Emerge: Welcome to Oz by Valley Christian Schools

2023-24 SEASON

EMERGE WELCOME TO

NOVEMBER

16 | 6PM 17 | 4PM (STUDENT SHOW) & 7:30PM 18 | 2PM (UNDERSTUDY SHOW) & 6PM

MAIN STAGE Adults $20, Seniors $18, Student/Children $16, Student Show $9

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DIRECTOR’S NOTE

“Who would have thought that a good little girl could destroy my beautiful wickedness?” ~ Wicked Witch of the West The chaos of a cyclone. The magic of Oz, as we peeked through our fingers at the Wicked Witch of the West. Who would have guessed that this motley crew of a lost girl, a scarecrow that could talk, a sentimental tin man & a completely cowardly lion would defeat the evil and deception that plagued their world? Whether you came to the World of Oz through the original L. Frank Baum books, the 1939 MGM Movie, The WIZ on Broadway or the big screen, or Wicked at the theater, one thing is for sure… once you get a peek behind the curtain, there is no going back! From the beginning, the challenge enthralled me with telling the stories of Oz through dance. To explore the complicated relationships, victories, battles, and adventures of the unpredictable heroes, and some pretty iconic villains. We’re reminded of the necessity and power of friendship. These characters exemplify courage, compassion, thoughtfulness, and the unwavering belief that there isn’t an obstacle they couldn’t overcome together. To focus on the redemption of God’s light, we have to acknowledge the darkness in the world, and Oz is no different. Darkness often tries to distract us from God’s truth, through callous, force, distortion, manipulation, false illusion, and ignorance. Romans 12:21 reminds us, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” AS YOU TRAVEL TO OZ WITH US, I ASK THAT YOU ALLOW YOUR BRAIN TO IMAGINE BEYOND WHAT YOUR EYES SEE. LET YOUR HEART BE OPEN TO NEW POSSIBILITIES, AND THAT YOU MAY HAVE THE COURAGE TO BE VULNERABLE IN SHARING THE JOURNEY WITH US.

Blessings, MC

EMERGE WELCOME TO

Director..................................................................................................................... Michelle McLaughlin Assistant Directors...................................................................................Kim Brown, Colette Evans Technical Director...............................................................................................................Keaton Miller Choreographers............................................................................................... Kim Brown, Tori Evans, Shiyu (CeCe) Gu, Angela Li, Michelle McLaughlin, Kara Richey, Nigel Shum, Megan Stagi Student Mentored Choreography...................... Charlie Kautzer & Main Character Soloists Stage Manager.......................................................................................................................... Keya Shah Set Design.................................................................................................................... Justin McPherson Scenic Painter................................................................................................................Whitney Pintello Lighting Designer................................................................................................................. Jason Kuzia Costume Designer............................................................................................................ Colette Evans Costume Mistress.....................................................................................................................Kathy Risk Hair and Make-up...................................................Gray Hill, Lily Le, Cassandra Fry, Minjin Shin Production/House Manager......................................................................................... Colette Evans Lead Technical Assistant...................................................................................................Oliver Kaelin Projection Design...............................................................................................................Joshua Watts Backstage Manager............................................................................................................. Anjali Khiani Assistant Backstage Manager...................................................................................Inika Mukherjee Projectionists............................................................................Walter Kucharewski, Hannah Balog Light Board Operator............................................................................................................ Heena Kim Sound Board Operator............................................................................... Vedanth Ramachandran Running Crew........................................... Austin Taylor, Marian Kucharewski, Maya Bangalore Videography................................................................................ Alpha Grit Creatives Videography 3

PROGRAM

ACT 1 Scene 1 Oh My! Home Tornado

Scene 2 New Territory - Witches New Territory – Munchkin Land Down the Yellow Brick Road - Ease on Down Alone for the First Time

Scene 3 The Deceivers - No Bad News The Deceivers - Witch Flashback The Deceivers - Bad Blood The Deceivers - Wizard Flashback The Deceivers - A Wizard’s Life

Scene 4 The Heroes - Dorothy The Heroes - Scarecrow The Heroes - Tin Man The Heroes – Lion

INTERMISSION 4

PROGRAM

ACT 2 Scene 1 Life’s Temptations - The Poppies Life’s Temptations - Emerald City Life’s Temptations - Wizard

Scene 2 March of the Winkies Wicked Battle - Monkeys Wicked Battle - Witch Wicked Battle - Meltdown Wicked Battle – Wizard

Scene 3 Choose Your Coat You Have What You Need Celebrate Bows

MAIN CHARACTERS Kayla Sophia Abaya - Understudy Cowardly Lion: My favorite scene is when the characters realize that what they have been looking and seeking for was within them all along. They did not need someone to grant them their wish, but rather it was something that needed to be unlocked within them. It was a moment of revelation and an awakening on who they actually were and could be. It was so much more than the gift and destination, but about the journey and true friendships they made along the way; where a bunch of outcasts came together and believed for one another. Kaitlyn Chan – Poppy Queen: My favorite scene from this production is when Dorothy starts her journey down the yellow brick road. It’s my favorite scene because that’s when she meets her very first friend - the scarecrow. I think the yellow brick road represents one step towards the ultimate goal. When I first watched the Wizard of Oz when I was little, I really liked how Dorothy has so much compassion towards all the characters she meets.

