A Knight at the Round Table--Program (Mar 2014)

u

5th Grade SALAD proudly presents

A

Knight Round Table at the

A New Musical

illustration by Bennett Chang

!

book and lyrics by Emily Clare Thompson music by Richard D. Russell March 13, 2014 7 PM Central School Auditorium East Hanover, NJ

Arthur’s* Note e idea of doing a project inspired by the King Arthur literature stemmed from our mutual affection for Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot. (It doesn’t hurt that Emily’s specialty is English Literature… and history… and Arthurian legends.) at 1960 musical ends both tragically and hopefully: King Arthur allows that the peaceable, utopian ideal of Camelot has come to an end, but he also passes the torch to a future generation. Arthur’s hope is that Camelot’s “one brief shining moment” may someday return. Tonight’s show, A Knight at e Round Table, imagines that this moment of Camelot’s return is now upon us, with a similar cast of characters. But how would we recognize that this is so? We’ve set our show in a

modern-day

middle school, interspersing scenes (and lessons) from

King Arthur’s time.

(e characters and stories in the Arthurian world of our musical—the Lady Igraine, the knights, King Pellinore, etc.—represent the actual stories of the King Arthur legend.)

We hope to suggest that the dream of Camelot is close at hand—as close as each and every one of us wish it to be, and will it to be.

Emily Clare Thompson

Richard D. Russell *oops—make that “Author’s” Illustration by Jim Vadakkedam

A Knight at the Round Table is a musical with two entirely different worlds within it. ere is the story occurring in the modern world about a girl named Gwen who is ridiculed for her belief in a legendary ruler, King Arthur of Camelot. e story of Arthur is told through flashbacks.

Each flashback gives us a glimpse of the Arthur story, from his birth to the fall of Camelot. Some of the plot points in the modern world parallel the plot points in the Arthurian world.

Some of the characters in both worlds are essentially the same people, even though Illustration by Ryan Berbarian

they are

portrayed by different actors.

Can Gwen convince her friends of the value of King Arthur’s lessons?

Central School’s Fifth Grade SALAD takes you to Camelot…!

Illustration by Sofia Valastro

Musical Numbers Act I “On and On and On”................................................................ e Company “Arthur’s Rescue”............................... Lady Igraine, Merlin, Lady of the Lake “Within Your Heart”................................................................... Lady Igraine “Someone Who Needs Me to Believe”.................................................. Gwen “Let’s Have A Celebration”...........................................Merlin, e Company “Within Your Heart” (reprise)....................................................... Lady Igraine “Have A Little Faith” ................................................. Marvin, Gwen, Bernard “I’m Taking Care of Me”................................. Morgan, Neve, Margot, Elaine “I Depend On You”...................................................................... Jade, Wayne “Knights of the Table Round”........ Igraine, Lady of the Lake, Merlin, Arthur “Knights of the Table Round” (reprise)............................... Marvin, Wayne, Gwen

Illustration by Lindsay Girdano

Act II “e History of England”.......................................................... e Company “e Code of Chivalry”............................................King Arthur, Sir Gawain, Sir Gareth, Sir Percival, Knights “e Girl / Guy I Am Inside”......................................................... Nell, Brian “e Girl / Guy I Am Inside” (reprise)...................... Lady Ragnell, Sir Gareth, Sir Percival, King Pellinore “I Depend On You” (reprise)..................................... Lady Bercilak, Sir Gawain “You’re the Perfect You”....................................................................... Bernard “e Code of Chivalry” (reprise)............................................................. Wayne “Have A Little Faith” (reprise) .................................... Marvin, Wayne, Bernard “Finale”...................................................................................... e Company

Cast Of The

Cast Of The

Arthurian World

Modern World

Merlin.......................................... Auden Gu Lady Of e Lake.................... Michelle Jacob Lady Igraine................................ Julie Halma Arthur Pendragon............ Alexander Stanczak Sir Gawain/Villager............... Bennett Chang Lady Bercilak/Villager.......... Gabriella Cerese Sir Gareth/Villager................... Nitish Kasarla Lady Ragnell/Villager................. Alexia Basile Sir Percival/Villager..................... Joe Galdieri King Pellinor/Villager...... Timothy Kandathil Anwen Ceridwen........................Sarah Leitao Bronwen Ceridwen..................... Ayden Parry Liliwen Ceridwen......................Shayla ach Mairwen Ceridwen................. Paige Alkhatib Olwen Ceridwen...................... Ashley Alfano

