Sunshine brings light to ‘13’

Becoming a teenager is a transformative life stage, and to capture that, Little Mary’s Sunshine Studios, a Queens-based vocal studio that originated in Howard Beach, is performing “13 the Musical,” directed by DawnMarie Napolitano.

The cast is all local to Howard Beach, Ozone Park, Rockaway and Middle Village and ranges in age from 11 to 17, Napolitano told the Chronicle.

The musical, with music and lyrics by Jason

Robert Brown, follows young teens finding themselves, navigating friendships and first relationships and surviving life in this new stage — all with a little more homework to do.

The performances will be held at St. Francis Preparatory School in Fresh Meadows on Nov. 10 and 11 at 7 pm., and on Nov. 12 at 12 and 3:30 p.m.

For tickets or more information, visit linktr.ee/sunshinestudiosny.

— Kristen Guglielmo

adino had a clear message for voters.

“She’s been visible on issues, she’s been out there in the community,” he said. He added later, “She was outspoken on the migrant crisis early, and still is. And I think that resonated.”

Browne said Avella struggled to do the same. “There was no issue that he galvanized people around to come out and support him,” he said. Instead, Avella focused on opposing Paladino, referring to her more than once as a white supremacist, claiming her son has far right-wing affilia- tions and highlighting the councilmember’s campaign efforts last year in support of embattled Rep. George Santos (R-Nassau, Queens). Thomas Paladino Jr. called Avella’s comments “lies,” “slander” and “libel” Tuesday.

The councilmember seemed to address Avella’s portrayal of her son Tuesday when she said, “Let me make myself very, very clear: I’m a mother who’s proud and I’m proud of my boy. And if anybody’s got a problem with that, that’s too damn bad.” Q