Allison Chen – Young Glinda, Understudy Glinda the Good Witch: My favorite scene in the production is when Dorothy first goes down the yellow brick road because I love when the munchkins sing to her and lead her out of munchkin land. I enjoy seeing all the different munchkins and the first look that the audience gets into Oz before Dorothy ventures out into the Emerald City.

Jordyn Elford – Understudy Poppy Queen: I would say that I really like when Dorothy walks on the yellow brick road for the very first time. It shows her happiness and excitement of the journey she is starting. The expression on her face says everything. A little unsure, yet ready for life changing events. She looked like she was enjoying every step on that path. When I saw this scene it made me feel the way she feels.

Sophia Grabinger – Wizard of Oz, Understudy Dorothy: My favorite scene in the production is the Witch’s meltdown because of the amount of emotional depth it has. All of the main characters experience a variety of reactions and feelings ranging from happy and joyous to anger and angst. Moreover, working on transitioning between the different emotions therefore creates such an intense and emotional piece. Lastly, it also captures one of the most iconic scenes in the Wizard of Oz as it captures the scene where the Wicked Witch dies.

MAIN CHARACTERS Maya Hsian – Understudy Scarecrow: When I think of The Wizard of Oz, my mind instantly turns to “No One Mourns The Wicked” from Wicked. Not only does the song’s crescendos and instrumental background itself give me goosebumps, but the message in the lyrics is impactful too. Glinda brings up a major theme of the story: are people born wicked? Those who become evil lived in an environment that gave them no chance to live in peace. Once a person falls down the evil hole, the world turns its back on them and they are met with cold faces and rejection. Through just one song, I understood the underlying message of the story. I love that the story of Wicked allows the audience to see the world through both Glinda and Elphaba’s perspectives. Adrina Hsieh – Glinda the Good Witch, Understudy Young Glinda: My favorite scene is when Glinda and the Wicked Witch take the audience on a flashback to young Glinda and Elphaba when they were best friends at boarding school. I think that this scene speaks to me so much because it helps the audience understand the background of their relationship. Glinda and the Wicked Witch are best friends, but that’s where their similarities end. Even though they have such a “frenemies” vibe they learn to accept each other. It shows that all relationships can be complicated but still have the heart for each other. Even though they believe in different things, they will always have a soft spot for each other. We can see this relationship translate throughout the production from when Glinda and the Wicked Witch dance together to when the Wicked Witch is killed. Brooke Johnson – Cowardly Lion: My favorite scene from the show is Bad Blood. The energy of the scene is electrifying, feeling the uneasy tension build between the Wicked Witch and Dorothy. At the same time the dance itself is incredibly dynamic and exciting to be a part of!

Katya Kuzmenko – Scarecrow: The first musical I watched, Wicked, left a lasting impression on my younger self; not only through the flowery language and tragic flying monkeys but the unique and unpredictable twists sprung upon the audience throughout each scene. Similarly, while the storyline of this production varies from the usual narratives, each number holds surprises even for seasoned Oz lovers. My favorite parts of the show include pieces like The Witch’s Flashback which restructures the beloved story yet simultaneously reminds us of the same incredible theme: there is always choice.

MAIN CHARACTERS Gwen Lundgaard – Wicked Witch, Understudy Wizard of Oz: My favorite scene is the Wicked Battle. The thing that I love about this dance is that everything moves in slow-motion as the Wicked Witch of the West approaches Dorothy, leading up to the battle commencing. Everything that the Wicked Witch has done to manipulate, scheme, and control the elements of Oz has all been in preparation for this moment— when she finally has Dorothy in her grasp. These few moments will ultimately determine her fate— either for better or worse— and so all the Witch’s anger, obsession, fear, and wickedness is jumbled into these extended moments. I am so excited for the audience to be immersed into the Wicked Witch of the West’s inner workings and be able to experience the high stakes she faces. Rebecca Rebello – Dorothy: My favorite scene in this show is probably the Witch’s Battle dance. I like this dance because it is a very intense part of the show, where Dorothy realizes that this could be her last day to live, now that she is captured by the monkeys and is under the power of the Wicked Witch. It really captures the fear of Dorothy and her friends, while also displaying the strength and power the Wicked Witch holds over Oz. It is also a very important scene because it shows that the power of evil has overcome the power of good, which isn’t a storyline that occurs often. Cat Sandoval – Understudy Elphaba: The scene I chose that is my favorite is when, in the song “Defying Gravity,” Elphaba begins to become who she is, and it shows the friendship that she and Glinda have despite their oppositions.

