By John Church
The SUNY Plattsburgh theater department is preparing a unique viewing for students to attend in the Hartman Theatre of the John Myers Building this weekend.
Running through Saturday, campus residents and commuters can find an entertaining way to start the weekend with Deborah Zoe Laufer’s “End Days.”
With lingering winter weeks, students couldn’t be more ready for spring and nicer weather. What better way to warm up the spirit with some humor?
The play, which opened on March 6, explores themes of grief, faith, science, and human connection in times of tragedy — all formulated into a comedic yet poignant narrative.
“End Days,” first performed and produced in 2007, navigates the lives of a struggling family. The play follows a mother, father and their daughter in the wake of 9/11.
Arthur, the father, is a shell of his former self after surviving the attacks. His wife, Sylvia, adopts a new partner in Jesus, finding solace through evangelical Christianity. Their teenage daughter and protagonist of the play, Rachel, turns to the readings of physicist Stephen Hawking. She looks to his scientific ingenuity as a means to mend fragmentation.
As the family circumvents the aftermath of the September attacks, Rachel is ogled over by a quirky and unconventional Elvis-impersonating neighbor named Nelson. When Nelson enters the family’s lives, a chain of events forces them to confront the pain they’ve been masking and eventually rediscover each other.
Playwright Deborah Zoe Laufer is authentic to the human condition. She keeps a pulse on the society and the manic whirlwind of rocky subjects of love, loss, faith, and reason. She shared her insights into one of her most beloved plays.
“I wrote End Days a few years after 9/11, and after hearing that 40% of the country identified as evangelical. That was something I had not realized, and it got me thinking about belief systems and how people search for meaning in the wake of tragedy,” Laufer said. “I wrote it because many people look outside themselves for salvation and ultimately find it in the people they love.”
The upcoming SUNY Plattsburgh production of “End Days” is a student run operation. From the directing and acting, students have had a direct hand in every part of the performance. While Laufer isn’t directly involved in the production, the play still holds the same message.
She expresses excitement and enthusiasm about a continued celebration of her life’s work. “This play has had over 100 productions worldwide, from Russia; I believe there was a showing in Siberia, Australia, and Germany if I remember correctly. It resonates with small towns across America and the globe, like Plattsburgh. I think it sticks with people because it blends humor with themes of hope, family, and the search for connection,” Laufer said.
The production features extensive design and execution by students in the theater department. Behind the scenes, director and production manager, Margaret Swick emphasized the joy of working with her cast of students.
“Working with student cast members as a director has been a joy,” Swick said. “I have learned so much and cannot wait to showcase their talents next weekend. They displayed growth from the first rehearsal through tech to opening, I am amazed by their ability to transform into their characters.”
Erika Guay, scenic designer and costume shop manager, noted the student passion has poured into every show element.
“We have student designers on every element of the production — from the painted cabinets to the lighting cues to management work to sound and projections. Working with them is the most exciting part,” Guay said.
Ben Wright, technical director, highlighted both the challenges and rewards of preparing End Days for the stage.
“This show comes up early in the semester, so we had to get an early jump on the set. We made major decisions fast so we could start the set build right after New Year’s. It’s rewarding to see the students do a nice job on the painting, set dressing, and prop construction, really bringing it all together,” Wright explained.
Wright also emphasized the teamwork involved in executing the director’s vision.
“My team, made up of student employees and THE190AA Production Lab students, is responsible for the construction of the set through to base painting. We also help in other design areas, maintaining the scene shop and Hartman Theatre. The Student Association funding is our bread and butter, that determines the breadth and depth of our productions,” Wright said.
Student designer Finn Bartholomew shared their perspective on working behind the scenes.
“This experience has taught me a lot about technical theater, but one big thing I’ve learned is that when you work in technical theater, you have a family that supports you and is also there to help you bounce ideas off or when you have been looking at the set for too long they are there to help you not spiral on your work.”
Being part of this production wasn’t just about bringing a story to life — it was a journey of creativity, collaboration, and personal growth for Finn.
“The most exciting part was that this was my first time doing anything this big,” Bartholomew said. “I had helped paint sets in high school, but this was my first time designing. Also, I did it with my best friends. There were so many laughs and inside jokes, and we all got closer during this production, and have built so much trust during this production.”
Swick and Guay hope the audience will take away a sense of warmth from the play’s humor and message.
Both production managers note that End Days is an experience that will make audiences laugh and leave them with something to think about.
“It’s a story about a family working through their trauma in unexpected ways. These characters find comfort in creating community together, and we hope audiences leave feeling that same sense of connection,” Guay said.
For those looking for a thought-provoking yet amusing night at the theater, End Days is sure to deliver.
With a mix of witty dialogue, heartfelt moments, and memorable characters, Laufer’s play promises to be a compelling experience for theatergoers. Students can expect to see peers and their production on full display beginning March 6 at the Hartman Theatre, John Myers Building, with tickets available through Cardinal Link.
Showtimes for “End Days” are 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. on Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8. The final showing is Sunday, March 9 at 2 p.m.
