"Spectacular … an experience I will cherish for life.”
That’s how New Rochelle High School junior Matthew Dodd describes his exhilarating opportunity to perform with the Metropolitan Opera in its staging of a theater classic, Porgy and Bess.
The American standard by George and Ira Gershwin, along with DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, runs through Dec. 12 at the Metropolitan Opera. The play debuted in 1935 and was groundbreaking as a show featuring a full cast of black actors. It has continued to be produced around the world since its debut.
Dodd, a member of the ensemble, has not taken a moment for granted.
“Everyone is so kind and encouraging and I feel like I’m part of the community every time I’m there,” he said. “Regardless of experience, age, race, religious background, everyone is accepted and respected for who they are. I feel like an important part of the crew. I’ve had several opportunities to speak with some of the lead performers. They were very positive, uplifting, and brought positive energy to the stage.”
Dodd is a member of New Rochelle High School’s Performing and Visual Arts Education (PAVE) program, which he credits with developing his acting abilities. The program is designed to give talented students outlets to explore a wide range of creative and artistic works in a way that helps them find success both academically and professionally.
“I don’t think I would have been able to do this if it weren’t for the support and encouragement from my teachers in and outside the PAVE program,” said Dodd. “I feel that in taking part in this performance I can show my peers the opportunities that exist in the world of theater. My experience also demonstrates how valuable and helpful the skills are that were taught in PAVE.”
Dodd’s mother, Kerry-Ann Reeves, is a fifth-grade teacher at Daniel Webster Elementary School. She has been bursting with pride seeing him on stage at the Metropolitan Opera.
“For the opening matinee of Porgy and Bess, I sat with knots in my stomach, eagerly waiting for the show to start,” she said. “When Matthew came on stage, my heart surged with joy and my eyes welled with happy tears that the sight of my son doing what he loved, performing.”
For Dodd, the joy and gratitude have been immense. “I want to thank my teachers for the time that they’ve taken to prepare and deliver lessons that have helped me get to where I am today,” he said.
Tickets and information are available here.