Written by Joseph Martucci ’24, Communications Corps
ooper Marino ’27 had only been at Xaverian for several weeks
when he managed to nab the lead role of the fall play Treasure
Island. Tis isn’t something he takes lightly. Although he’s been a
member of several prestigious acting companies in Massachusetts,
Cooper has finally found a home in Xaverian theater.
At the young age of five, Cooper was first introduced to the theater,
having been cast in ensemble roles at the Franklin Performing Arts
School. He then switched to the Un-Common Teatre Company and
earned his first significant role as John in Peter Pan. However, success
would not come easy for Cooper, as the COVID-19 quarantine forced
him to put his passion on pause. He returned by joining LRC Stage
Productions in middle school and serving in Beauty and the Beast and
Spongebob as Cogsworth and Squidward, respectively.
Cooper joined the cast of Montrose’s Te Sound of Music
performance in eighth grade two weeks before the show. It was here
that he first heard whisperings of Xaverian’s theater program. Te
Montrose actors spoke so highly that he was inspired to attend the
Xaverian open house. Cooper says he was sold from there: “I knew at
that moment that Xaverian was where I was meant to be.”
Te first thing Cooper did at Xaverian was try out for the fall
production of Treasure Island. Expecting to work his way up to
significant roles one year at a time, like in his previous theater
FINDING A HOME IN
averian Theater
experiences, he was dumbstruck when Xaverian’s theater director,
Ms. Julianne O’Connor, cast him as the lead character, Jim Hawkins,
alongside Thomas Sullivan ’25 in the role of Long John Silver.
“Cooper stood out as someone who had that youthful energy that
I was looking for, and I knew from his background in theater that he
would be able to take on this kind of role,” says Ms. O’Connor. “I don’t
cast by seniority, and that’s something that I’m actually very proud of. I
felt that everyone was put in the role they fit the best.”
On November 17 and 18, afer months of rehearsals, line
memorizing, and cue perfecting, the cast and crew of Treasure Island
delivered two memorable performances of the classic tale. Tere were
Xaverian students from grades 7-12 represented in the cast alongside
young women from area schools, as well as 20 Hawks running the
technical aspects of the show. Xaverian theater fans eagerly await the
spring production of Pippin, which will open on March 22 and run
through March 24.
Pictured above are Cooper Marino ’27 as Jim Hawkins and Jonathan
Cimino ’25 as Billy Bones with (l to r) Zachary Vidalis ’29, Jack Pitts ’25,
Dom Izzo ’27, and Colin Cahalane ’29.
Photo credit to Mike McMath ’69
6 www.xbhs.com
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