Gwen Vere.................... Marina Farinhas Bernard Drake.................. James LaRosa Morgan Drake.............. Isabelle Belenky Neve Ninian..................... Victoria Boze Elaine Lakeland........... Nicole Cannizzo Margot Orkney................... Alyssa Jemas Mrs. Prunella Platt.......... Kathleen Stox Ms. Vivian Cornwall......... Devon Fagan Marvin Ambrose.... Christopher Bartlett Wayne Orkney......... omas DeLorenzo Jade Pearl........................... Cindy Jemas Garrett Harris................... Luke Porcaro Nell Inglewood.................... Ava LaRosa Pierce Vale................... Dominic Rizzolo Brian Fisher........................Devon Sosa Mark Chadbourn.. Christopher Mitchell Marie French..................... Alana Torkos Mallory omas.............. Gianna Francis Marion Bradley........... Marissa Trapasso Mary Stewart............ Amanda Bowman Meg Cabot....................... Alexa Minniti Mckenzie Nance........... Abigail Dechiara Molly Cochran..............Abigail Bowman Murphy Warren.......... Brianna Nuciforo Massie Andrews........... Carina Carabello

Illustration by Jessica Ippolito

The Stage Crew David Ackerman Olivia Algieri Paige Alkhatib Isabelle Belenky Ryan Berberian Victoria Boze Kristi Brokaw Andrew Bruns James Canzonieri Carina Carabello Bennett Chang Victoria Corino Abigail DeChiara DeAnna DiMaiolo Kaila Dolan Devon Fagan Marina Farinhas

Illustration by Marissa Trapasso

Joe Galdieri Lindsey Giordano Jessica Ippolito James LaRosa Angelina Luisi Vincent Madera Mohammed Murriky Jaime Raibick Joey Romeo Kelly Saraiva Brandon Sazan Robert Scrivo Devon Sosa Kathleen Stox Alana Torkos Marissa Trapasso Jim Vadakkedam Sofia Valastro

Illustration by Bennett Chang

Production Staff Director.............................................................. Mrs. Schweer Stage Manager........................................................ Mrs. Swan Musical Accompanist............................................ Rich Lovallo Costumes/alterations.............................................. Mrs. Halma Swords in Stones........................ Mr. Schweer and Ms. Keshka Parent Helpers..............Mrs. Bruns, Mr. Bruns, Mrs. Cannizo, Mrs. Chang, Mrs. Galdieri, Mrs. Giuliana, Mrs. Gu, Mrs. Halma, Mrs. Jemas, Mrs. LaRosa, Mrs. Minkowitz, Mrs. Mitchell, Mrs. Stanczak, Mr. Stanczak, Mrs. Stox SALAD Alum Teenagers.............. Tim Bruns Isabelle Chang, Jessica D’Aries, Carmine Galdieri, Jen Galdieri, omas Galdieri, Michael Giuliana, Jenna Glinko, Erin La Rosa, Kristen Stox Custodial Support............................................. Bill Gialanella, Nonnie King, Wade Stokes

Acknowledgements Mounting a musical production such as A Knight at the Round Table could never happen with support and assistance from so many. We thank:

h Kitchell Memorial Presbyterian Church for opening up their doors and letting us have our Sunday afternoon rehearsals in their fellowship hall

h e Fifth Grade Staff for their understanding and support

h e entire Central Staff, for their interest and encouragement

h Mr. Leister, Mr. Raab, Mr. Maag, and Mr. Biamonte for always helping

h Miss Amelia Schweer, for all her help h All our parent helpers for always pitching in when needed, providing rides to and from rehearsals, and for their enthusiasm

h Our composer, Mr. Russell, for rehearsing all these new songs with us

h Warren Slaten & Audio International, for sound

Illustration by Ryan Berbarian

h e custodial staff, for making every single thing easier h Steven Schweer & Norcostco Eastern Costume, for theatrical support h Ms. Falcone, for her constant support and enthusiasm of the ESP curriculum h Mr. Mooney and the Board of Education for their continued support h e PTA. ank you for everything!

S.A.L.A.D Student Actors League of Art and Drama SALAD was formed in April, 2006, when Mrs. Schweer mentioned to her Language PEP class that she was feeling down. Why? It was April, but how could she celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday when the students are too young to perform his plays? One student, Sohum Pawar, assured Mrs. Schweer that “they were more than capable of studying a Shakespeare play.” In fact, he felt confident they could even perform a play.

By the end of the day he had assembled a group of 23 students who offered to give up their lunch and recess time if Mrs. Schweer would direct them in a Shakespeare play. Given that they would rehearse during lunch time, they proposed the code name SALAD. Fourth and Fifth Grade SALAD continues to see students sacrifice their free time at lunch and recess to mount productions.

SALAD has presented eight Schweer-ized Shakespeare plays, one Gilbert & Sullivan operetta, three radio plays from the 1940s, two student-written productions, and six original musicals. SALAD Alumni return every year to watch and support the new crop of students--many volunteer long after they have left Central--and Mrs. Schweer is proud of them all. ere is no other program like SALAD in the state.

In June 2011, SALAD was selected by the Character Education Partnership to serve as a model for others to replicate and integrate into their character education initiatives. SALAD is listed in the 2011 National Schools of Character book, and featured on CEP’s website, where other educators may learn about this program.