Suddenly, we are approaching the end of the 2025 school year. We will all be moving up a grade, the seniors will become freshmen again, and the middle school students will advance to the famous halls of Ramapo. Before that, however, we can appreciate, shout out, and recognize Jack Garris’s accomplishments.
As a significant part of the Ramapo theatre community, Garris has contributed to many plays, including Godspell, The Drowsy Chaperone, Urinetown, and Xanadu, where he played many different roles. Garris says that his favorite role so far was Hermes in Xanadu, since the character was similar to Garris in real life. Garris received “Best Male Dancer” in 2023 at the Gold Masque Awards and “Dancing King” in 2025.
Garris’ journey begins well before high school. Garris has performed since the 4th grade and has been in multiple shows at the Wyckoff YMCA, including Singing in the Rain, Annie, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Frozen, and many more. He says he started theatre because he “enjoyed the world of theatre and seeing shows and wanted to get more involved.”
His favorite part of theatre is performing on stage and “putting on a cohesive show for the audience.” When asked about his greatest talents, he says, “I think my greatest talents are my humor and dancing abilities, especially humor because I like to use theatre as an outlet for humor and jokes.”
Offstage, Garris is just as impressive. As one of the captains of the varsity cheerleading squad, he continues to showcase his dance skills and school spirit. In the fall, Garris plans to attend the University of Massachusetts (UMass Boston) next year and major in accounting. After college, he intends to further his accounting career.
Garris’ director, Ms. Corrado, reflects: “Jack Garris has been such an asset to Gold Masque throughout his time. His kindness and confidence have always been a light in the room, and we’ve always said, ‘We can’t do a show without Jack Garris.’ We’ll miss him as he moves on, and I hope he continues to follow his passion in dance!”
Not only does Ms. Corrado give praise, but sophomore Isabella Leoce also comments: “Jack stands out as a true force of nature on stage. He’s a very skilled dancer, and he always puts his all into the plays he does, especially this year’s spring musical of Xanadu. Jack’s talent and dedication to dancing make him stand out amongst the rest, and his passion and heart make him an asset to the Gold Masque drama club.”
As Jack Garris takes his final bow at Ramapo, his talent, humor, and heart legacy remain center stage. Jack has inspired those around him, whether on the cheer mat, under the spotlight, or in the classroom. Ramapo can’t wait to see what he dances into next.
