French Woods friends? How did your sports team do this season? We also welcome your pho - your welcome also We season? this do team sports your did How friends? Woods French tos and any creative writing you may want to see in print. It’s print. in see to want may you writing creative any and tos community. Let us know what is going on in your life. Your camp friends love to hear what you what hear to Yourlove friends camp life. your in on going is what know us community.Let Box 770100, Coral Springs, FL 33077-0100 33077-0100 FL Springs, Coral 770100, Box send us E-mail at E-mail us send are doing. Do you have a performance or concert coming up? Have you seen or spoken to spoken or seen you Have up? coming concert or performance a have you Do doing. are See yourself in the French Woods Performer. Woods French the in yourself See The D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 9 The Performer is only as good as the contributions we receive from the French Woods French the from receive we contributions the as good as only is Performer The

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We all love hearing from you! from hearing love all We The Final Burn or give us a call at call a us give or 1-800-634-1703 in FL 954-346-7455 your 1-800-634-1703 big chance! Write us at us Write chance! big . www.frenchwoods.com . .

Youalso can French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts P.O. French Woods Festival Of the Arts Performing WINTER OFFICE PO Box 770100 Coral Springs, Florida 33077 In this Issue: • Alumni News • Camper & Staff News • Ron, Beth, Larry & Isaac Dear Frenchwoodites, Alumni News! Kiwi Stewart spent the summer touring with AC/DC, Bruce Just Registered! It’s that time of year again. Time to Springsteen, and Coldplay in Europe and is continuing to Sarah Aftalion Steven Estes Josh Kahn Sonya Okon Jessica Silverman wish all of you French Woods Alumni, from tour with AC/DC in New Zealand and Australia as a touring Sophie Avidane Eleanor Fellerhoff Katie Kane Sonia Pearson Layne Silverman stage builder. Lauren Banner Eamon Foley Josh Kaufman Eve Plank Katelyn Slaight six to sixty, best wishes for the holiday sea- Phoebe Bergeron Alexandra Frazier Lauren Kaufman Lauren Plumley Ayala Slavis son. Doug Shapiro can be seen in recent episodes of 30 Rock. Zivia Berkowitz Julia Friedman Natasha Kisiluk Dale Pontone Amy Sokolow Additionally, Doug teaches workshops on the business of Melanie Berman Blaine Fuller Gabriel Larkin Ryan Pontone Marjorie Solo This summer will mark the forty-first season acting and has been involved in workshops for the musicals Samantha Besca Kelly Fuller Sarah Lazarus Graham Pough Derek Stanley of the French Woods program. Many of you That’s Andy, Iron Curtain, Greenbrier Ghost and Plagued! Sayer Brian Jacqueline Gershman Gillian Leeds Danielle Pransky Emma Steiger receiving this news letter were there in 1970 Avery Brook Kayla Gorelick Charlie Lennon Uma Raja Marlo Stein when it all started. I can’t tell you what fun so Evan Cabinet is working as a theater director and living in Olivia Capella Daniel Greenstone Simone Liberty Shoshana Rath Ashley Suan many alumni have had touring the camp. So New York City. Caroline Casey Molly Greenstone Caroline Loeb Kelsey Rogers Amy Sullivan many of our current campers have parents Barrett Foa (‘91) will appear as the recurring role of tech Madeline Cohen Chase Gutman Michayla Lupien Ryan Ross Rebecca Suskauer Victor Cohen Eva Gutt Sofia Maggi Rose Rutkovsky Talia Suskauer who attended French Woods. Why not come operator Eric Beal on the new CBS television show, NCIS: Claire Collins Hayden Gutt Beatrice Martin Jacob Sagar Camilla Tubella up and visit? We’ll give you the royal treat- Los Angeles. The procedural crime drama, which also stars Sonia Copple Jordan Haberer Patricia Martin Jamie Sall Alia Velazquez ment and introduce you and your family to Chris O’Donnell and LL Cool J, will air Tuesday nights at Scott Crepea Foster Hirsch Jenny Meigs Mara Savarese Marissa Vitale everyone and everything. Most of you would 9pm this fall on CBS. Since moving to LA in January, Barrett Chloe Cuggino-Zensky Parker Hirsch Adelaide Meny Carly Schreiber Alex Vorlicky have trouble recognizing the place; so