News from Presentation High School’s Theater & Arts Development Association (TADA!) Winter 2017-18

Dramatic lighting. This 2015 production of Chicago is an example of the way a hazer machine allows the audience to see the beams of a spotlight. Last year’s TADA! income enabled us to add a second hazer to our special effects toolkit—along with many other enhancements that will add magic to our upcoming production of Beauty & The Beast.

TADA! fundraising brings needed equipment

ou’ve done it again, and had enough left over to buy $18,819 of eight new wireless microphones Performing Arts Director Jim new equipment and materials to make (which are fragile and endure a lot of Houle is thrilled. Last school our shows even more enjoyable for our wear and tear), stage paint (you can Y loyal audiences. never have enough), five headsets (for year’s gross income for TADA! (Theater & Arts Development Association) was a communication between the booth whopping $44,074 thanks to: Look what your efforts produced! and stage), new tools for the shop • your membership contributions Equipment purchases include a new (come help us build our next show and • the Blue Plaid Players’ April hazer machine (to add drama to our you can be the first to try them out!), fundraiser show lighting effects), 35mm camera (for and a partridge in a pear tree (OK, • concession stand sales publicity photos), three remote control we’re just kidding about that last one). • and holdover funds from the lights (to provide more lighting design previous year’s budget. options), new ticket printer (to replace a “We’ll be making great use of these malfunctioning one), three muslin drops new resources,” says Jim, “beginning This allowed us, for the first time, (so we can accommodate more scene with the first musical of the season, to pay for the performing rights up changes), batteries for the mics (which Beauty & The Beast, which opens in front for the upcoming school year’s need to be replaced after every show), November. Be sure to come and enjoy productions of Beauty & The Beast, High two rolls of Ethafoam (used to create in the fruits of your generosity as we School Musical, and George Orwell’s intricate props and set pieces), Musson use these funds to raise the bar on the dystopian drama, 1984. In addition, we track and parts (to hold up the curtains), theater magic we create.” Meet our new choir director: Julie Arthur

fter Pres choir director Emilie husband and I desired to move back to our Middle School Choral Workshop, Bertram bid a fond farewell to the area to be closer to family and have which is open to any 6th, 7th, or the school last year to move better job prospects for my husband. 8th grade students—girls or boys A I was drawn to Pres (unchanged voices only). The workshop east to strengthen her academic credentials, because of its high-quality began Oct. 18; for more information, the administration set programs—in academics see the PHS website. out to find a talented and extracurricular. I musician who could am so excited to be “I hope that I can continue leading the fill her shoes, wave her Photo here and grateful for choirs with excellence,” Julie adds. “I baton, and maintain the opportunity to work am excited to spend this year getting to the momentum of our here.” know the culture of Pres and the music blossoming program department here.” in the vocal arts. They Julie earned a Bachelor’s found a promising degree in Music Last year, Bella Voce traveled to candidate in Julie Education from Azusa perform in Seattle, Vancouver, San Arthur, who comes to Pacific University, and her Francisco, and Moraga, following us (most recently) from Master’s degree in Choral their epic pilgrimage to Ireland in the Houston Academy in Conducting from San Jose summer of 2016. Locally, Cantabile Dothan, Alabama. Before that, she lived State University. She has taught private and Bella Voce also performed at Great for a time in . piano and violin lessons for 10+ years. America and St. Joseph’s Cathedral. Julie hopes to continue this outreach to “I heard about the opening at Presen- Julie has eagerly immersed herself in her the community. She says she would also tation from a friend who teaches at work, serving as choir director for Bella love to expand the music program to Willow Glen High School,” she says. Voce and Cantabile, teaching classes in add more instrumental offerings, if at “Having previously lived in San Jose, my both voice and piano, and continuing all possible. The Blue Plaid Players 2017 troupe included alumnae, staff, parents and friends of Pres. Back row, from left: Chris Flanagan, Charles Anthony, Teri Barnett, Kama Belloni, Debbie Zimmerman, Kathy Gutto, Dan DePalmo. Middle row: Dan D’ali, Jamie Danielle McEwen-Walker, Lisa Bunnell, Breigh Finnerty, Mike Hugill. Front: Liz Brown Blue Plaid Players Stage original show—Again!

