Performing Arts Spotlight - Arielle Zeitchick

SOMERS, N.Y. - At Somers High School, Arielle Zeitchick’s creativity takes many forms. Most recently, she was part of the team that provided the makeup effects for the SHS production of “Night of the Living Dead,” and passes her passion for the arts on by teaching youth painting, crafting, and improv classes. In addition, Arielle is also an avid photographer and has steadily built her portfolio by snapping shots at the 2022 Battle of the Bands and Tusker football games, among other events.

Outside of the arts, she is involved in environmental advocacy and currently serves as the co-president of the school’s Environmental Club. Arielle is also a part of Student Council, Photography Club, Tri-M, and the National English Honor Society.

The Somers Record caught up with Arielle to learn more about her artistic influences, favorite performing arts memories, and advice for younger students looking to follow in her footsteps.

When and how did you begin performing?

Before I came to Somers, I was involved in orchestra in Clarkstown, which I then continued at the intermediate school when I moved. Around seventh grade was when I was pulled into my first audition for theater, and landed the Candyman in Willy Wonka Jr. at the middle school. Ever since then, I have been involved in theater.

Do you have a favorite type of part to play? 

I love roles that I can be a bit wacky with, so comedic roles are always a fun time. Honestly, just any role that I can express a part of myself with and that pushes my limits a bit.

How much time do you devote to rehearsing? How do you balance that time with studying and other endeavors?

Depending on whether I am currently involved in a show, it can vary. During show season it is typically around one to four hours a day. When not in a show, usually I try to keep it to a couple of hours a week. In terms of balancing, it’s mostly about trying to find time during rehearsal to do school work, making sure I have good time management when I’m home, and also making sure I have time to just unwind and relax. It also helps to have good communication with teachers, employers, and those I am involved in clubs and other activities with about scheduling.

Have you been involved in any performances outside of school that you are particularly proud of?

I had the incredible opportunity to do an audition workshop through Helen Hayes Youth Theatre. There, I was able to perform both a scene and an audition cut of a song for two Broadway performers, the owners of Two Worlds Entertainment, and some of the Helen Hayes staff, and receive critiques. I was also taught a dance number by one of the performers. While not specifically a performance, it was a truly amazing experience.

This past summer, I also had the incredible opportunity to co-direct three different productions. My favorite was “Metamorphoses” by Mary Zimmerman, where I got to create something truly special and help young actors, some of which were completely new to theater, find their way and express themselves through different characters. Being able to create that world on stage and watch it come to life through these new actors was truly something magical.

Are you involved in any other activities at SHS?

I am involved in Student Council, Photography Club, Tri-M, National English Honor Society, as well as having been an executive board member of the Environmental Club for the past four years.

What are your plans after high school? Do they include performing arts?

As of writing this, I am still undecided in my college commitment, but I will be attending college in the fall. There I hope to continue my career in theater with performance, but also focus a bit more on the directing side of it, as I have fallen in love with that aspect. I also hope to expand more into the film industry during college.

Where do you think you will be in 10 years? Do you plan to continue with your performing career?

To be quite honest, I would love to have the answer to that myself. While I am not sure what lies in store for me in the next 10 years, or what new interests or career paths I’ll find in college, I do hope I never lose performance entirely. I would like to still be involved in theater or performance in some aspect, hopefully for the rest of my life.

How has being a performer shaped your high school experience? 

There is such a beautifully creative (albeit a little crazy at times) family that is produced by performance. Within the musical arts, and honestly general arts, community, you are able to find so many different people and experiences to connect with and learn from. I also feel that performance has helped me a lot in terms of expressing myself and learning who I am and want to be as a person.

What is your favorite performance memory?

There are definitely a lot of favorites. Some highlights include playing Disney trivia with cast mates during the intermission scene of “Shakespeare Rattle and Roll,” the chaos of trying to get everyone’s makeup done on time for different scenes in “Night of Living Dead,” and desperately trying (sometimes successfully) to learn the teeter-totter during the Devils and Angels dance in “All Shook Up.”

As a senior at SHS, what kind of advice would you give to younger students who want to be involved in the performing arts?

While it can be very nerve-wracking at first, the best way to be successful in performance is honestly just to be yourself. This sounds incredibly cliche, but personally through performance I have learned so much about myself and grown so much as a person. Performance is all about expression and authenticity, so just be yourself and allow your creativity to thrive.

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