2013 Seussical Playbill

Notre Dame High School

Performing Arts Students

PRESENT

Book by

Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens

Co-conceived by Stephen Flaherty & Lynn Ahrens & Eric Idle

Based on the works of Dr. Seuss

Presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International

All authorized performance materials supplied by Music Theatre International

Music by Lyrics by Stephen

Flaherty

Lynn

Ahrens

Performances

Friday and Saturday, March 1 & 2 and 8 & 9 at 7:30 PM

About the Play

Seussical is a story woven loosely around the main plot of Horton in the Dr. Seuss book Horton Hears a Who. As Horton carries out his quest, the play incorporates characters and plot bits from other beloved Dr. Seuss books, with narration provided by The Cat in the Hat. Seussical opened on Broadway in 2000 after the creators adapted the Dr. Seuss rhymes into a musical with the assistance of Monty Python’s Eric Idle. The production showcases a variety of musical styles that are used to establish specific character types and moods for scenes.

The play is based on the works of Theodor Seuss Geisel (1904-1991) who first took the pen name Seuss while illustrating for a school humor magazine at Dartmouth. Under his self-granted doctorate title, he created 44 books that have been published in 15 languages. Geisel’s distinctive rhythmic style came about in 1936 when creating rhymes to the meter of a ship’s steam engine on a return trip from Europe. Dr. Seuss books have entreated generations of children to consider the integrity of one’s word, act against injustice, and have fun doing it!

About the Director

Louis Gibilisco has done a lot of “stuff” as a performer and teacher, but he is proudest of his accomplishments as a husband and father. For the past 23 years, he has been privileged to be the Director of the Performing Arts Department at Notre Dame High School. He feels honored to have his wife, Debby, as choreographer with him every step of the way.

The G’s take pride in watching all of Notre Dame’s Art programs grow and flourish and have flourished a little themselves with their greatest productions: Gigi, Jaime, and Jenna.

From the Gibilisco family to yours, we wish you God Bless, hope you enjoy the show, and give a BIG Thank You to all of you who have been a part of the Performing Arts Program at Notre Dame.

Seussical

ACT ONE

Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! ............................................... All

Horton Hears a Who! .......................... Horton, Bird Girls, Ensemble

Biggest Blame Fool ................................... Sour Kangaroo, Horton, Wickershams, Bird Girls, Cat, Gertrude, Mayzie, Citizens of the Jungle, Boy

Here on Who ............... Mayor & Mrs. Mayor, Whos, Grinch, Horton

Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! (Reprise) ............................. Cat, JoJo

It’s Possible ................................................. JoJo, Cat, Ensemble

How to Raise a Child ..................................... Mayor & Mrs. Mayor

The Military ..................................................... Schmitz, Cadets

Alone in the Universe ............................................... Horton, JoJo

The One Feather Tail of Miss Gertrude McFuzz ....................... Gertrude

Amayzing Mayzie ............................... Mayzie, Gertrude, Bird Girls

Amayzing Gertrude .................................. Gertrude, Bird Girls, Cat

Monkey Around ..................................................... Wickershams

Chasing the Whos ............... Sour Kangaroo, Bird Girls, Cat, Horton, Wickershams, Vlad Vladikoff, Ensemble

How Lucky You Are ............................................................. Cat

Notice Me, Horton ........................................... Gertrude, Horton

How Lucky You Are (Reprise) ....................................... Mayzie, Cat

Horton Sits on the Egg ....................................... Bird Girls, Horton

How Lucky You Are (Reprise) .................................................. All Intermission: 15 Minutes

Have a nice intermission. (The lobby’s a real zoo!)

