In Northport High School, countless individuals have embarked on their journeys to success, and among these remarkable alumni is Elisa Donovan. Known for her role as Amber Mariens in Clueless and her memoir, Wake Me When You Leave, Elisa’s story is a testament to the transformative power of high school experiences. Her journey, marked by highs and lows, rejection, and resilience, is a source of inspiration for Northport students aspiring to follow their artistic dreams, reminding them of the power of uniqueness and determination. We had the honor of interviewing Elisa Donovan to hear more about her high school experiences…
If you were teleported to NHS right now, what would be the first where you would go?
Oh, I love this question! I would without doubt immediately go to The Little Theatre… please tell me it’s still there? It was off of the Commons and down the stairs, sort of behind those lockers – that we used to call ‘Dave’s Locker’ as a location because it was indeed our friend Dave’s locker! It became where my group of friends congregated. The second place I would go would be to the art wing, specifically the photography classroom/darkroom and video studio.
Did you have a favorite class or subject in high school?
Living Theatre with Mr. Gavriluk. It was an experimental and very progressive theatre class that was improv-based. Using the body and movement and more instinctual impulses to create authentic work. It had an indelible impact on me and my development as an actress and an artist. We often created our own work. I had started studying acting outside of school in junior high, so when I got to high school I wasn’t thinking it would have anything to offer me in that regard. But then I saw a poster for auditions for a play called ‘SAFE’, that would be about AIDS and would be created by the cast. AIDS was a very controversial topic at the time and people still didn’t understand it, most were afraid and thought of it like some sort of a sexual deviant disease. But I had watched my uncle die of the disease two years prior and it was still very present for my family and me. So I wanted to be a part of this show and felt compelled to audition even though I didn’t know anybody involved. I was a freshman, and I don’t think the class was technically available to us yet, but you could audition for the show. The auditions were utterly unconventional and I loved it. I was cast and it changed my life. From that audition moment, Mr. Gavriluk (Gav) and I had a bond. We wrote several other shows together in my years at NHS and he became my first mentor. He helped me understand who I am as an artist, he developed my craft and helped unleash my creativity. He treated me and my ideas with respect, which gave me confidence to know that I had a unique voice and it was meant to be heard. He also made me laugh, oh gosh we would laugh ourselves silly about so many things in life. We maintained a friendship – via letters and eventually emails, all the way until his untimely death last year. I was heartbroken when he died. I am eternally grateful to him.
Are there any traditions or events at Northport High School that you particularly enjoyed?
There was a National Art Honor Society that Doris Rowe ran. I loved it. I wore a lot of black in those days – I was a gothic punk rocker (I don’t know the equivalent now, you might have to Google that!) so I wore ripped stockings and crinolines and combat boots, etc., and Doris Rowe made us all wear white for the ceremonies. I would tell her that I was taking those evenings “to purify myself ”… I was dramatic. I think she got a kick out of me. I remember when Salvador Dalí died she made us all wear Dalí mustaches and do a funeral march of sorts through the Commons.
Professionally, what were your goals during your high school years and how did those change over time?
My goals were really formed and solidified during those years. I was so clear that I knew I wanted to be an actress and that I wanted to ‘communicate the human condition’. Sounds lofty, but it’s true. And I was very driven. I knew it was what I was supposed to be doing with my life. I understand now that it’s a calling, that most artists feel that. But I don’t think it’s necessary to know what you want to do with your life when you’re in high school! I know plenty of very successful people who hadn’t a clue what they wanted to do until they finished college. It’s just what my personal experience has been. And that vision evolves over time, but you have to follow the charms and follow your instincts. My goals are quite similar now, but less focused on only acting. I am so fulfilled by writing – my first book was published in 2021, Wake Me When You Leave, a memoir about losing my father to cancer and how it changed my life and career. My dad came to me in visitation dreams which helped me through my grief to healing, so there is a spiritual and otherworldly element to the book. The film adaptation (which I also wrote) is in development and it will be my directorial debut. I’m really excited to share that with the world.
What is some advice you would give to Northport students who are members of Powdered Wigs, Theater Troupe, or who otherwise have an interest in the entertainment industry?
Study, study, study. Learn your craft. Watch great plays and films – and now there is even great television! Be a sponge for art and let things move you. Persevere. And know that you are a unique soul and spirit, so there’s no one else like you. Don’t aspire to be like everyone else. You must have a strong work ethic and be able to handle rejection. There is a lot of that. You must learn to use that as inspiration, and never take it personally. I had a wonderful acting teacher, Larry Moss, who used to say, “Be so good that they can’t afford to say no”. Which essentially is saying — know your craft and work your tail off.
Are there any specific moments at NHS that have shaped who you are today?
In addition to the Little Theatre moments I already mentioned, there was another moment that sticks with me. We were in rehearsals for SAFE, and really deep into the process, we had bonded as a cast and felt we were doing something meaningful and important. The school board got wind of things and decided that we were not allowed to perform this play, that it was too risqué and broke some unwritten rule of decency or something. It was an absurd claim, totally based in fear, ignorance and misplaced conservatism. Gav gave us the news at rehearsal and said he had already written an impassioned letter about the content of the play and the value of our work, but to no avail. We were gutted as a cast and unwilling to accept it. So a couple of us went before the board and plead our case. It was very bold. I remember feeling at once terrified and utterly justified. I remember I was trembling reading a letter I had written talking about the importance of this play and how I had lost my own uncle to the disease and that this was an epidemic and we were creating art as a response and a way to connect with one another. It was for sure my first moment of “speaking truth to power”, as it’s now called. I was very scared, but I knew that what we were doing was beautiful and that it would educate and empower and bring people together. The board relented after that, although they did send home a permission slip for parents to sign, allowing their children to see the play. The play was a huge success and a wonderful time for all of us in the cast and our director, Gav. I have never forgotten that experience.
Are there any challenges you faced in high school that you overcame and learned from?
Well I was a part of the group referred to as “the freaks”. So we got a lot of flack, I was made fun of for my crazy hair and my clothes, etc. But for me, the big challenge was in the 8th grade into 9th grade. Back then, junior high went through 9th grade. All of my friends – and I mean almost every one of them turned against me. It was a ridiculous thing and I can’t recall all of the details but it crushed me. I was bereft and I thought I would never recover. But it turned out to be the best thing to happen to me because that’s when I leaned into being an artist and I found “my people”. There is a great quote I love by Rumi: “The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” So- don’t try to evade challenges, there are gems on the other side.
What would you say to your high school self?
Good job. I’m proud of you. But maybe ease up on the black eyeliner.
