Rumor has it: Last weekend from November 5 to 7, Stevens Dramatic Society (SDS) performed their Fall 2026 play, Rumors, a comedic farce by Neil Simon. Doors slammed, secrets filled, and laughter followed as the SDS cast put their hearts and souls into a performance to write home about. The performance transformed a simple anniversary party into a chaotic attempt to keep a potential scandal under wraps. Having performed as Officer Welsh, SDS president and 3/4 Mechanical Engineering major Kalman Zold said, “It’s a chaotic dinner party that goes wrong in the most humorous way possible.”
Rumors is a fast-paced comedy fueled by quick wit, physical humor, and an endless series of rumors. The play thrives on carefully orchestrated chaos, where one lie, one misunderstanding, quickly snowballs into another. As more guests arrive at the anniversary party, each character scrambles to make sense of the night’s unusual events while frantically keeping the truth hidden. Their attempts to cover up the scandal only create increasingly outrageous explanations, turning the evening into confusion, deception, and laughter. Through its rapid-fire dialogue and escalating absurdity, Rumors keeps audiences guessing as to what really happened that night and how much more chaotic the evening can become. “I hope [the audience] can leave much happier than when they came. It’s not a show to feel deep emotions, but it is a show that makes you feel joy,” said 4/4 Computer Science major and cast member Mircea Florescu.
The play begins amidst disaster as Chris Gorman, played by 4/4 Environmental Engineering student Julia Salmon, and Ken Gorman, played by 3/4 Visual Arts and Technology student Christian Fodor, freak out about arriving at their friends Charlie and Myra Brock’s anniversary party to discover Charlie shot in his bedroom and Myra nowhere to be seen. What follows is a series of conflicting explanations as they are joined by Lenny and Claire Ganz, played by Mircea Florescu and 4/4 Mechanical Engineering student GiGi Cannon, respectively. The evening quickly spirals into chaos when more guests start to arrive.
The production showcased not just the cast’s talents, but the crew’s hard work and effort. Countless nights of the set team struggling to manage time and doors, lighting timing, police lights, sound gambling on gunshot sound effects, hair and makeup fielding endless contour questions, props relying on communication and teamwork, and costume order delays. 3/4 Chemistry major and Assistant Director Leia Magette said, “So much [effort] from people on and off the stage, from people who have so much love and passion for this club.” and Assistant Hair and Makeup Artist Logan Caron (3/4 Civil Engineering major) added, “It’s a buttload [of work]. Nightly for actors, 24/7 for set, and everyone else in between has things they work on.”
To anyone looking to get involved with SDS or theater in general, it is a great way to get involved with the community and tell a story, while making friends in the process. Jayden Clark, 4/4 Chemical Biology major and the role of Ernie Cusack, said, “Just do it [theatre]. There aren’t many arts at this school, and there aren’t many chances to experience being on stage and helping with a production. Everyone is so welcoming. The fact that you get involved is enough for people to know.” With the rousing success of Rumors, cast, crew, and audience alike are excited to see what else SDS has in store for us. One thing is for certain: We haven’t seen the last of this lively family of student actors and artists.
