Information for
Helpful Links
See Cry-Baby, April 10-26 at Cohoes Music Hall
In April, Russell Sage College Theatre professor David Baecker (left) and musical theatre major Aidan Echeandia ’28 (right) will appear together in Cry-Baby, produced by Playhouse Stage Company. Echeandia plays the title character, a misunderstood rebel, and Baecker plays Judge Stone, the authority figure at the center of the story’s generational conflict.
“In addition to Aidan’s innate talent, it’s his hard work and professionalism that sets him apart,” said Baecker. “I see that at work in rehearsals and know he is a great example to the younger members of the cast. He’s also wickedly funny. I’m humbled to be working with him onstage, especially as he sees me going through the same struggles with the acting process that I teach to our students every day.”
Their joint performance at Playhouse Stage Company builds on work they’ve done together at the Theatre Institute at Sage — the college’s professional theatre company — and is a great example of the abundant theatre opportunities throughout New York’s Capital Region and Sage’s connections across the region’s theatre scene.
In the following Q&A, Echeandia talks about Cry-Baby; another recent role that earned him accolades; and the opportunities he has found in Sage’s theatre department.
Q. What drew you to Cry-Baby?
I’m playing Wade “Cry-Baby” Walker in Playhouse Stage Company’s production of Cry-Baby.
He’s the leader of the Drape Gang, a group of juvenile delinquents and outsiders in 1950s Baltimore. He was orphaned at a young age, after his parents were framed for a crime they didn’t commit and executed.
What attracted me to the role was just the genuineness and honesty of Wade. He’s a person that on the exterior seems like a troublemaker and a tough guy, but behind that exterior, he is the most kind and honest person in the entire show. Especially in the world we live in today, I think it’s important to show a leading man who doesn’t win the day through brute force or trickery but rather just by being a good human being.
Q. You are appearing with Theatre Professor David Baecker! What is it like to work with your professor outside of the college?
It, of course, is sort of a funny thought to be working with your professor on an equal playing field, but the truth is, David Baecker directs and leads his shows in such a way that there is never really a power dynamic in which he’s “the boss.” He has always been massive on collaboration and certainly treats me and all of his students, cast, and crew, as equals, so it truly hasn’t been a massive change at all.
One of your 2025 performances earned recognition from BroadwayWorld! Talk about that.
Yes! So, the summer of 2025, I starred in Broadway Upstate’s production of American Idiot, the Green Day musical, where I played Will, one of the three leads. I’ve always loved Green Day’s music and have worked with Broadway Upstate for a few years now, and so I absolutely jumped right on board to do my first professional production with them.
In late November, BroadwayWorld sent out their lists of nominees for their Central New York regional awards, and I was absolutely blown away to see I had made the list of nominees for “Best Performer in a Musical (Professional).” Funnily enough, also on that list was David Baecker, for his role in Playhouse Stage’s A Christmas Story: The Musical.
Come the new year, the winners were announced. American Idiot won quite a few awards, including Best Musical, and I won Best Performer. It was an absolutely amazing compliment and all around just a wonderful experience.
What drew you to Sage’s theatre program when you were choosing your college?
The big thing that drew me to Sage was the location. It’s only an hour from home in Fort Ann, New York, so I wouldn’t be too far from family. It’s a very small college, so I get to work very closely with professors and directors alike, which is a rare thing in musical theater programs that are massive.
See Cry-Baby April 10-26 at Cohoes Music Hall. Purchase tickets online.