by EVAN YAO and ABBI DAVIES
The Upper School’s Performing Arts Department kicks off the fall season with the play, She Kills Monsters, a heart-pounding homage to the geek and the warrior within all of us.
So who made the decision to bring this eclectic and adventurous story written by Qui Nguyen that debuted in 2011 in New York City to the Laverty Stage?
The answer is Andi Dëma, who, despite being a new addition to Chadwick this year, has already made his presence felt in the theater department.
Dëma joins Chadwick as the new Upper School theater director after teaching middle and upper division acting at Casady School, a private high school in Oklahoma City, since 2015. During his tenure, Dëma annually produced and directed four plays and musicals, directing 25 productions overall.
Dëma’s first Chadwick production, She Kills Monsters, is, in his words, “a hilarious and heartfelt story on what it means to discover oneself. Plus there are evil cheerleaders, magical spells, dance battles, five-headed dragons and stage combat galore.”
As a theater lover himself, Dëma has done it all. He has acted
in movies, commercials, musicals, and at seven Shakespeare festivals.
To put it simply, theater has been an integral part of his life since eighth grade. “I got into theater by watching my older sister succeed on the stage,” Dëma said.
“I tried out for my eighth-grade play and got a small role with a catchphrase. I decided to have a goofy voice and character–I was playing a game-show contestant who ate bugs–and stole the show. Hearing that applause and laughter got me hooked, and I’ve never looked back.”
Based on his own experiences, Dëma highly encourages new students to try out for theater this year, no matter their level of experience. The auditioning process for She Kills Monster is off to a great start with over 35 Upper School students signed up for the audition.
“Trust that who you are is enough … then be willing to share all those cool things that make you who you are,” Dëma says.
Dëma’s support is seen through the students’ feedback.
“Mr. Dëma is an energetic teacher who always encourages the cast to do their best. During auditions he made everyone feel comfortable, and I am excited for him to be our play director,” sophomore Peyton Brantley says.
With his new role comes a lot of possibilities and initiatives, but Dëma seems ready for the challenge. His goals are already in place.
This year’s lineup of plays that he has chosen are all designed to radiate upbeat, cheerful energy for the Upper School.
“She Kills Monsters and Urinetown are two wonderfully unique comedic shows that aren’t as well-known, and they carry strong, positive messages,” Dëma said.
Following the two plays is Middle School’s spring musical, James and the Giant Peach Jr.
Moving 1,400 miles from Oklahoma City to Palos Verdes is no small feat, but after his first interview, Dëma knew he was coming to a community that would welcome him with open arms.
“The energy of the community felt electric when I first came,” he said. “The faculty, students and culture are positive and inclusive. I felt like I could be myself without being judged!”
At Chadwick, Dëma was surprised by how eager community members were to get to know him.
“For so long, I went with the anglicized version of my Albanian name with a long ‘ee’ sound. Here, faculty and students have made an effort to say my name correctly with the ‘uh’ sound.”
The Chadwick community is just as excited about Dëma. “Mr. Dëma took the role of theater director at a difficult time,” sophomore Emma Gorrell said.
“A lot of us were really skeptical and cautious about the theater department and the new director. But he beat the odds, as not only an empowering theater director but as a breath of fresh air.”
Dëma’s thoughtfulness for others speaks volumes to his character and expertise as a director.
“Mr. Dëma has been the caring director that we have desper-
ately needed. He cares, not only about the kids in his classes, or the actors in the shows, but also about the crew who run the shows and the kids who have never even been on a stage,” Gorrell said.
It’s this passion and drive Dëma embodies that will serve as the key to successful productions across the Performing Arts Department.
Adds Dëma: “I strongly believe in talent being the ability to cultivate and trust one’s instinct. I invite students to experience feeling confidence for all who join the Chadwick theater family.”
The Mainsheet 