Seussical

ACT TWO

Seussical Entr’acte ................................................ Orchestra, Cat

Egg, Nest & Tree ................................... Sour Kangaroo, Bird Girls, Wickershams, Ensemble

The Circus McGurkus ............................................. Cat, Ensemble

How Lucky You Are (Reprise) ......................... Horton, Cat, Ensemble

Mayzie in Palm Beach ................................................ Mayzie, Cat

Amayzing Horton ................................................ Mayzie, Horton

Alone in the Universe (Reprise) ........................................... Horton

Solla Sollew ....................................................... Horton, JoJo, Mayor & Mrs. Mayor, Ensemble

Green Eggs & Ham II .............................................. Schmitz, JoJo

A Who Christmas ....................................... Whos, Grinch, Cadets, Schmitz, Mayor & Mrs. Mayor

JoJo Alone in the Universe ..................................................... JoJo

Havin’ a Hunch ........................................... Cat, JoJo, Ensemble

All for You ............................... Gertrude, Cat, Bird Girls, Horton

The People Versus Horton the Elephant ................. Cat, Yertle, Horton, Sour Kangaroo, Bird Girls, Wickershams, Mayor & Mrs. Mayor, Whos, JoJo, Ensemble

Yopp!/Alone in the Universe (Reprise) ...................... Gertrude, Horton

Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! ................................................ All

Don’t smile because it’s over. Smile because it happened.

~ Dr. Seuss

The use of any recording device during this performance, either audio or video, is strictly prohibited by law.

Cast of Characters

PRINCIPAL ACTORS

The Cat in the Hat ............................................... XAVIER REYES

Boy .................................................................... JOHN JONES

Horton .................................................................. SEAN CHIA

Mayor .................................................... MATT MCNEILL (Fri.) and MATTHEW BLAZEJEWSKI (Sat.)

Mrs. Mayor ...................................... EMILY SCHLADEBECK (Fri.) and ALEX DOVGALA-CARR (Sat.)

Gertrude McFuzz ............................................. KATIE SCHMITT

Mayzie ........................................................ SARA PETSIS (Fri.) and KELLEY WIESE (Sat.)

Sour Kangaroo ............................. MARY KATE WARD (1st Wknd.) and NIKKI MENTO (2nd Wknd.)

General Schmitz ...................................... YIANNIS MICHAILIDES

JoJo ........................................................ EVAN KREUTZBERG

Bird Girls ................................. KAITLYN BADER, JESSA BEDSER, CAROLINE BOTTEGA, LIZ DOBROWOLSKI, HANNAH FISCHER and EMILY NOVOZINSKY

Wickershams ..............SABRINA CAMPELO, MICHAEL CRUMBLEY, COLIN PATTON and DEVON WHEELER

Grinch .................................................... DAVID ROWCOTSKY

Cadets ......................... CHRISTIAN BONILLA, ANDY DRISCOLL, DANTE LUCCHESI, ERIN MURPHY and ALEX REYES

Max the Dog .............................................. MADDIE GLASSMAN

Vlad Vladikoff ................................................ JENNA GIBILISCO

Hunters .................. AARON BARTUSKA, STEPHEN BLAZEJEWSKI, DREW GANDHAM and RYAN KREUTZBERG

Cindy Lou Who ................................................... ANNA KRALIK

Yertle the Turtle ................................................ LOUIS GRAMA

Baby Elephant Bird ................................. CHARLOTTE ERICKSON

Cast of Characters

DANCERS

Dance Captain ........................................................ EMILY AITA

Dancers .......................... JUSTINE BARTH, LEANNE CONSIGLIO, JULIA ERICKSON, KATHRYN KARMAZYN, DEVON SICA and ELAINE STEWART

WHOS

RON DUNSTON, MIRANDA HOLLIDAY, BRIDGET KELLY, MARY MARINO, RITA MARINO, ASHLEY MRUK, KELSEY O’NEILL, RACHEL PASTOR, MARYSA PRATICO, LEAH SNYDER, MADDIE WALSH, RICKY WARD and SAM ZDANOWICZ