or more than a decade, even recruited faculty members to star staging and costuming. The setting was Presentation has been the in traditional musicals like Godspell, a community theater audition, in which beneficiary of an annual labor Little Shop of Horrors, You’re a Good the actors, who played themselves, F Man, Charlie Brown, and The 25th Annual sang a variety of unrelated songs from of love, as parents, teachers, students, alumnae and friends of Pres came Putnam County Spelling Bee. currently popular musicals like Wicked, together under the umbrella of our Rent, Matilda, and The Little Mermaid. own “Blue Plaid Players” troupe. Each Last April, the troupe came full circle Unencumbered by an overarching year since 2006—when we staged our with yet another original show called theme, the show’s creators were able to first original musical about a typical day From Stage & Screen: Our Musical string together an appealing program in the life of a Pres girl, called If My Journey, in which our team of adult of crowd-pleasing favorites sung by Friends Could See Me Now—this team of performers—who by now have individual soloists, thus streamlining talented volunteers has stepped up to become close friends—performed a the development, memorization, and raise funds in support of the school’s potpourri of contemporary show tunes, rehearsal process. Performing Arts Program. supported by a full orchestra right on the Valenzuela Theater stage. Excluding expenses, the show grossed Over the years, the troupe has $19,800 in box office receipts and experimented with jukebox shows Written by Chris Flanagan and Dan ad sales. Be watching for yet another paying tribute to artists like Frank D’ali and directed by Kathy Gutto, From surprise from the Blue Plaid Players Sinatra, Judy Garland & Mickey Rooney, Stage & Screen was built around a clever in the spring of 2018, as the tradition plot device that allowed for simple continues. Beautiful music. Presentation choirs join together for a concert on the Valenzuela Theater stage. The students have continued to expand their repertoire with songs and Irving Berlin. For four years, they in a variety of musical styles. The choir has traveled internationally in recent years, and new director Julie Arthur hopes to build on that tradition.

Page 2 Curtain Call, Winter 2017-2018 TADA! newsletter Page 3 Dance photos by Amy Drake (amydrakephoto.com)

Presentation’s Dance Team Continues to Grow

uditions were held in June “Each year I feel so privileged for Presentation’s national to work with such amazing champion-winning Dance dancers and this year is no A exception!” Sara continues. “All Team, and eight new dancers have joined the team. Combining forces with 22 members of the team are Girls just want to have fun. Last year’s participants in the Freshman SnipITS show demonstrated in colorful fashion just how much they love to entertain. our 14 returning dancers, that brings the extremely hardworking and team up to a total of 22 members, up dedicated to continue from 19 last year. the success of the “ITS” a Double Header: Frosh Thespians and dance team. I am Improv Team to Share the Spotlight on Dec. 6 “This year’s team of 22 dancers is already so proud the largest in my 10-year history at of this team and Presentation,” says dance teacher excited to see ant to stretch your The name SnipITS was because of technical Sara Fugate. “The officers are Sophia where this year entertainment dollar? coined more than a decade challenges, a mature Brahney, Emily Sichak, Abby McCarthy, takes us.” Looking for a great place ago as a pun combining the theme, or the fact that W Gianna Jelic and Lauren Wong. The to bring a date who loves to laugh? word “snippets” with the the rights have not yet team is already off to a great start, Don’t miss this year’s two-shows- ITS acronym. The name been released. You won’t showing hard work and dedication. for-the-price-of-one, laugh-a-minute, stuck, and has become a find anything like it on a Currently they are learning all of their bargain bonanza: Frosh SnipITS and tradition at Pres as a place community theater stage. competition material that they will Spontaneous Combustion Improv, for everyone (especially debut at the December Dance Cabaret taking place on the Valenzuela Theater those who might not get cast in the After the Freshmen have entertained on December 1 at 7:00 p.m. They stage December 6 at 7:00 p.m. school’s other us, there will be a short intermission are looking forward to competing in productions) to and a referee from ComedySportz will January and February before heading to Last year’s SnipITS/Improv enjoy a moment challenge the wits of our Spontaneous Florida for nationals.” night took place in May, but in the spotlight as Combustion improv troupe in a series for the 2017-2018 school they share their of games similar to ones you may have To prepare for the competition year, Jim Houle has moved it talents with the seen on the TV program “Whose Line season ahead, the new team attended to December to free up space on the community. Participation has grown so Is It Anyway?” At our last such comedic two camps during the summer: USA calendar for a more ambitious ITS show much over the years, that we now have battle in May, the students were pitted Elite Camp at Cal Lutheran University tentatively slated for May 4-6. The latter two flavors of SnipITS—with Frosh against members of the Pres faculty, (4 days, earning a Superior ranking show is still in the discussion phase, but SnipITS in December followed by with the students narrowly eking out a and Hardest Working team members of the Pres chapter of the Musical SnipITS in February. win. One of the witticisms that sealed award), plus West Coast Jumping for joy. Presentation Dance Team member Emily Schultz (’17) International Thespian Society (ITS) the victory came when a student was Elite Summer Experience demonstrates the elegance of a perfect split leap in this professional photo hope to mount a full book show similar SnipITS shows are a potpourri of the challenged to make up the “worst (taking classes from taken last year. to years past when the group staged best scenes, songs, and monologues possible tourist slogan for Missouri,” instructors who have full-length shows like Once On This “snipped” from full-length plays—often and she said without missing a beat: appeared on So You Think You Can Dance Island, Always and Forever Kate, and Steel ones that are unlikely to be chosen to “Welcome to the state of Misery.” on the Fox TV network. Magnolias. be presented in their entirety, either