much has guest starred on NCIS, Numb3rs, and opposite Kyra Ethan Cuggino-Zensky Ariel Leigh Hoffmaier Ava Merker Jordan Schonberger Cheyenne Voss-Scott has changed. Sedgwick on The Closer. In September, Barrett appeared Eric Dana Katie Huffman Ashleigh Merlino Christina Schwartz Lindsey Wales on the hit HBO show, Entourage, opposite Jeremy Piven. Sam Dana Sydney Huffman Hanah Nardone Claire Scott Remi Waxman If any of you are doctors Elizabeth Dickson Jenna Inganamort Hope Newman Allison Seibold Emily Weider or nurses and want to be a Josh Rosenblum graduated from Muhlenberg College Evan Dollar John Inganamort Andy O’brien Olivia Seltzer Kira Weiss this past May and has since assistant directed 4.48 Leslie Duke Julian Isikoff Nick O’brien Erin Shannon Lily Rose Weiss kids again, give us a call at Psychosis in the Capital Fringe Festival, which won best Adam Estes Chloe Joseph Jillian O’leary Fiona Sherman 1-800-634-1703. Give us a Overall Performance and Best Drama. He has also been Josh Estes Kate Joseph Kevin O’leary Chelsea Siegal call anyway. We’d love to in an AD for Taxi Magic, a new app. for smart phones. He hear from you. continues to pursue acting and directing in Washington, D.C. Thanks to Facebook, Harvey Harris has reconnected with December Birthdays! All our best, Pam Reiseman Amikam and Bruce Saks. Things have been going well - 23 years of marriage and getting stronger. 1 Janina Benchimol Dylan Nelkin Allison Hecht Sam Dana Lillie Eiger Eleanor Fellerhoff He is still a sports nut and a Broadway geek - he actually Cole Childers Courtney Peck Camila Rivero Lake Shreya Dutta Ava Esquier Elissa Frank Ron & Barbara Lauren Kaufman Elizabeth Wax Alexandra Scolari Kelly Freedman Dylan Glasser Isabella Mattei has a segment on the radio in Philadelphia on Fantasy Isabella Mastrogiacomo 7 Chloe Metz Victoria Sica Jonathan Kay Jenna Lichtman Leor Shefer Football every Friday afternoon. Brett Morachnick Corinna Pico Lex Z (Zee) Brian Maroti 23 Amanda Britz Adrian Simon Devon Pincus Julian Rincon 13 Clara Brones Kellen Penner Coxon Matthew Dimona Gisella Snailer Jason Wise finished the off-Broadway show Irma La Claire Ryder Erica Rothman Sebastian Childers Dale Pontone Leslie Duke Jacob Snow French Woods is on Cari Sertner 8 Hadley Biederman Kellie Fisher Wei Wei Perry Kerner Samantha Tilson facebook, search for Douce in New York City, and performed in La Cage Aux 2 Camille Azoulai Juliette Delafontaine Joshua Metzman 18 Sarah Fox Javier Lobo Jacqueline Weitz our page and become Folles at the Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach, Florida. Mark Bylancik Jordan Jackson Georgia Rich Victoria Portale Sofia Manzi 29 Eli Berman Currently, he is touring in Fiddler on the Roof and breaking Alexandra Henderson Aiden O’neal 14 Molly Ackerman Heather Tepe Naomi Natko Samson Bien a fan... while you’re new ground as the first male actor to professionally play the Caroline Lasersohn Jazzy Sinkoff Melanie Freedman 19 Melanie Blitz Paul Nirenberg Daniel Chavarriaga at it, check out the Aleena Zara Malik 9 Alissa Anselmo Francisco Juaristi Joshua Cohen Sydney Patrick Sophia Crames role of Fruma Sarah. Rachael Persky Evan Greenberg Portia Krichman Isabelle Homberg Benjamin Schrager Melissa (Missy) Dreier French Woods groups 2 Alexandra Roman Joshua Nash Danielle Lieberman Priscilla Hopper Elysa Zebersky Benjamin Edelman from the decade you Georgette Blau Guttmann got married this past year to Peters Chloe Smith Madeline Mcdaniel Molly O’brien 24 Arial Bloshinsky Tori Milbrod Yoav Guttmann...She owns On Location Tours, a company Stephanie Solano Justin Sullivan 15 Niv Avneri Daniel Pratt Matthew Byas Kaitlyn Rahaim went to camp, the Amanda Stern Marissa Vitale Nicolas Briner Evan Silverman Jean Floradin Julio Sanchez 90’s, 80’s, even the started in 1999, now the largest TV/movie tour company 3 Michelle Antonova 10 Cesidio Garcia Del Rio Elena Juliano Fernando Valles Gillian Leeds Juliette Schwimann in the world. Tours include the New York TV and Movie Phoebe Piloco Sydney Gough Aaron Klipin 20 David Attali Emma Mccormack Ben Wasserburg 70’s. 4 Elizabeth Binder Victor Legra Taylor Polito Shea Glasheen Erin Palumbo 30 Rachel Damin tour, the Sex and the City tour, the Sopranos