CITIZENS OF NOOL

MARISA ANDERSON, NANA AKUA ASANTE, TERESE BROWER, BRIELLE BRYAN, KAYLA BUTLER, JEN CONBOY, KATHRYN CORSO, BLAISE DANDRIDGE, ANNALIESE JAFFE, KRISTYN KARMAZYN, MINAS KOSTIS, BRITTANY KRALL, CARA LITVACK, MONICA MANANGAN, MAGGIE MORRELL, KATIE O’REILLY, DENA PARMIGIANI, KRISTINA SALVATORE, ALYSSA SIKORSKI and JESSICA YUHAS

Flute ................................. CARLEE ADAMS, MEGAN FERRARA, DANIELLE FESTA, LINDSEY FILO, JANANICOLE GRAHAM, LENA HAMPSON, COLLEEN HARKINS, KATIE HAYES and ALLISON SAFRANEK

Piccolo .......................................... CAMILLE GARCIA-FLAHAUT

Clarinet ...................... SAMANTHA BARBATO, KELLY KOLPACK, JENNA NEWMAN, GENIA SIMON, ANGELICA STERN and JESSICA WALSH

Bass Clarinet ................................................ LAUREN FERRARA

Violin .................................................... KATHERINE CRAMER

Tenor Saxophone ................. KELLY HAWRYLO, ROBERT SPOREK And STEPHEN SZEMIS

Alto Saxophone ........... IMANIJOY GRAHAM, MADELINE GRIFFITH and SOPHIE PASTORE

Trumpet ............ TREVOR CANNIE, JULIETTE GARCIA-FLAHAUT and TOM WISNOSKY

Trombone ..................... RYAN MCGINLEY and DAVON WHEELER

Piano ............................................................... JOSEPH SIMON

Keyboard ................................. TIM BERRILL, OLIVIA COMMINI, JACQUELINE EBERHARD, AMY HONNIG, and KERA KOWAL

Guitar .............................................. ZACHARY YINGLING (‘12)

Bass ........................................................... SEAN RYNKEWICZ

Drums ............................................................. LEXI CAMPION

Percussion ............................... ERIK CASTALDO, ALEX COLLINS, DAVID LEBENDER, KENNY LEPPING, RYAN SIEGEL and JOE VANDEGRIFT

Credits

Artistic and Music Director ................................ LOUIS GIBILISCO

Choreographer/Costumes ................................. DEBBY GIBILISCO

Technical Director/Scenic Designer ....................... DAVID CHEBRA

Lighting Design ................................................ KEVIN POTUCEK

Props/Scenic Artist ................................. DANIELLE CONSTANCE

Flying Director .............................................. BONNIE TORMEY

Makeup Coordinator/House Manager .......................... ED PATTON

Publicity ..................................................... BRENDA RILEY and JUDY RYNKEWICZ

Poster and Playbill Artwork ............................. JUDY RYNKEWICZ

Program Insert......................................... MARY ANN HOCH and JENNIFER HUBERT

Tickets ................................................................ AMY KIMTIS

RUN CREW

Light Board Operators ...... KYLE MOODY and MARANDA NOONAN

Sound Board Operators ............. MIKE BRYANT and RILEY SCHMITT

Spot Operators ....................... JOHN BIESIADECKI, DAN DUPREE and JOHN RYMER

Head Stage Manager .......................... MARY MARGARET MUMICH

Stage Managers ........................... TAYLOR COHEN, EMMA HOYT and MEGAN REILLY

Stage Crew ...................................................... HENRY DRAGO

Prop Queens ................ HOLLY FRANCESCONE, REBECCA HOYT, MOLLY MEAGHER and GABBY RACCOSTA

FLIGHT CREW

MATTHEW CASEY, BRADY DANIELS, ANDY MAZIARZ and KEYNE PRADEL SAINT-FLEUR

BUILD/PAINT CREWS

Set Builders ................... AARON BARTUSKA, JOHN BIESIADECKI, TAYLOR COHEN, HENRY DRAGO, DAN DUPREE, COLIN HAYES, THERESA MCGUINNESS, KYLE MOODY, MARY MARGARET MUMICH, MARANDA NOONAN, CATHERINE OSEGUERA, LYNN OSEGUERA, MEGAN REILLY, JOHN RYMER, RILEY SCHMITT and CAROLYN SCHNEIDER