Page 4 Curtain Call, Winter 2017-2018 TADA! newsletter Page 5 Houlistic Encore! Thinking Disney’s returns By Jim Houle, Performing Arts Director he new year kicks off with a teens. This time around, our current November and January musicals attract hen a tale is “as old as second musical gracing our students get a chance to show their different actors to a large degree, giving time,” how do you get Tstage, as Presentation proudly comedic chops as a wide variety of more students an opportunity to benefit Waudiences to come and see brings you Disney’s High School Musical. relatable characters. The story is set in from the team building, camaraderie, it yet again? Here at Presentation High The show debuted as a made-for-TV Salt Lake City’s East High School, as and self-confidence that theater brings School, we tackle that question often as musical on the back drama students, basketball stars, and to the educational environment. we revisit Shakespeare again and again in 2006, and surprised everyone— decathletes find their competing goals, to challenge our young thespians while including Disney— when it became the dreams, and love interests pushing the Mark your calendar, and join us January supporting the school’s educational most watched film that year with 7.7 plot forward. 20-28 for what promises to be a fun objectives. Over the past decade, for million viewers in its premiere broadcast time at the theater! example, I have tried to put a fresh spin in the US. The show will be guest-directed by Romeo and Juliet Kris Heiser, a former Pres parent. In on such classics as and Blast from the past. 2011, she starred opposite teacher Eric , who rose A Midsummer Night’s Dream by adding The original movie spawned two to fame after appearing in the original made- puppets to the cast, giving the show sequels, and launched the careers of Buell in our own Blue Plaid Players’ for-TV version of High School Musical, visited a steam punk appearance, or moving Beauty and the Beast, with songs by eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menkin, returns to Pres on Zach Efron (who has since made 20 production of Little Shop of Horrors, and Presentation in 2013 during our staging of In Nov. 4. His impressively diverse body of work includes Little Shop of Horrors, , The has been directing plays at St. Catherine The Heights. He posed for this photo the setting from merry old England to Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Enchanted, and Sister Act. He is collaborating movies), (a judge on the most recent season of So You Elementary School in Morgan Hill for with Pres House Manager Diane feudal Japan. with Lin-Manuel Miranda on new music for a live-action film adaptation of The Little Mermaid. Hughes. Think You Can Dance), and Corbin Bleu many years. This year’s retelling of the Grimm fairy (who later starred in In The Heights on tale Beauty and the Beast—especially since Broadway, and visited Pres in 2013 Performing Arts Director Jim Houle it’s been done here at Pres as recently to talk with our students who were recalls the limited two-shows-a-year as 2006—called for another trip to the mounting that show!) slate that Presentation offered creative well. when he took over the Presentation has actually mounted both program back in 2004, and As most Disney fans can tell you, the High School Musical and its first sequel is thrilled that interest most well-known version of this show (High School Musical 2) several years ago, in the arts has grown is the only full-length animated cartoon as part of its Presentation Repertory so much in the ensuing ever nominated for a Best Picture summer performing arts program for years. He notes that the Oscar® by the Motion Picture Academy. Disney itself has since remade the show, first as a Broadway musical, and this past year as a live-action, CGI-infused Stage Adaptation of Orwell’s ‘1984’ movie starring Emma Watson. We are still using the bubbly score by Alan Examines Surveillance and Privacy Menken as our foundation, but will hen an author writes about projecting societal trends 35 years into “This production is a return to the darker folkloric roots of the future, he or she often the future to warn of a dystopian future serious counterbalance the Grimm brothers when we design Disney’s immensely popular High School Musical will be our winter musical, Jan. 20-28. picks a date that readers controlled by Big Brother, the Thought for the lighthearted our sets, costumes, and lighting. The W Police, omnipresent government Disney musicals we are mounting in may eventually live to see. That’s what result, we hope, will be something that happened when, in 1951, a short story surveillance, and a world of perpetual November and January,” says Director is less about dancing napkins and more by Arthur C. Clarke that would later war. Jim Houle. “While the musicals offer a biting commentary on prejudice based become 2001: A Space Odyssey looked 50 us some fun, frothy, escapist fare, 1984 on outward appearances. years into the future to envision space Two thirds of a century after it was stands in stark contrast as an important written, the novel has gained renewed We hope you will “Be Our Guest” for travel and artificial intelligence, and examination of the dangers of a interest—sparking a stage adaptation what promises to be a memorable, again in 1985 when Robert Zemekis society in which fear leads to the willing that Presentation has added to this enjoyable, and thought-provoking directed Back to the Future, predicting surrender of personal liberties—a year’s slate of dramatic offerings. The theatrical experience in the tradition of that flying skateboards would be highly relevant topic in 2017.” new play, originally created and directed our past productions like A Chorus Line, commonplace 30 years later—by 2015. by Robert Icke and Duncan MacMillan, The show runs weekends from March Chicago, and Phantom of the Opera. Tickets is fresh from a Broadway run that 17-25, 2018 at the Valenzuela Theater. are on sale now on the school website; Likewise, the novel 1984 was written ended October 8, 2017. get yours before we sell out! Our play for this year is 1984, based on a 1949 novel that has seen a renaissance in sales recently. by George Orwell way back in 1949, Page 6 Curtain Call, Winter 2017-2018 TADA! newsletter Page 7 Cultivating the Next Generation of Presentation Artists

