Verona Area High School - A Grand Night for Singing by Footlights.com

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Verona Area Theatre and Music Departments present

RODGERS AND HAMMERSTEIN’S

A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING Written by RICHARD RODGERS Lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II Musical Arrangements by FRED WELLS Orchestrations by MICHAEL GIBSON AND JONATHON TUNICK Conceived by WALTER BOBBIE

Originally Produced by Roundabout Theatre Company, New York City, 1993

“THIS AUDIO-VISUAL PRESENTATION WAS PRODUCED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH CONCORD THEATRICALS CORP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS AUDIO-VISUAL PRESENTATION IS AUTHORIZED FOR NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY. FURTHER DISTRIBUTION OF THIS PRESENTATION BY DOWNLOAD, STREAMING, REPOSTING, BROADCAST, TELECAST, OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER OR MEDIUM, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHOR(S)’S RIGHTS, AND ACTIONABLE UNDER APPLICABLE COPYRIGHT LAW.”

A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING

Anna, You will always be our shining star! Love, Dad, Mom and Maria

“Go and chase your dreams, you won’t regret it. Anything can happen if you let it.” ~ Mary Poppins

Verona Area High School

D I R E C TO R ’ S N O T E Welcome to A Grand Night for Singing! Music, stories and the arts unite us and bring us together. This show celebrates the beauty of music and getting the community together to enjoy it. While we are still distanced, we can continue to enjoy, live, and love all the sounds of the earth, and celebrate one another. The students have faced and conquered many obstacles this year. From zoom music rehearsals, audio recordings, video recordings, on-site filming, and constant changes in protocols - they’ve done it with grace and ease. They’ve pivoted, they’ve learned new skills, and stepped up to the challenge of creating a virtual musical. We are so proud of the work they’ve done. This show couldn’t have been possible without the outstanding music staff and design team. They have worked tirelessly the whole academic year to ensure these students had this opportunity. We are so grateful for their talents and dedication. With a virtual format, we were able to explore ways to incorporate our lovely new high school. Rather than building a set in the PAC we chose to use the school and grounds to set the scene. We hope you enjoy the student’s work as they take you on an inside peek. We can’t wait to see you and welcome you all into our new space! Brian Cowing Heather Thorpe D I R E C TO R S B I O G R A P H I E S Brian Cowing is a theatre artist from Middleton, WI. His directing and choreography work have been seen with Skylight Music Theatre, Children’s Theatre of Madison, Four Seasons Theatre, Capital City Theatre, Music Theatre of Madison, and Clinton Showboat. He has performed on the National Tours of Annie and Something Rotten! He has extensive teaching experience in theater and music, including CTM’s SummerStage Program, Kristin Chenoweth’s Broadway Bootcamp, Tianjin Conservatory of Music, Whoopensocker, and OCU’s Summer Music Programs. He is a proud graduate of Oklahoma City University’s musical theatre program and will receive his MA in Arts and Creative Enterprise Leadership from UW - Madison ‘21.

Heather Thorpe is an award-winning educator and mentor receiving the Herb Kohl Fellowship for excellence in education and recognized as an outstanding teacher in the national magazine Teaching Music. In addition to being a music educator at VAHS, she is the director of three children’s choirs and a featured soloist at First Unitarian Society of Madison. She and her husband enjoy their three kids, at various music or karate events and general family fun.

A SPECIAL THANKS TO : Jeff Krueger, Phillip Sessions, Theresa Saley, Toshi Kinoshita, Pam Larson, Verona Area Community Theater, Lynn Vilker, Garrett Coombs, Sara Ward-Cassady, North and South Restaurant and Dawn Bankers. A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING

Verona Area High School

Blaise, We are so proud of you and all of the accomplishments you have made your freshman year. We can’t wait to see

the show! Love, Mom, Dad and Eden A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING

SONG LIST Opening.................................................................................. Ensemble, Riley Kinoshita, Anna Reekie, Blaise Westphal, Sam Hartjes So Far ............................................................................................................................................ Anna Larson It’s A Grand Night for Singing.................................................................................................... Ensemble The Surrey With The Fringe On Top........................................................................... Brennan Pelletier Stepsisters’ Lament.......................................................................... Adeline Chvala, Jordan Sommers We Kiss In a Shadow....................................................................................................................Abby Elson Hello Young Lover’s........................................................................................................................Ensemble A Wonderful Guy.................................................................................................................Rachel Neviaser I Cain’t Say No.............................................................................................................................. Bella Becker Maria.....................................................................................................................................Charlie Anderson Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?........................................................................... Anna Larson Honey Bun - The Accidentals......................... Charlie Anderson, Bella Becker, Andrew Bowers, Daniel Christian, Nina Donny, Abby Elson, Riley Kinoshita, Anna Larson, Sean Lytle, Rachel Neviaser, Brennen Pelletier, Eva Perez, Lora Reinfeldt, Hannah Vandervest The Gentleman Is a Dope..............................................................................................................Erin Zenk Many A New Day / I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out-a My Hair......................................Opening Solo Eva Perez, Bella Becker, Anna Larson If I Loved You............................................................................................................................ Lora Rienfeldt Shall We Dance?................................................................................................................. Henry Gabrielski All At Once You Love Her............................................................ Sam Hartjes, Jose Chavez Santiago Some Enchanted Evening............................................................................................................Ensemble Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’...........................................................................................Daniel Christian It Might As Well Be Spring........................................................................................................... Eva Perez Kansas City.........................................................................................................................................Sarah Lee It’s Me...................................................................................................................................... Rachel Nevaiser Love, Look Away..................................................................................................................Andrew Bowers When You’re Driving Through The Moonlight/ A Lovely Night.............................................................................. Julia Beardsley, Hannah Vandervest Something Wonderful............................................................................................................. Anna Larson Impossible / I Have Dreamed........................................................................... Erin Zenk, Paige Waller, Raylend Stacionis, Ensemble

Verona Area High School

CAST Ensemble: Charlie Anderson, Julia Beardsley, Bella Becker, Andrew Bowers, Jose Chavez Santiago, Addy Chvala, Abby Elson, Henry Gabrielski, Jadyn Grossnickle, Sam Hartjes, Riley Kinoshita, Anna Larson, Sarah Lee, Rachel Neviaser, Brennan Pelletier, Eva Perez, Anna Reekie, Lora Reinfeldt, Jordan Sommers, Raylend Stacionis, Hannah Vandervest, Paige Waller, Blaise Westphal, Erin Zenk. The Accidentals: Charlie Anderson, Bella Becker, Andrew Bowers, Daniel Christian, Nina Donny, Abby Elson, Riley Kinoshita, Anna Larson, Sean Lytle, Rachel Neviaser, Brennen Pelletier, Eva Perez, Lora Reinfeldt, Hannah Vandervest A Grand Night for Singing features songs from, Allegro, Cinderella, Carousel, Flower Drum Song, The King and I, Me and Juliet, Oklahoma, Sound of Music, Pipe Dream, South Pacific, and State Fair. S TA R C O N T R I B U TO R S Friends ($1 - $99) Cathy Salwin Steve Nickels Kayla Nelson Jackie Spees Elizabeth Hanson Sara Leverton Andrew Bowers Lauren Wooll Sean Porter Danny Halminiak Chris Kuster Mikalen Howe Scott Wabakken Jason Treutel Jose Chavez Santiago Jace Wallre Katie Ronk Ray Hamel Tami Boomer Lynn Geitz Don Heth Scott Thorpe Ryan Zakrzewski Dylan Howard Stephen Christy Jennifer Neviaser Christy Sarah Jurgensen Mackenzie Romenesko Sharon Hammer Heather Reekie Jodi Moll Verona Hometown Auto The Drafthouse Tina Hatch

Marjorie Tsiolis Maria Heide Joanne Rash Dawn Bankers Kristen Hanson Dominic and Steffano Deyes Patron ($100 - $199) Nancy Horns The Larson Family MariJo Kessenich The Halminiak Family Katy Christian Sheila Zenk Larry & Nancy Buege Dan & Deb Zenk Janet Warzyn David Beardsley Judy Thorpe Kris Becker Sponsor ($200 - $499) Barry Heck JSD Engineering Sugar River Pizza William and Jacqueline Zenk Producer ($500- $999) Blain’s Farm and Fleet Verona Area Education Foundation Partner ($1000 or more) Miller and Son’s Supermarket A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING

PRODUCTION TEA M Brian Cowing.................................................................. Director, Choreographer and Videographer Heather Thorpe...................................................................................................................... Music Director Eric Anderson............................................................................................................. Orchestra Conductor Jeffrey Krueger........................................................................................................................ The Orchestra Kyle Spradling...................................................................................................... Sound Engineer / Editor Dave Alcorn..................................................................................................................................Video Editor Leslie Frank-Taylor....................................Costume Designer, Graphic Artist and Video Assistant Lauri Halminiak................................................................................................................................ Producer Fundraising and Publicity Committee......................................... Pam Larson, Elizabeth Neviaser, Rachel Neviaser, Erin Zenk, Sheila Zenk, Andrew Bower, Jose Chavez Santiago, Carolina Mora, Shannon Kelly Programs................................................................ Lauri Halminiak, Pam Larson, Leslie Frank-Taylor Tickets................................................................................................................................................Lynn Vilker

Thank you Daniel and all VAHS students for sticking with it during the pandemic. You are a bright light bringing more great entertainment for us all to enjoy! Love, Mom and Dad 10