Prop Builders/Scenic Artists “Ninjas” ........... ALEX DOVGALA-CARR, LINDSEY FILO, HOLLY FRANCESCONE, KATE HARPER, REBECCA HOYT, KYLIE MALLOY, TIM MCGOORTY, MOLLY MEAGHER, CHRISSY OBELL, GABBY RACCOSTA, JASIAH RODRIGUEZ, CAROLYN SCHNEIDER and ALYSSA SIKORSKI

MAKEUP CREW

Makeup Captain ........................................ ALLISSA KOLCZYNSKI

Makeup Assistant to the Captain ....................... KATHRYN PETRONI

Makeup Crew MADELEINE ARCH, THERESA DELL’ANGELO, ALLISON DESILETS, PEYTON FARMER, DANIELLE FISHER, SARAH GORE, MARIA GOTTFRIED, CAROLINE HART, DANA HERBERG, JASMINE KADUTHODIL, KATHERYN LEE, EMILY LYONS, ERIN MALONEY, KELLY MCDEVITT, MEGAN PATTOLI, NINA SCHIRMER and SAM WOLD

Credits

SPECIAL THANKS

To our Performing Arts Parents Association (PAPA), we give our heartfelt appreciation for your tireless support in making theater fun and possible for our young actors, musicians, dancers and crew.

Thanks to Mike Barton for help with set construction and Tom Wisnosky for help preparing the orchestra. Although your kids have graduated from Notre Dame, you both still enthusiastically lend us a hand with your expertise. We are very grateful.

Thanks to Nancy Tamasi for help with makeup techniques on masks and prosthetics. Our crew truly enjoyed learning from you.

Also, special thanks to the many unnamed people who contributed hours of prop building, set construction, set painting, costume sewing, and the other numerous tasks performed for the love of Notre Dame theater. Your boundless energy and assistance give us the opportunity to raise the bar for our productions.

Thanks to those of you who donated props, costumes, and other items to help us keep our costs down so our goals may be high.

And finally, we thank all our parents/guardians who somehow arrange their lives around our rehearsals, costume fittings, and setbuilding/painting schedules. It is truly recognized and appreciated.

Thanks to everyone who made another great NDHS production!

While every effort was made to include all names in the program prior to going to press, we sincerely apologize for any names that were omitted.

Oh, The Places Seussical Will Go!

We’re flying high at Notre Dame these days...literally! Director Lou Gibilisco has always been known to reach for the stars when it comes to Notre Dame’s musical productions, and this time he is getting there with the help of a harness.

The show with a flying harness is, of course, Stephen Flaherty’s Seussical. “Mr. G,” as he’s known at school, left nothing to chance and hired the world’s foremost experts in airborne effects, Flying by Foy, to provide training for the off-the-ground sequences. This is the same flying company that Mr. G used for Peter Pan two years ago.

“There are so many opportunities for Seuss characters to literally pop out of the page and onto the stage that only flying effects can provide. I wanted to include flying in the production, and I wanted it done by the best,” said Gibilisco. Flying by Foy has worked on everything from Broadway shows to NASA simulations. Recently, they have flown Miley Cyrus and Katy Perry in concerts as well as Taylor Swift at the CMAs.

Although flying looks easy, it is very difficult. Plenty of time was given to create and test the set, as well as train and rehearse the actors. Everyone needed to feel comfortable that flying could be done safely, since it’s one special effect that is still done by hand. That is the reason for the Flying Director role. Bonnie Tormey resumes her role from Notre Dame’s Peter Pan to lead a staff of technicians to make sure everything is connected and hooked. Someone, in addition to the actors, always checks the equipment before the actors take flight. A second pair of eyes is critical, and Mrs. Tormey gets everyone involved in the safety watch. There are two rig operators for each person flying, and both the performer and riggers learn to feel each other’s impulses in movement. Everything is considered–other performers, costumes, a piece of scenery–when it comes to safety before, during and after flying.