You don’t have to be a Presentation student to enjoy all the performing arts programs we have to offer. We also have many programs tailored to middle school students. Most of our programs are co-ed and are either free or at a very low cost. Here are some of those opportunities related to the performing arts.

Fall Choral Workshop This co-ed workshop (already underway for 2017) is being offered to students in grades 6-8 who have unchanged voices. Students are working alongside Presentation’s award-winning choir, Bella Voce, to practice choral singing skills and participate in sectionals. Participants will perform during Bella Voce’s 2017 Winter Concerts on Friday, Dec. 8 (Valenzuela Theater) and Saturday, Dec. 9 (St. Joseph Cathedral Basilica).

Presentation Dance Workshop Open to Both Boys and Girls, Grades 6 through 8

• Tuesdays from Dance Workshop March 20 through Take classes with the national championship- May 1, 2018 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. winning Presentation Dance Team and perform in the Spring Dance Concert. This co-ed workshop • Three performances May 9-11 at 7 p.m. is open to students in grades 6-8. The fee for the in the Valenzuela entire workshop is $50. To register, email Sara Theater Fugate at [email protected]. • $50 per student for boys or girls Classes will be held Tuesdays, Mar. 20-May 1, 2018 in middle school, from 4-6 p.m. in the Dance Studio, culminating grades six to eight in dress rehearsal on May 8 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. • For more informa- and three performances May 9-11 at 7 p.m. in the tion or to register, contact Sara Fugate Valenzuela Theater. at sfugate@presen- Free Middle School Theater Workshops Whatever style of dance tationhs.org Middle school students are invited to shine onstage in a For more information about all of these workshops— you enjoy, from hip-hop to contemporary, you’re series of free after-school workshops in the Valenzuela along with others in the areas of Speech & Debate, sure to improve when you Theater on campus. Workshops will be held Nov. 27, French, and Student Leadership—visit our website at study with our national championship team. 28, 29 and Dec. 4, 5, and 6, from 3-5 pm, culminating presentationhs.org/admissions/middle-school-programs. in a performance Dec. 6 at 7 pm. To register for one of You will also find full-size (i.e. more legible) PDFs of the these middle school theater workshops taking place at flyers on this page. Presentation, email Jim Houle: [email protected].