Verona Area High School

SENIOR BIOGR APHIES Charlie Anderson, a senior, is very excited to participate in A Grand Night For Singing this year. He has previously been in The Will Rogers Follies, Macbeth, and Wild Oats. Charlie wants to thank his teachers and friends in theatre and in choir for making everything enjoyable and fun over the years. Charlie plans to study something STEM related in college next year Andrew Bowers, is a senior this year at Verona Area High School. This is his first year participating in the musical, and he has loved every moment of it! Despite only getting an online experience, he strongly appreciates the sense of community and motivation among his peers. Andrew plans to go to college for music after high school Jose Chavez Santiago, a senior. This is Jose’s first year doing the musical. He is thrilled to work alongside many friends and peers. Through zoom, that is. Jose regrets not taking this opportunity during his earlier years in high school, as it is lively and enjoyable. Jose is planning on attending UW-Eau Claire in hopes to major in Psychology and a minor in Music. He thanks everyone for helping shape him into the young adult he is now.

Jadyn Grossnickle, a senior, is singing in a musical for the first time this year. In the past she was in tech for Will Rogers Follies and Mary Poppins which was her favorite musical. Next year she will go to college for culinary school. Sam Hartjes is a senior at Verona and is very excited to be a part of this year’s production of A Grand Night For Singing. Sam has been a part of the musical throughout high school, with his most notable roles being Admiral Boom and Mr. Ziegfield. Sam would like to thank his friends for making his time in the musical memorable. Next year, Sam plans on attending college and studying political science. Riley Kinoshita, a senior, is really excited to be partaking in his third and final show at Verona area high school. Every musical he’s participated in have been highlights of his high school. He’d like to thank his family and friends for their support as well as his fellow castmates and crew members for always making the shows memorable and an absolute blast to be a part of. Anna Larson, a senior, has been in theatre since middle school, and they’ll miss Verona theatre after they graduate! They’re so grateful to be part of this musical, though. Some of their favorite shows have been Pippin, Mary Poppins, A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING

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the Scottish play, and Wild Oats. These embodied one of Anna’s favorite parts of theatre- the community built by each cast. In college, they’ll major in music education. They can’t wait to see where the future takes them! Rachel Neviaser is a senior. This is her third year participating in the VAHS theater program, and her eighth year participating in theater as a whole. More recently, she has played ensemble and/or dancing roles in Mary Poppins, Newsies, The Will Rogers Follies, and Chicago. She would like to thank all the amazing people who’ve made this year’s production possible, despite the challenges. Next year, Rachel plans to attend college and study history and anthropology. Anna Reekie, a senior, is very excited to be participating in another production with VAHS. Some other shows you may have seen her in include Almost Main, when she played Hope. She also played Mr. Leako, a traveling player, in Wild Oats. She will miss this group of creative and fun people and will always look back on her theatre memories with a smile. She would like to thank all of her friends and family for their support and encouragement in her theatre endeavors. With that she hopes you enjoy A Grand Night for Singing. Anna plans to go to college to study culinary. Ray Stacionis, a senior, is excited to participate in the showing of A Grand Night for Singing, especially because it is bringing back some normalcy to 12

Verona Area High School

his senior year. He has been in and around the theater departments of VAHS all of high school, whether it be as cast or crew. In addition, he would like to thank all of his family for putting up with his loud singing at home during every rehearsal and after. Continuing on to college he plans to major in computer science, but still hopes to participate in some form of theater or at least enjoy it from the audience. Paige Waller, is a senior. This is Paige’s second year in the high school theater program and she has been doing theatre for four years. She was recently in VACT’s Newsies, Mamma Mia, and the high school’s production of Will Rogers Follies. She is very excited to be a part of her senior musical! Paige would like to thank her family for their support and her friends for being there. She plans to go to college for Dane, with still a decision to be made where. Erin Zenk, a senior, is so excited to be in A Grand Night For Singing, yet this moment is bittersweet as this is her final production at VAHS. Some of Erin’s favorite roles include Fannie in Mary Poppins, one of the six sisters in Will Rogers Follies, and the Queen of Hearts in Dorothy in Wonderland. This has been a very difficult time for many people and she is so glad that we can bring some joy and music to everyone. Erin hopes you enjoy the show and thanks her family and friends for all of their support. She will be attending UW Madison in the fall for business or environmental law.

You are our best adventure and we could not be any prouder. We love hearing your laughter and voice! We love you very much!