David Chebra, Notre Dame’s Technical Director and Scenic Designer, had some added design considerations due to the flight sequences of the Dr. Seuss characters. “The characters have some madcap moments that require the set components to work together flawlessly,” said Chebra. Between the many flying locations in the play, there are plenty of chances to see the precise craftsmanship of Mr. Chebra and his crew. One thing’s for sure...time isn’t the only thing sure to fly while watching Notre Dame’s production of Seussical!

“If God intended man to ly, he would have put a wire on man’s back.”

- Peter Foy

Senior Bios

CARLEE ADAMS (Orchestra) is thrilled to have transferred junior year and is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Notre Dame Performing Arts Department. She is a proud member of Concert Band and has had the privilege of being in Concert Band since freshman year and Jazz Band for two years. She is very excited that this is her first year being part of a Notre Dame musical. She has had the pleasure of making amazing friends and creating wonderful high school memories.

MATTHEW BLAZEJEWSKI (Mayor) has been participating in Notre Dame performing arts since the fall of his freshman year. His favorite roles at ND include sharing the stage with an invisible rabbit as Elwood in Harvey and flying to Neverland as Michael Darling in Peter Pan. Matthew has also performed in over a dozen shows at Kelsey Theatre. A member of the Madrigal Singers, Matthew serves as VP of PA and as Music Ministry Liaison for Campus Ministry. He is a Peer Leader executive board member and a member of both National Honor Society and National Latin Honor Society. Matthew will be attending Princeton University in the fall. He thanks his parents and brothers for their constant support and dedication!

STEPHEN BLAZEJEWSKI (Hunter) is happy to be appearing in his fourth Notre Dame musical. He has performed in many other Notre Dame shows, including You Could Die Laughing, Inherit the Wind, Leading Ladies, And Then There Were None, and The Other Side of the Fence. He is a member of Madrigal Singers, and one of his fondest memories of high school is attending the Madrigal trip to Florida in 2012. Stephen is a four-year varsity member of the Notre Dame boys swim team and has served as swim team Captain this year. He is President of the National French Honor Society and Treasurer of the National Honor Society. Stephen thanks his friends and family for their love and support.

ERIK CASTALDO (Orchestra) has been a proud member of the NDHS Performing Arts Department since fall of 2011. He has been a member of Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble for the past 2 years. He played percussion in Footloose and plays percussion in Seussical. Erik has loved being at NDHS for the last two years of high school and can’t wait to go to college, even though he’ll miss many of his graduating classmates and underclassmen friends. In college, Erik will pursue Psychology and possibly minor in Music. He thanks everyone who has accepted him into their lives and thanks all of his friends and family for their love and support.

TAYLOR COHEN (Stage Manager/Set Builder) has been a proud member of The Performing Arts Dept. since her sophomore year, starting as a “Stage Manager in training” for Inherit the Wind. During her junior year, she began helping at set builds–assisting Mr. Chebra and the other set builders in making things such as the stage extension in Footloose. When not hiding in the wings, she is part of the Italian Honor Society and has been a Girl Scout since second grade. Taylor thanks Mr. Patton and Mr. Lobis for giving her a chance when she just showed up to rehearsal one day. She thanks her parents for driving her to and from rehearsals and tolerating her ridiculously long hours.

Senior Bios

OLIVIA COMMINI (Orchestra) has been working in Notre Dame musicals for four years. Olivia really enjoyed working paint crew for Pajama Game and the pit for Peter Pan and Footloose. She is excited to work in the pit for this year’s musical, Seussical. Olivia plans to major in Illustration at Delaware College of Art and Design. Thank you! to Mr. and Mrs. G, Pit, Tech, Mr. Chebra, Stage Managers (MnM and Taylor), cast, crew, and makeup–you are all like family to me. I had two grandparents on hospice while in the musical, and I don’t know what I would have done without everyone during that time. Thanks Mom and Dad for letting me go to Notre Dame so that I could do these musicals.

