ACT II WAGNER COLLEGE THEATRE, ALEXANDRA ROSE DEANGELIS, SHOTGUN______JOSH ROMEO AND DANA RUDNANSKY PRESENT: Made famous by George Ezra “Over last summer I had my first heart break. Sad but true. It was a really confusing time for me as I was feeling a bunch of painful feelings I didn’t really know how to SONGS THAT EMPOWER ME deal with. This song helped cheer me up and take my mind of things. I’d just sit down with my guitar and wail this baby out and dance around.”
FALL IN LINE______COLLEEN KELLY AND KAMILA ZANDO Made famous by Christina Aguilera and Demi Lovato Performing this song makes me feel like a bad b**ch! Not only are the vocals so powerful and emotional, but the lyrics really express independence, and a woman's right to her own body. This song reminds me that I have the mind and strength to pursue my dreams and free myself from society's expectations of women.
ROCKETMAN______DANA RUDNANSKY Made famous by Elton John A concert to benefit The Trevor Project Elton John has been a performer who has been interwoven into my life since conception. To be honest, I was not the crazy fan I am now until about high - FEATURING - school when I started going through major swells of anxiety and doubt, whether that was stemming from my confidence in my body or my dream of GABRIEL ARGATE EMILY BARKOVIC CAITLIN CONRAD being an actor. At the time, this was the only Elton John song I really knew. I would listen to this song and be washed over with emotion knowing that I was not alone feeling trapped in what I was thinking. It always pulled me out of LILA COOPER ALEXANDRA ROSE DEANGELIS KATE destructive thinking and gave me the motivation to work hard and get where I knew I needed to be. After seeing "Rocket Man" this summer, I got to see a DURGIN ALEXA ECHEVERRIA KAYLA FEGELEY whole new dimension of how this song impacted Elton John himself and it finally made me realize that no matter how low you are, you can reach for the CHRISTINA GOVE COLLEEN KELLY MADDIE KENDALL sky and explode into a star. ANDREW KOLAR EMILY LAGACE. LINDY POKORNY
GREYSON RILEY JOSH ROMEO FLOR ROSALES DANA RUDNANSKY ALEXANDER ULLIAN EMILY UPTON ROBYN WASSERMAN KIRA WIGGINS MILES WILKE KAMILA ZANDO
SATUDAY - FEBRUARY 15, 2020 | STAGE ONE
ACTACT I I A CELEBRATIONSONGS OFTHAT THE EMPOWER WOMEN OF ME BROADWAY
PIECE BY PIECE______ROBYN produced by ALEXANDRA ROSE DEANGELIS, DANA RUDNANSKY and the WASSERMAN Made famous by Kelly Clarkson THEATRE ADVISORY BOARD casting by “Piece by Piece is a song by Kelly Clarkson that has been inspiring to me for a long time. It reminds me that no matter how gloomy things may seem at the time, there ALEXANDRA ROSE DEANGELIS and DANA RUDNANSKY is always hope of happier times and a successful, triumphant life.” accompanist EUGENE GWOZDZ TEARDROPS ON MY GUITAR______EMILY BARKOVIC Made famous by Taylor Swift THEATRESPECIAL ADVISORY THANKS BOARD “’Teardrops on My Guitar" got me through a time that is heartbreaking for all of us… our first love. In sixth grade I pined for a boy who was in chorus with me, and this crush continued through all of middle school into high school. I would often sing along with the karaoke track to this song when I was home alone after school, belting out each heart wrenching, tortured note (and always replacing the name in the song, Drew, with the aforementioned boy’s name). However, this love story does have a Felicia Ruff – our Honors Thesis Monitor happy ending, as I did end up dating this crush later on in high school!”