tour, and the Faith Burman Brandon Salzman Caitlin Rodstein Owen Gould Caitlin Slatcher Hayden Gutt Washington, DC TV and Movie tour. Sheridan Devito 11 William Adwar Morgan Tromberg Jillian Mizraji Harli Starr Russell Miller Amanda Green Dahrian Blockmon Robbie Tromberg Andrew Raskin 25 Joseph Champey 31 Christian Brion On the Go... Jason Robert Brown just finished a run of Parade at the Matthew Lupovich Eli Elman Brooke Weiss Sami Seiden Scott Davis Dylan Chenfeld Mark Taper Forum Los Angeles. He has been performing Liam Mcswigin Jordan Elman 16 Allegra Brandon 21 Olivia Benjamin Corey Steinfast Michael Comp Rose Reses Madeline Kaye Alex Brown Sophie De Bruijn 26 William Desvalles Emily Goldblatt French Woods representatives will be and teaching master classes in Canada and the United Kathryn Van Blarcom Danielle Lichter Elizabeth Brown Adam Deangelo Antonia Greenberg Olivia Henderson States. Additionally, he will have a one night only, solo 5 Jessica Ives Sarah Mayo Manuel Del Rio Alexis Federico Matthew Schorr Iair Kaplan at camp fairs all over the country, go to perfromance at the Laurie Beechman Theater in NYC on Colby Patroni Michela Mcdonagh Maxwell Feuerstein Meline Fulda Elana Simon Chieko Kato Jenna Rachman Sara Petiton James Fox Erica Mann Jordan Teman Marc Papandreadis www.frenchwoods.com/blog/ to see when December 15th. Cheyenne Voss-Scott Pauline Rodhain Nina Hamelin Mckenzie Miller 27 Ari Azbel Milena Pross Haleigh Youtie 12 Alix Cross Ana Hito-Shapiro Laura Schwartz Sarah Hemstock and where we’ll be! Melissa Errico is playing the role of Betty Haynes in 6 David Eisman Peter Dinella Emily Kazdin Marley Sternberg Jessica Stevens Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at the Marquis Theater on Natalie Johnson Mallory Flynn Charlotte Taylor Zoe Tchapraste Charlotte Wolf Sophia Kricheff Veronica Frank 17 Adam Bassiouni 22 Mckynzie Clark 28 Zoe Depreta Broadway. Patrick Lovett Eve Gleeson Eric Dana Scott Crepea Ethan Feldman

(Continued on page 4) HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!! Isaac’s Corner Staff & Camper News There are now just 190 days until session one. Camp is around the corner and we are all so excited. Meg Wilson was cast as Alice in Alice in Wonderland at University School (Zack as Gavroche). Tyler was Below you will find an article about French Woods and the reasons for its success and the benefits FWF at Marymount of Santa Barbara. recently the vocal director for Bugsy Malone. Both brings to our campers and their families. Angelo Heimowitz had a wonderful summer at were selected for the ACDA Honors and Allstate camp. He is doing very well in high school and will Choirs. Zack just came in 11th in Florida for Varsity For many campers at French Woods, a creative arts camp is the only place they can go to pursue their Diving. passions, take risks, and have the time to actually learn the craft required to be creative and “make art.” be playing Horton in a Dr. Suess play. Though it sounds obvious to say it, French Woods may be the only place in their lives where they are really Meg Wilson has been cast in the role of “Megan” in Michayla Lupien is excited to performing in a trusted as creative and performing artists. the musical production of Christmas Wonderland at professional production of Cats at The Palace Theatre in Manchester New Hampshire! I have probably known many different types of camps: all-around camps, day camps, ocean-side Y the Center Stage Theatre in Santa Barbara, CA. She camps, canoe-trip camps, horseback camps, specialty camps, etc. However, it wasn’t until my own kids will also be featured as a solo singer with the Santa Heather Braverman is performing a reading for a went to FWF (back in 1981) and began to get interested in the arts that I ever thought seriously about what Barbara Gospel Choir. new show 1812 the musical...she has a big song to goes into a place like French Woods. In a televised event on November 18, Isabel Stein sing in it called “Mama”. When you visit French Woods, the differences are the first thing that hit you. Throughout the day, you sang the National Anthem for the NBA’s 76ers at the Mara Koss is doing a huge SS project for National see children in groups of two or three perched