BLAISE DANDRIDGE (Citizen of Nool) has been a dedicated member of the ND PA Department for four years. She has danced in Fusion since she was a freshman. Her musical journey began her sophomore year when she first auditioned for ND’s production of Peter Pan in 2010. She reached a great milestone during her sophomore year when she enrolled in Mrs. Wargo’s Acting II class and performed a heart-wrenching monologue from The Color Purple. After that performance, she auditioned her junior year for The Other Side of the Fence and was cast. Blaise thanks Mrs. Van Nutt for the amazing dance experience, Mr. & Mrs. G for helping her to reach for the stars, and Mrs. Wargo for always believing in her talent.

ALEX DOVGALA-CARR (Mrs. Mayor) is happy to be wrapping up her fourth year with Seussical as Mrs. Mayor. The Pajama Game, Peter Pan, Inherit the Wind, and Footloose are experiences she’ll never forget. She has played piano and percussion for eight years and has enjoyed four years of Fusion and Concert Band, as well as three years in Madrigal. Alex is grateful to serve as the SecretaryTreasurer of PA her senior year. She thanks all of the Performing Arts teachers for the opportunities they’ve given her, as well as Richard Loatman for his inspiration, wisdom, and guidance. Alex will take her experiences with her as she pursues a Vocal Performance degree. Enormous thanks to my family and friends for their constant support. :)

LINDSEY FILO (Orchestra/Scenic Artist) has loved Concert Band and the orchestra since her freshman year. From The Pajama Game to Seussical, she has played the flute with her best friend, Cami, in the pit. During musical season, Lindsey also helps to make the set and props alongside her mom and sister. Aside from cross-country and track, the performing arts take up most of her time. As an officer and section leader, Lindsey spends even more time with the band. She has enjoyed all of the friends and hilarious memories she has made in band and hopes to make more before she finishes her senior year. She thinks Seussical will be a great way to end her orchestra career and is super pumped for Disney in May.

HANNAH FISCHER (Bird Girl) is excited to be playing the part of a Bird Girl in this year’s production. This will be her third musical production performance at Notre Dame. Hannah is also a member of Madrigal, has a love of music, and can often be found at her piano, singing and playing, much to the delight of her family. Hannah is an AP student, Peer Leader, and member of the Notre Dame crosscountry team. She wishes to thank all of her dedicated teachers and her loving family for their support, and to the cast and crew of Seussical, she sends an enthusiastic GOOD LUCK!

Senior Bios

CAMI GARCIA-FLAHAUT (Orchestra) has been a member of the Performing Arts Department for the past four years. She has been in Band and the pit for all four years and has been a part of dance class for two years. Cami has immensely enjoyed her time in the pit, playing along to the Pajama Game, Peter Pan, Footloose and now Seussical! Cami loves music and plans to continue playing flute and piccolo as a hobby. Special Thanks! to the Gs, her sister, Juliette (who has shared the pit for two years with Cami), and to her fellow flute player and partner in crime, Lindsey Filo! Go Bandies!

LOUIS GRAMA (Yertle the Turtle) is a charismatic and ostentatious young man. He is honored to have been part of Notre Dame's performing arts for the past four years. After three years of being in the orchestra (playing electric bass for The Pajama Game and Footloose and bassoon for Peter Pan), Louis is ready to emerge from the pit and take the stage as a full-blown actor as he portrays the character Yertle the Turtle in Seussical. Louis loves to perform, whether it is on stage, acting, providing electric bass in Jazz Band, playing bassoon in Concert Band, or performing live with his rock band Discrete. Louis thanks his mother, father, family members, and friends for all their love and support over the years.

DANA HERBERG (Makeup Crew) has enjoyed her four years on makeup crew and is thrilled to be participating in this year’s Seussical. She has been a part of four shows at Notre Dame, including Peter Pan and The Pajama Game, and is grateful for all of the great memories she has made on the crew. She thanks her parents and wishes her friends all the best!