I’M NOT AFRAID OF ANYTHING______ANDREW KOLAR From Jason Robert Brown’s “Songs for a New World” Phill Hickox and Sebastian Rametta “I think this song is extremely powerful for a multitude of reasons. The most prominent of these reasons being that this song dares you to have the courage to stand up and say you’re not afraid of ANYTHING in a world that is SO freaking scary. Sometimes it feels like the world is full of people and things that are out to get you, but this song never fails to make me a bit more optimistic that I can take whatever the universe throws at me.” Fran and Dawn Rudnansky – for your constant support, patience, and love
Wendy and Stephen DeAngelis – for being empowering forces in my life
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LIGHT ON______CAITLIN CONRAD MY MAN______RACHEL MAKSTEIN Made famous by Maggie Rogers From Jule Style’s “Funny Girl” “My freshman year at Wagner was very difficult. I felt lonely, out of place, and so “This song provides me with a great sense of catharsis” homesick so often. Returning after winter break was arguably the time I was at my lowest. Almost exactly a week after returning, Maggie Rogers released her album Heard It in a Past Life. I first heard Light On in a friend’s Instagram story on the day ___ of the release, and I thought it sounded like a fun song. The first time I listened to it I CAN’T MAKE YOU LOVE ME______MADDIE KENDALL in full and paid attention to the lyrics, I felt like someone had put this message out Made famous by Bonnie Raitt into the universe at the exact time I needed to hear it. I had never felt any kind of “I think this song is extremely powerful for a multitude of reasons. The most emotional connection to music or had a specific song speak to me, but the song’s prominent of these reasons being that this song dares you to have the courage to message of finding support and strength through the light others give you when you stand up and say you’re not afraid of ANYTHING in a world that is SO freaking scary. can’t always find the light yourself spoke to me and became an almost daily listen Sometimes it feels like the world is full of people and things that are out to get you, to get me through the second semester.” but this song never fails to make me a bit more optimistic that I can take whatever the universe throws at me.”
DANCING______EMILY MORRIS “The summer before my senior year of high school, I met a girl who made me realize BREATHE______ALEXA ECHEVARRIA almost instantaneously that I was not straight. This song and four others like it are From Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights” about that summer and about that girl. When she ultimately moved away, I found “In 2008, my dad and I surprised my grandparents with tickets to see an amazing musical in myself alone and confused, trying to deal with the aftermath of everything that had Florida, and then surprised them again by showing up in the audience to watch it with them. happened alone. I felt afraid of sharing this part of myself and writing songs was That show was In the Heights, and my grandparents were so moved by the story they were probably the ultimate coping mechanism for me in a time where I felt so absolutely speechless afterwards. My grandparents are immigrants from Cuba, and In the Heights desperate for comfort and resolve.” represented their story on stage in a way they had never seen before. The lives of my family members reflect the characters of this show so closely- I have always been the Nina of my family, the oldest, with the pressure always on to represent my family well and make them proud. This song reminds me to Breathe through the stress and reminds me that my family has my back, para siempre.” ALWAYS BETTER______EMILY LAGACE From Jason Robert Brown’s “Bridges of Madison County” I HOPE YOU DANCE______MILES WILKE “Bridges of Madison County is a musical about love and, ultimately, the heartbreak Made famous by LeeAnne Womack that comes with it. When I was struggling to come to terms with my sexuality, I told “Whenever I get depressed, I have a habit of isolating myself. Spiraling often feels myself that it would be better if I pretended that the feelings I was experiencing inescapable, but this song reminds me to look up and out at the world. Even when weren't real. I tried to put that part of myself away, someplace deep, deep down life isn’t giving you the best hand, every day I’m inspired to try to choose wonder and where I could ignore it. "Always Better" touches my soul with its message that no passion and joy. Whenever you get that choice next, I hope you dance.” matter what, love is always the right choice, and it's not always the easiest choice-- but that doesn't make it any less right. Love is always better, and that's something I've tried to carry with me since first hearing this song years ago.” I AM______LILA COOPER AND LINDY POKORNY Made famous by JoJo
RISE UP/SKYSCRAPER/HOW FAR I’LL GO______FLOR ROSALES “We love this song because of its simple, but powerful message: no matter what happens in our lives, we are beautiful, through and through. Despite all of the hurdles “I am not a victim, I am a survivor.” that we have jumped and obstacles we have faced, we have come back stronger and more confident. We have found a way to be unapologetic in our existence; that in itself, is beauty.” 6 3
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independent!” A WAY BACK TO THEN______KATE DURGIN From Jeff Bowen’s “Title of Show” ELASTIC HEART______KIRA WIGGINS Made famous by Sia “I’ve loved this song for years and it’s always reminded me to strive to make my 7- year-old self proud. It’s inspired by a journal entry Heidi Blickenstaff wrote during a “Elastic Heart by Sia (Piano Version) resonates with me because of how emotionally raw both low point in the creation of [title of show] and how she realized that even if her career the lyrics and music are. In Sia’s recorded version you can hear the imperfections in her voice, wasn’t always where she wanted it, she was doing it all for her inner child. My which makes her message of resilience and strength so tangible to its listeners. The song has favorite line in the song is “I would know that confidence if I knew a way back to a great potential to resonate with people from all walks of life, but especially those that struggle with their mental health. It’s okay to not be okay, however we will also continue to fight the good then.” I think if we all took some time to look back at ourselves “dancing in the fight, and be steadfast and strong.” backyard” we would find some self-love. The song pulls me back to being 7, fearless, and fiercely independent!”