Always, Mom and Dad

A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING

Verona Area High School

BIOGR APHIES Julia Beardsley, a sophomore, thinks this is a pretty weird format for a musical, but the show must go on! Julia has been doing theatre for quite a while. She has played a role in plays and musicals with VAHS and VACT, and participated in Forensics and Improv Comedy in middle school. She wants to thank her family and friends for their endless support, as well as Ms. Thorpe for her encouragement in choir. Bella Becker, a junior, is excited to be partaking in VAHS’ production of A Grand Night for Singing. Bella has recently been seen as Mike in Newsies (VACT), A Featured Dancer in Will Rogers Follies (VAHS), and Valentine in Mary Poppins (VAHS). Bella has been dancing and singing since she was little, and is looking forward to her first virtual show experience! She would like to thank her family for being so supportive in such a difficult time for all. Adeline Chvala, a sophmore, is thrilled to be a part of the production of A Grand Night For Singing. Adeline was also a part of VAHS’s production of Will Rogers Follies in 2019 as an ensemble member. She would also like to thank her younger brother, Colton, for always being supportive of her and willingly watching her performances. Nina Donny, a junior, has never been in a musical production through VAHS. Nina is excited to be singing with the vocal jazz group Accidentals for her first performance.

Abby Elson, a junior, is excited to be singing in this year’s virtual musical. She has participated in one other virtual showEverything Seems like Maybe, directed by Lydia Benz (VACT). Abby will be singing We Kiss in a Shadow from The King and I. She is grateful for her vocal coach, Adam Shelton, her super cool dad, and everyone who worked to make this show a reality. Abby would especially like to thank Mrs.Thorpe for putting her heart into everything she does and for making students feel seen during an unusual time. Henry Gabrielski, a sophomore, is happy to be in the show A Grand Night For Singing. Henry has also played Nicely Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls. One of Henry’s favorite parts was Michael from Peter Pan. Henry wants to thank his parents for supporting him and letting him do drama. Sarah Lee, a freshman, is very excited to be involved with the production this year. Sarah would like to thank her family for their endless love and support. Sean Lytle, a sophomore, is very excited to sing in “A Grand Night for Singing.” He has been surrounded by music his whole life, and also enjoys playing the piano. He has had past experience with VACT musicals, including Bye Bye Birdie, Guys and Dolls, and Chicago. This is his first-ever musical with VAHS and hopes you appreciate this production. A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING

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Brennen Pelletier, a junior, is incredibly excited to be singing Surrey with a Fringe on Top in this online production of A Grand Night for Singing. Brennen is a junior who’s been doing musical theater for 6 years now! Some of his favorite roles include: Michael Banks in Mary Poppins, Bill Hearst/ Newsie in Newsies, and Sky’s friend in Mamma Mia. Brennen would like to thank his family for the support and hopes you enjoy the show. Eva Perez, a sophomore, is excited to be involved in this new, virtual musical. Although the performing arts are facing a challenge like never before, our community has stayed creative and resistant, always finding connection through our shared love of the arts. Eva has been seen as Mary Rogers in VAHS’s Will Rogers Follies, as well as a Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. She’d like to thank her family for always supporting her! Lora Rienfeldt, a junior, is excited to participate in this year’s innovative virtual musical at VAHS. Lora has been performing since childhood and has been in productions with Madison Russian School, VAHS, and VACT. Before the pandemic, Lora played Hunyak in VACT’s Chicago, which was unfortunately cancelled. She’s glad to have this opportunity to safely perform again as well as the support of her friends and family!

Verona Area High School

Jordan Sommers is currently a sophomore at Verona Area High School, she is very excited to be appearing in her second show with them. In this production, she is featured as one of the stepsisters, Vicki, in Stepsisters’ Lament. Recent productions also include last year’s Will Rogers Follies which she was a part of the ensemble. Jordan is a devoted student who enjoys reading and writing in her free time. One day she hopes to be accepted into UW Madison’s veterinary program and major in Veterinary Sciences. Once again she is very excited and hopes you enjoy “A Grand Night for Singing”. Hannah Vandervest, a junior, is very excited to participate in this year’s online production of A Grand Night for Singing. Hannah had previously been in VAHS shows such as Will Rogers Follies and Mary Poppins. Hannah would like to thank her brothers Ben and Adam for being a great support. Blaise Westphal, a freshman, is happy to be participating in A Grand Night for Singing. His past theatre experiences in middle school include: a chorus member in Once On This Island, Jacob in Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Schroeder in You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown and in various summer and church theatre productions since elementary school. Blaise is looking forward to participating in future musical theater performances in high school.

Performing on Zoom, learning the guitar, earning your black belt and studying hard – not even a pandemic can hold you back, Henry Gabrielski! The show must go on! Can’t wait to see you & the entire cast perform. Love, Mom, Dad & Elliot

A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING

Dear Bella, It used to be your favorite word but now you Cain't Say No! Break a leg and we love you! Mom and Dad

Verona Area High School

A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING

GREETING CARDS FOR THEATRE PEOPLE

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Verona Area High School