on rocks, sitting at picnic tables or walking together. Some Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. She has sung the History Day. Her topic is Ballet as Propaganda during are with counselors, others are in peer groups. They hold books or instruments or paper, they are talking Anthem at 5 separate pro sports events this year, the Cold War. She will be dancing as part of the intensely, or declaiming the lines of a play; they’re writing, or playing the saxophone. In the computer lab and the home team has won all 5 times. Isabel has presentation and she has even scored an interview they are all busy with Macs. A group of standing boys lean together and try to hear one another as they been cast as Mrs. Potts in her middle school’s March with Mikhail Baryshnikov. She’s also performing 2 master the harmonies of an acappella number. Everyone is trying to express themselves, everyone is try- 2010 production of Beauty and the Beast. roles in The Nutcracker this year – Snow Flake and ing to reach inside to create something: a piece of writing, a dance, the set for a play, a stand-up comedy Max Schneider just won a spot as a finalist in this Flower – both on pointe. routine, or an animated computer character. national “Young ARTS” contest (National Foundation Jadyn Koss is doing great as a level 7 gymnast. At French Woods they believe in self-expression and self-reflection. Here, the children’s interests drive for Advancement in the Arts), and is going to Miami Nate Sassoon is performing in the opera Esther the agenda. Where some camps have a central program with “electives” on the side, everything at French in January for a 6 day free training “Young Arts with New York City opera in November 2009. Woods is elective. There is no point in forcing musicians to try jewelry-making or hockey. It won’t work. So, Week” that they will film a documentary. Top 20 the mix of kids and their interests determines what is popular and what is offered. No two summers are winners (or the 150 finalists) win $10,000 each plus Check out Cat Pedini’s videos at http://www. alike. Some equipment is now obsolete, computer-assisted sound and light design is now a growing part of a Presidential Scholar in the Arts award from Pres. youtube.com/watch?v=1_BM8XhFyoo the theater program, and there is a new culinary workshop. The forms of artistic expression are constantly Barack Obama at a black tie event. Daniel Flick was cast In Oliver! at The Walnut changing and French Woods is changing along with it. Ian Bejster is starring as the Prince in the Ann Street Theatre in Philadelphia. Daniel is part At French Woods one can perform in a Broadway show with full orchestra, play an- Arbor CivicTheatre (www.a2ct.org) production of of Fagin’s Gang, an orphan and the bookboy. other camp in any and all sports, participate in a swim meet, fly on the high trapeze, pro- The Little Prince, Performances begin Nov. 13th through Jan. 10th. duce your own movie, record original music, make a stained glass window, ride a horse, Daniel will be performing in all Friday, Saturday and Ally Rosenblum will be performing in Sweet Sunday shows. dance in a ballet, play in the symphony orchestra, water ski or jam with a rock band and Charity at the Township Performing Arts Center in so much more. The enthusiasm for what they love and their willingness to take artistic the role of Nicki. Max and Ben Zander are having a very busy risks pours out of our campers in this safe and supportive environment. performing year. They are both in Pippin at Great Sophie de Bruijn has been cast as Grace in Thank you to American Camping Magazine and Dr. Michael Thompson for this article. Neck South High School (Max as Pippin and Ben Coleytown Middle School’s forthcoming production as Otto the Duck) and have both been cast in the of Annie. to be staged early December Famed school’s opera Gianni Schicchi (Max as Rinuccio and animal trainer Bill Berloni of Theatrical Animals Isaac Baumfeld Ben as Guccio, the dyer). Max was also selected to Inc is providing “Sandy” the dog. Mr. Berloni has sing first tenor in the New York Conference All State the distinction of training the original Sandy on Mixed Choir and tenor in the NMEA Division Five Larry’s Lines