From Feb. 26 through Feb. 28, the Drew University Dramatic Society and the department of theatre and dance presented the spring 2026 Varsity Set: “The Baltimore Waltz.” The play, written by Paula Vogel, was co-directed by senior theatre students Cecilia Lomanno (‘26) and Andy Bentley (‘26). The goal of Varsity Set is to hone a director’s skills in character development in collaboration with student designers by producing a full-length play.
Written as a tribute to Vogel’s own brother, who passed away from AIDS, the play follows Anna, as she deals with “Acquired Toilet Disease.” ATD is a fictional terminal illness that Anna imagines having in order to cope with her harsh reality–her brother, Carl, is dying of AIDS. The play follows Anna through a dreamscape of her own creation where she imagines herself dying and acting extremely scandalous in her limited time left. The play invites the audience to question the importance of family, how we grieve and what is most important in our–and our loved ones’–last moments.
The two characters travel through Europe after hearing the diagnosis of Anna’s illness and interact with various iterations of Finn Jackson’s (‘26) character, the third man, in one final effort to find a probable cure. Anna, played by Abby Sullivan (‘27), and Carl, played by Josiah Kemp (‘27), slowly begin to break Anna’s fragile dreamscape as the play rises to its final, frenzied climax and abrupt return to reality.
Sad, yet wildly funny at parts, “The Baltimore Waltz” is a play that represents various facets of life, all wrapped up in one bittersweet ending. With the end of this show comes a different bittersweet ending – as it is the last Drew show for several of the theatre department’s senior class: co-directors Bentley and Lomanno, stage manager Genevieve Geary (‘26) and run crew member Sophia Aciego (‘26).
There are plenty more events happening this semester in the theatre and dance department. Next, keep an eye out for “Henry VI, Part 3: The Rise of Richard,” at the Shakespeare Theatre of N.J. on March 26-28. To stay up to date with all DUDS and theatre and dance department happenings, follow them both on Instagram at @dudstheatre and @drewtheatreanddance.
Jaden Finn is a sophomore majoring in environmental science and minoring in theatre arts. Elliot Yap is sophomore majoring in art and media & communications, and minoring in photography.
