Falcon Focus: junior Jack McCarthy creates his own theatre program, GIFT

It had taken weeks of dedication, memorizing lines, running chaotic dress rehearsals and suffering through glitchy tech runs. Yet, even with all of the preparation and hard work, nerves were bound to prevail, for it was the first time junior Jack McCarthy had ever directed a performance.

When the curtain finally rose, and his actors took their places on stage at the Saratoga Health Center last February to perform a series of short skits, McCarthy realized what that moment meant to him. Finally, a small dream he had thought up in the spur of the moment had become a reality.

Growing up, McCarthy had been in multiple productions, and professional shows. He had even been in a film from CreaTv at  at the age of 12, yet he had never directed a play before.

On this night, he was not only directing his first show, but also debuting his own theatre company, GIFT, which stands for “Giving Individuals Fabulous Theatre.”

“[GIFT’s] purpose is to gather high school and middle school students who have a passion for acting, and allow them to use their talent in a way that benefits others,” McCarthy said. 

With anywhere from two to 10 students in each of the productions, GIFT performs primarily for places like retirement homes and children’s hospitals: places that otherwise don’t get to experience the simple joys of theatre.

Students that perform in the productions include freshman J.T. Hulme, Kavya Sadras, Raymond McCarthy, and junior Blake Propach.  They also perform for public audiences in places like Wildwood Park, where proceeds from ticket sales are donated to children’s hospitals and health centers. 

McCarthy donates this money to hospitals largely due to past experiences.

“[My family and I] spent a lot of time in the hospital with my grandparents who were stuck there for months on end,” McCarthy said. “It was really upsetting to know that they were just sitting there waiting for the days to go by.”

Because of this, McCarthy felt inspired to do something that would have an effect on the people who were in the same situation as his grandparents.

“I really enjoy going into each facility and watching how engaged the residents get,” McCarthy said. “Seeing them light up when they are in a place of such hardship is inspirational.”

One of McCarthy’s most memorable experiences was a visit to the Saratoga Sub-Acute Children’s hospital to perform their show “Many Moons.”

“At first, most of the cast was shocked at what a sad situation the children were in,” McCarthy said. “But by the end of the show, we could all tell we had made a difference to them.”

McCarthy said that after the show, one girl and boy wheeled up to him in their wheelchairs and asked to get pictures with the cast. 

“When I took the picture, two boxes appeared: the green ones that go over people’s faces,” McCarthy said. “When I saw the green boxes on the two kids’ faces, I knew that that was what GIFT is all about.”

Despite the good that comes out of directing and performing GIFT shows, McCarthy has had his share of struggles with the program as well.

“The hardest thing about being directing multiple shows is coordinating the actors and their time commitments,” McCarthy said. “It’s always a challenge to contend with people’s schedules because we are all in school and quite busy.”

However, the outcome is well worth it.  He has successfully directed six productions since February, which have ranged from multiple small skits to full length productions and musicals.

Because of not only McCarthy’s drive and passion for his production, but also his humor and connection with the cast, the actors and actresses enjoyed attending GIFT practices and working to make their show perfect.

“[McCarthy] works insanely hard, and is extremely funny,” Sadras said. “He worked us to death with our show, but it ensured that we did a great job.” 

Each show is chosen so that both older audiences and younger audiences can connect to it. McCarthy is working on his seventh show, “Dear Departed,”  which will be performed soon.

“I plan to continue GIFT until I graduate or maybe even after,” McCarthy said. “But no matter how long GIFT goes on for, the difference that was made in people’s lives will stay forever.”