Broadway! Mixed Choir. Sydney Kempner joined the junior varsity diving Matthew Byas’ band PHONY PPL will be peforming Wow, the holidays are here again, time for family, good times and camp friends. We’ve team and did pretty well. Her score was 76 out of this weekend at SOB’s for the 35th Anniversity of the been very busy at the winter office getting ready for next summer. I recently went up to 100. Zulu Nation. The Zulu nation with Afrika Bambaataa camp where the construction of the new health center is in full swing. The new building Harrison Kaufman will be playing Lee Baum was responsible for Hip Hop, grafitti art, and will be a great improvement over the older infirmary. Each room will be spacious and in Princeton High School’s performance of The Breakdancing becoming mainstream back in the have its own heating and air conditioning. Other construction is underway that include American Clock by Arthur Miller. 80’s. two new lodge style bunks and the removal of 2 bunks on the girls side. Kacie Dunham will play Belle in the Medford Matt Brazda’s varsity high school boys soccer Well, we hope you enjoy the holidays, and please keep the emails and phone calls Memorial Middle School’s production of Beauty and team went to the final four state championship and coming in! Have a great New Year! the Beast. placed 3rd. He was also given the Sportsmanship Larry Siegel Tyler and Zack Laurence are both in Les Miserables award for his team. (Continued from Page 2) Actress in a Musical for Alice Ripley. Charlie Rosen is reprising his role as Bass Guitarist in Breaking Upwards, co-written by Peter Duchan and Alumni News the on-stage band for Alex Timbers/J. Michael Friedman others, had its World Premiere in competition at the emo-rock musical - Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson - last South by Southwest Film Festival in March. Tallahassee May. Film Festival, the St. Paul-Minneapolis International Film Festival, the Boston Independent Film Festival, John Elmore has now been in Los Angeles for 25 and the Little Rock Film Festival, where it received the years, still working in the film business. This year he’s Audience Award. It was the opening film of the 2009 been working on the tv show The Mentalist for CBS, and Brooklyn International Film Festival and just received the still does a lot of commercials, including one recently for Grand Jury Prize (Grand Chameleon Award) The story Wells Fargo bank. He’s been in the Directors Guild of is about a young New York couple, desperate to escape America as an Assistant Director since 1993. their ennui, but fearful of life apart, deciding to intricately This year, Ira Mont stage managed The Norman strategize their own break up. The cast included fellow Conquests at the Circle in the Square in New York City. alumnus Olivia Thirlby. Joe Symons is the composer/lyricist for BROADS! a Jaime Desaritz Smith has been living in Hong Kong new musical opening in Los Angeles in February 2010. for the last two years with her husband, having covered The bookwriter is fellow alumnus Jennie Kaplan. around sixteen countries in the last two years in their travels. She would love to get in contact with some of Jacob Lewtan has been recording his original songs the late ‘80s, early ‘90s alumni! and promoting the Freeze Child Abuse organization. Go to freezechildabuse.com for more info. Thea Schoenberg is currently working at NJIT as the Assistant Director for Greek Life and Wellness and is Steve Rosen enjoyed a reccurrung role on the short also the Head Cheerleading Coach for their co-ed team. lived television show Kings. He continues to produce and perform in Don’t Quit Your Night Job with Dan Lipton Joey Haro received the newsletter last year and sent and David Rossmer at The Julia Miles Theater on the us the following submission “I got the alumni Newsletter first Thursday of each month in New York City. The show and thought I would update you guys on my career. I is variety show inspired by the guy’s experience in the went to camp for one session and was exposed to West French Woods Improv Troupe. Side Story. It was the first time had ever done the show, only ever knowing a few songs. At camp I played Baby Glen Howerton continues to be successful