I AM WOMAN______EMILY UPTON Made famous by Helen Reddy PALACE______GREYSON RILEY Made famous by Sam Smith “This song is extremely empowering. It was written in 1971 at the height of the Counterculture and gave the Women's Liberation Movement an anthem. However, looking at the world “My brother was diagnosed with cancer during my junior year of high school. A few presently and all that this song has helped launch, it is still extremely relevant today. I relate weeks later I started dating this girl and not knowingly used the relationship as a very much to the 70's era, the mindset, and the way of life (I was choosing between a John distraction from my family situation. She dumped me three months later and I didn’t Denver song or "Free to be You and Me" as my other empowering songs). I grew up with this take it too well. A few weeks, countless family sized bags of peanut m&ms, and 8 music and I find the most inspiration, peace, and familiarity from this era especially through the seasons of Criminal Minds later, I got out of bed and I played and sang this song music. I am also a proud feminist and want to scream about the pleasures of womanhood!! I feel strong and confident every time I listen, sing, or watch the music video for this song, and I and I realized that she helped me through the toughest months of my life. I really want others to feel that way too. It is not only for women either, just as feminism isn't only for connected with the lyric “real love is never a waste of time.” This song helped me women. Helen Reddy (the artist) said, "It's not just for women, it's a general empowerment song cope with not only the relationship, but with my family’s situation. My brother has about feeling good about yourself, believing in yourself. When my former brother-in-law, a made a full recovery and is doing well!!” doctor, was going to medical school he played it every morning just to get him going." I hope this song touches those that need it.”
THE FIRE WITHIN ME______ALEXANDRA ROSE DEANGELIS From Jason Howland’s “Little Women” SHE USED TO BE MINE______KAYLA FEGELY From Sara Bareilles’s “Waitress” “I chose this song because I’ve always been inspired by Jo March. As a character she is an empowered woman and this song shows here strength, endurance, and “Sara Bareilles' She Used to Be Mine came out during a very difficult time in my life. I was tenacity.” dealing with lots of depression and anxiety and I didn't feel like I had a place in theatre or with my friends. So when I first heard the song I instantly bawled. The first time I ever performed this song, it was a way of getting over all of the negative thoughts and feelings I had, and coming out stronger and better. This song will always have a special place in my heart, and getting to perform it today reminds me of how much baggage I've had to carry my entire life and how they ACT II ultimately made me grow into the person I am today.”
WAIST DEEP IN THE BIG MUDDY______ALEXANDER ULLIAN Made famous by Pete Seeger WHO YOU ARE______GABRIEL ARGATE Made famous by Jessie J “I’ve loved this song for years and it’s always reminded me to strive to make my 7- year-old self proud. It’s inspired by a journal entry Heidi Blickenstaff wrote during a “I believe one of the best things about this song is how universal it is. No matter what someone low point in the creation of [title of show] and how she realized that even if her career is going through, this song always seems to find a way to resonate with them. Something I really struggled with in the past and continue to work on is truly loving myself. Who You Are wasn’t always where she wanted it, she was doing it all for her inner child. My ‘ ’ has comforted me in my dark times, with its empowering message of self-love and hope.” favorite line in the song is “I pulls me back to being 7, fearless, and fiercely 4 5