REBECCA HOYT (Prop Queen/Scenic Artist) has been painting sets and making/managing props for the ND stage since And Then There Were None. Becca has had a blast with every ND production, and thinks everyone involved with the cast, crew, tech, and orchestra of Seussical is awesome. She thanks ND for giving her such great opportunities and loves her fellow prop queens and all the stage managers to death. Special Shout Out! to Gabby and Molly for getting her involved backstage and to Ms. Constance for being amazing! Becca also thanks her incredible friends and family for being superheroes, and her parents for being the best friends of all. High-five to all future stars of ND’s PA, onstage and backstage!

ALLISSA KOLCZYNSKI (Makeup Captain) is thrilled to be the makeup crew Captain for this year’s production of Seussical. She has been a member of the crew since freshman year and has been Captain her junior and senior years. She has done makeup for seven productions, including Peter Pan and The Pajama Game. Allissa is also President of the National Honor Society and will be attending The College of New Jersey next year. She is grateful for all of the memories and friends she has made during her time in the Performing Arts Department. She is tremendously thankful to Mr. Patton for all the opportunities he has given her and for his friendship and guidance over the past four years.

Senior Bios

YIANNIS MICHAILIDES (General Schmitz) has been a proud member of Notre Dame Performing Arts during his four years here. He has had the great privilege of being in most of the shows, including being Willard in Footloose. He has loved every minute he has spent with the people he loves most. He was also very involved in the swim team at school, being Captain and juggling both activities at the same time. He thanks his friends for supporting him, especially his family and, most importantly, his parents. Also a Shout-out! to his dog, Pebbles–he loves you very much! Yiannis wishes everyone the best! He will miss you all next year! EA.

MARY MARGARET MUMICH (Head Stage Manager/Set Builder) has been stage managing since her sophomore year. Last year, she earned the position of Head Stage Manager after hours and hours of rehearsals and set builds and general insanity, which she will miss very much (along with the people who came with it) upon her departure. When she's not showing off her managerial material, she can usually be found reading, studying, or winning at card games. These past three years, she has loved playing a key role in ND's wonderful productions and cannot put into words how grateful she is for the performers, tech crew, orchestra and even her “bosses” who have crossed her life and heart.

SARA PETSIS (Mayzie) is honored to participate in her fourth Notre Dame musical. Sara has been a member of Madrigal and Dance Performance for the past four years, and this year she served as Dance Performance Captain. Dancing in her last Fusion performance, flying in Seussical, and being Ariel in Footloose are some of her favorite PA memories. She thanks her family and friends for being so supportive and loving throughout high school. Thank you! to Mr. and Mrs. G for being so influential in her life. Congratulations and good luck! to the cast and crew of Seussical! Seniors, enjoy your last performances on the Notre Dame stage.

GABBY RACCOSTA (Prop Queen/Scenic Artist) has loved being a part of ND’s performing arts programs for the past three years. She has enjoyed participating in four semesters of Concert Choir and was grateful to be a Dance Captain in the Beginner Class this year! Gabby has also been a prop queen for Peter Pan, Footloose, and several of the fall and spring productions, and has had such a wonderful time behind the scenes of Seussical!! She has made many great friends and countless memories at Notre Dame and wants to thank everyone who has made her experience truly amazing! Love you all. Break a leg!

XAVIER REYES (The Cat in the Hat) has been a proud member of the Performing Arts Department since his sophomore year. He has performed in Fusion, Peter Pan (Indian Chorus), As You Like It (Duke Senior) and Footloose (Ren). Xavier is extremely excited to perform in Seussical as The Cat in the Hat. A very Special Thanks! to Mr. and Mrs. G for their guidance, love and help, as well as the opportunities given to him. Another Special thanks! to Ricky Ward who introduced Xavier to the world of performing arts. Xavier thanks both his loving parents for all the support, patience and love they have shown and given to him.