Page 8 Curtain Call, Winter 2017-2018 TADA! newsletter Page 9 YEAR AFTER YEAR, NO MATTER HOW YOU SLICE IT... ike a patchwork quilt—or a blue plaid skirt—our Performing Arts program offers a harmonious blend of comedy and tragedy, singing and dancing, creatively crafted by both novice and veteran thespians. Board Members PicturedL here are a small sampling of the amazing productions that have graced our stage over the past few years. On the opposite page, the casts of A President Chorus Line (2016), Chicago (2015), and Guys & Dolls (2014) demonstrate Tricia Stephens three different ways to arrange a kick line. Below, we fondly recall our [email protected] steampunk-inspired rendition of Romeo & Juliet (2016), our addition of a Secretary second musical in January with Footloose (2017), performers from October’s Sonia Ocampo Concert For Girls fundraiser, a “family” portrait in Stage Door (2015), a circle [email protected] of Dance Team members lying around their national championship trophies Alumni Parent Rep (2017), and our choir performing at Cal State Fullerton (2015). Cindi Savelli [email protected]

Choir Rep Karen Taylor [email protected]

Dance Team Rep Jen Cuddie [email protected]

Curtain Call Newsletter Doug Hughes [email protected]

Administration Jim Houle, Director of Performing Arts [email protected] Tim Case, Vice Principal “Stage Door” [email protected] Diane Hughes, House Manager [email protected]

What is “Tada!”?

TADA!, or “Theater & Arts Develop- ment Association,” was founded in 2003 as a booster program for the arts, but it is much more than a clever acronym. If you have ever attended a performance in the Valenzuela Theater, Dance Team Choir you have met our wonderful members. TADA! volunteers work behind the scenes to make our productions come Competition alive onstage. They help build sets and costumes, usher, sell tickets and con- cessions, and put on original shows to raise money to benefit our Theater Arts program. Next time you visit the the- ater, look for lobby volunteers wearing the TADA! logo and ask how you can join the fun. You will be welcomed with open arms! Page 10 Curtain Call, Winter 2017-2018 TADA! newsletter Page 11 Arts Calendar DECEMBER MARCH for 2017-2018 Dance Cabaret: Friday, Dec. 1, 7 p.m., Choir SJSU Choral Invitational: Miller Athletic Complex Friday, Mar. 2, 2018, San Jose State t wasn’t that long ago that our TADA board meeting: Tuesday, Mar. theater department produced 6, 6:30 p.m., reception room Ijust one play and one musical George Orwell’s 1984: March 17-25, each year, with our jazz choir and Freshman Snip-ITS and Improv: 7 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays; 2 p.m. dance team performing mostly for Wednesday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m. Sundays; Gala on Saturday, Mar. 17 in-house celebrations. Fast forward to 2017 when the Valenzuela Theater is hopping year round, and our performers are competing for much larger audiences. Save this list of Choir Winter Concert: Friday, Dec. 8, events so you can get your tickets as 7 p.m. soon as they go on sale. All events will Choir Advent Concert: Saturday, Dec. be in the Valenzuela Theater unless 9, 7:30 p.m., St. Joseph Cathedral otherwise noted. OCTOBERMAY JANUARY APRIL ITS Benefit “Concert for Girls” High School Musical: Jan. 20-28, Blue Plaid Players fundraiser show: Wednesday, Oct. 4, 7 p.m., with Fridays and Saturdays 7:30 p.m.; April 13-22, Fridays and Saturdays proceeds going to Casa De Clara. Sundays 2:00 p.m.; Gala on 7:30 p.m.; Sundays 2:00 p.m.; Gala Saturday, Jan. 20 on Saturday, Apr. 14

Choir Gala: Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m.

NOVEMBER FEBRUARY MAY High School Musical TADA board meeting: Tuesday, Feb. 6, ITS production: May 4-6, Friday and Workshop Monday, Nov. 6, 3-5 p.m. 6:30 p.m., reception room Saturday 7 p.m.; Sunday 2 p.m. Auditions Wedneday and Thursday, Musical Snip-ITS: Thursday and Spring Dance Concert: Wednesday Nov. 8 and 9, 3-5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15-16, 7 p.m. through Friday, May 9-11, 7 p.m. Beauty & The Beast: Nov. 4-19, 7 p.m. Fri & Sat; 2 p.m. Sun; Gala Nov. 4

Spontaneous Combustion Improv Troupe: Wednesday, May 16, 7 p.m. Choir Spring Concert: Friday, May 18, 7 p.m.

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