as a John and had the time of my life. It honestly changed me writer, producer and actor on the FX comedy series It’s as a person and a performer. Now I am 21 years old and Always Sunny in Philadelphia. He has also been voicing currently playing Chino in the Broadway revival of West characters for The Cleveland Show broadcast on Fox. Side Story under the direction of Arthur Laurents. From Adam Levine and Jesse Carmichael will be perfroming Jet to Shark I have seen the show from both perspectives a New Years Eve concert at The Palms Resort and and am truly grateful to Ron for the experience I had at and arts program for youth in New York. involved in a project writing a song a week since last Casino in Las Vegas. Camp! Hope all is well. Thank you for everything FWF!” January. The podcasts are archived on iTunes, but can Jeremy Garber and Alex Mogil met up with Brent Jesse Einstein recently auditioned for The 25th Annual Mason in Los Angeles to see a movie and catch up a be accessed on Dan’s website at http://www.danlipton. Daniel Gold can be seen in his recurring role of Matt com/sundaysongs.php Putnam County Spelling Bee for director Jeff Maynard on the sitcom Ugly Betty. He can also be seen on recent bit. Jeremy is doing his semester in L.A. with Syracuse and Artistic Director Brian Kite at the La Mirada Theater McDonalds commercials. University while interning for Epitaph Records and Alex Holtzman’s album On The Edge is now available for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles. The show will working as a Talent Scout for Rm 64, an A&R consulting on Itunes. open in February. Jared Scharf is the lead guitarist in the Saturday Night firm. Alex is doing his semester in L.A. with Ithaca Live Band. Producer David Stone has done it again with the College while interning for the Tonight Show with Conan Broadway production of Next To Normal, which won That’s the news and we’re outta here!!! Julie Pottash is the lead singer in the band Hesta O’Brien. a variety of awards in the 2009 season including Best Prynn, an all-girl hip-hop band. Lindsay Bloom competed this summer in the Randy Toerien and Anna Siwek got married at the Maccabiah Games in Israel as part of Team USA. Beth Backstage end of November. That’s another camp romance turned Stacy Menchel developed a workout that focuses into a match made in heaven. Alumni News has pouring in from all over the place. I hope more old timers come visit this summer. It’s on dynamically building the core and that can be done always a highlight! While in NY we caught up with Rachel Kaplowitz-Abromowitz who has settled in to her Ky Mettler is in 2 art shows with a boatload of other easily in the convenience of a home. Recently certified as a TRX trainer, she melds the boot-camp style of beautiful new home in the suburbs and I hope to see Ruth Bernstein, who is still globe trotting in glamor- artists for a very good cause (buying instruments for ous style, when she hits South Florida. The connections we make at camp are never public schools- KEEPING ART ALIVE!) this innovative equipment with the grace and fluidity of a ballet barre. She is available as a personal trainer in really far away. Brian Kite is featured in the new Chick-Fil-A NYC. [email protected] commercials. The hiring season is gearing up and Michael and I have planed our travels. This year Jason Brantman and his wife Fiona just became we will only personally hit Australia, but Ron, Cathy, Larry, and David will be in the Andrea Burns continues to play Daniela in the homeowners! Additionally, Jason directed the opening UK, Eastern Europe, and Mexico. We hope to see many of our returning staff on our Broadway production of In the Heights. She recently ceremonies of the US Open this year. journeys. Come down to the hiring fairs if you can. There’s nothing like returning staff released her debut solo album A Deeper Shade of Red. Dan Lipton has been on Tour with The Bridge Project, members to explain camp to potential counselors! Chris Bamonte is the director of the Jamaica Center playing live music in two plays directed by Sam Mendes Fondly, for Arts and Learning, JCAL. It is an after-school theater and starring Ethan Hawke. Additionally, he has been Beth Schaefer-Knauf