Senior Bios

KATIE SCHMITT (Gertrude McFuzz) has enjoyed all four years in ND performing arts. This year she is the PA President. Some of her favorite and most remembered productions were You Could Die Laughing (Sunday), Inherit the Wind (Rachel Brown), Peter Pan (Liza/Tinkerbell) and Footloose (Wendy Jo). Katie is so excited to be playing zany Gertrude McFuzz this year in Seussical! She thanks Mr. and Mrs. G for teaching her so much about art and her family for always being the loudest ones cheering in the “audience”–even when she was just a little girl in a Cinderella gown singing on the hearth. All of her best memories of high school are on this stage, and she plans on making this last memory the best of the best!

RICKY WARD (Who Chorus) has happily been a member of the Performing Arts Department since freshman year. He has been a committed Madrigal member for four years and a Concert Band member for two years. He’s grateful to have been part of Harvey, The Pajama Game, You Could Die Laughing, Inherit the Wind, Peter Pan, Leading Ladies, And Then There Were None, Footloose, As You Like It and now Seussical this year. Ricky thanks his mom and dad for all of their help and wishes his sister Mary Kate the best of luck for her senior year. He thanks Notre Dame for four great years!

DAVON WHEELER (Orchestra) has been part of Notre Dame Performing Arts for the past four years. He has been a member of Jazz Band and Concert Band for the past four years also. He has performed in the pit orchestra for the productions of Pajama Game, Peter Pan, Footloose, and this year, Seussical. He has a passion for performing arts and plans on continuing this in college by majoring in Music. He thanks his family, friends, and especially Mr. and Mrs. G and Mr. Chebra for all their support in making ND productions so great.

DEVON WHEELER (Wickersham Brother) has been a part of PA for four years. He was inducted into Madrigal as a freshman. He was a part of all the spring musicals–Pajama Game, Peter Pan, Footloose, and Seussical–and two years of the fall dramas–Inherit the Wind and And Then There Were None. Devon had the privilege of going to Disney and performing there twice with Madrigal. He truly thanks Mr. Patton, Mr. Lobis, and Mr. and Mrs. G for all of the opportunities given to him during high school. Devon thanks his parents, family, and friends for all of their continuous love and support and wishes the cast well for next year’s production.

KELLEY WIESE (Mayzie) started in the Performing Arts Department with her cameo role in Grease and the performance with Kenny Rogers. She was Captain for Dance Intermediate for two years and in Madrigal four years. She loved flying as Tinkerbell in Peter Pan and her roles in Footloose (Ariel) and The Pajama Game (Charlene). Her favorite role will always be as a Who in the original Broadway cast of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Musical. She is Vice President of Peer Leaders and a four-year member of the varsity soccer (Captain) and lacrosse teams. She would like to thank the Gs for the opportunities, her friends for their support, and especially her family for everything they have done. I love you Mom, Dad, Heather, Ryan and Xavier! LXXV!

Past Notre Dame Musicals

1960 Call Me Madam

1961 Leave It To Jane

1962 Merry Widow

1963 Student Prince

1964 The King and I

1965 My Fair Lady

1966 The Sound of Music

1967 Camelot

1968 Brigadoon

1969 Annie Get Your Gun

1970 Funny Girl

1971 Carnival

1972 Plain and Fancy

1973 Hello Dolly!

1974 South Pacific

1975 Oliver

1976 Fiddler on the Roof

1977 Peter Pan

1978 Camelot

1979 Godspell

1980 You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown 1981 Carnival

1982 Pippin

1983 Man of La Mancha

1984 Annie

1985 West Side Story 1986 Snoopy/ Fiddler on the Roof

1987 1776 1988 The Sound of Music

1989 Barnum 1990 The Me Nobody Knows 1991 Grease 1992 Oklahoma! 1993 Guys and Dolls 1994 Bye, Bye Birdie 1995 Anything Goes 1996 Showboat 1997 Crazy for You 1998 Carousel