TADA!) Winter 2017-18
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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 Brazil. 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.