school," explained freshman Elizabeth Bengston, adding she loves to be a part of this group.
Veteran YHS performers like Jack Cooper and Jhames Steinsiek were equally enthusiastic.
"It's a blast. It does change every day, so it doesn't get boring," Cooper said. "It actually does really break you out of your shell."
As Steinsiek put it, "This performance should be a refreshing change of pace."
For Morgan Meagher, performing in traditional stage plays and being a part of an improvisation troupe go hand-in-hand, she said, adding that with improv, "You think about so much more."
Kevin Mucha added that he feels he has learned so much from "Ms. S," as the students call Stathoplos.
The Shtick Happens Players and Production Crew also includes Ashley Babin, Rob Casilio, Zoe McGuire, Kat Milinazzo, Sarah Parker, Emma Power, Emily Rose, Jason Roy, Curran Russell, Lexi Schaffer and Chris Yorston. The troupe is directed by Stathoplos and Michael Crockett. They will present their two evenings of improvisation and theatre games in honor of Hoyt and his family on Dec. 8 and 9 at 7:30 p.m.
"We would love for as many people as possible to attend and ask only a donation of your choosing at the door," Stathoplos said. "All proceeds go to Jack and his family."