Michael Villegas – Toto: My favorite part has to be the dance right when the witch dies, because it’s the first time I got out of my dance comfort zone. The dance contains different techniques like technical leaps, jumps, and spins, which was tough at the start, but now is another great way to show art through dance.

Elaine Wang - Elphaba: One of my favorite scenes in the musical Wicked is when Elphaba and Glinda perform the song “Defying Gravity” while soaring above the stage, symbolizing their empowerment and defiance. It’s a breathtaking moment that captures the characters’ transformation and friendship.

MAIN CHARACTERS Melinda Wong – Understudy Wicked Witch: My favorite scene in this production would be the Witch’s Battle since it shows another side of the Wicked Witch which is normally not shown. The scene shows that the Wicked Witch is just broken on the inside which explains why she is the way she is. I really enjoy being able to express both sides of her personality in this scene.

Lucy Xie – Tin Man: My favorite Wizard of Oz scene is from the original 1939 movie, when the Wizard gives gifts to Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion symbolizing the brain, heart, and courage they’d asked for. After the Wizard had been comically unveiled to be simply a man pulling levers and pressing switches behind a curtain, he gets shamed by the group for being a liar. However, he claims that he is actually a very good man, just a very bad wizard, and in order to fulfill his promises, he gifts the Scarecrow a diploma, the Lion a medal of valor, and the Tin Man a heart-shaped clock. I found it so sweet how happy and grateful the characters were for the Wizard’s act of kindness and I love how this scene showed that the Wizard was not 100% bad, and in fact, quite a wise man. He knew that these traits could not be given to them by someone else and he was only able to give them objects, but he revealed the intelligence, love, and courage they’ve had this whole time. Angela Yu – Understudy Tin Man: My favorite scene in this production is “Ease On Down the Road” because it’s the moment we’re introduced to the main characters and their personalities in a fun way. Additionally, we get to see their behavior and attitude before all the character development comes into play later on.

CAST

Ella McLean

Caitlin Tsang

Madison Lee

Tayla Turnquest

Aubrey Heath

Arya Gulati

Hannah Bitter

Bethany Dohn

Jordan Jones

Hayden Shirley

Emmalene Rosingana

Angelina ZavalaAlfaro

Mia Suzuki

Claire Tan

Courtney Pacheco

Dylan Chang

CAST

Evangeline Trigg

Hailey Elliott

Hailey Mac

Sharis Hsu

Adithi Jha

Alivia Lambrecht

Nicole Yavorski

Emily Wan

Lillian Zhong

Elissa Barte

Estella Chen

Darlene Tran

Allison Roderick

Suriya Demps

Annie Li

Carys Venneman

CAST

Xiangting Ren

Minhui Bartels

Valerie Tsai

Ava Suzuki

Leah Liang

Hannah Darrow

Katelyn Chan

Nora Garlick

Rayne Johnson

Samantha McEwen

Ruhi Kalambur

Makena Suekawa

Ashlee Concepcion

Peyton Skovmand

Zeruiah Kim

CHOREOGRAPHERS Kimberleigh Brown has over 40 years of teaching experience and is honored to be an Apple Distinguished Educator. She spent most of her time teaching the art of communication through various arts expressions like Dance, Theatre, Film, Technology, Writing, and Photography. Kim’s greatest joy has been seeing her students develop confidence and knowledge to teach those around them! “If I could play any role in this production, I would choose Toto, Glinda, or Dorothy. I like Toto because, over 20 years ago, one of my sons was Toto in Valley’s Theatre production of The Wizard of Oz. I also love how Glinda holds it together in front of everyone, yet has deep feelings inside. Finally, it is admirable that Dorothy spends her time bringing everyone together and making them all feel like family.” Tori Evans graduated with honors in only 3 years from the University of Arizona, obtaining her BFA and an Economics minor. She immediately went on a world tour for Barbie LIVE! The Musical and upon returning, moved to LA to start her career. Her credits include Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Cardi B, The Weeknd, Gwen Stefani, Ricky Martin, Jennifer Hudson, Pitbull, Tyga, Backstreet Boys, Empire of the Sun, Bad Bunny, J Balvin and more. Tori has worked under famed choreographers such as Mandy Moore, Jamie King, Luther Brown, HiHat, Charm, Frank Gatson, Jeri Slaughter, Jennifer Hamilton, Lindsey and Craig, Zach Woodlee, Bonnie Story, Tricia Miranda, and Chase Benz. When Tori isn’t on the road, she’s featured on television shows such as, All American - Homecoming, The Masked Singer, Physical, Jimmy Kimmel, The Price is Right!, The Voice, American Song Contest, including multiple award shows. Tori spends her very limited free time reading, watching anything food related, baking or recently, decorating her new home with her favorite person, her husband, TJ Shaw. “If I can play any role in this production, I would love to be the Wicked Witch. I love that Wicked does character development on her and it helps explain why the Wicked Witch is who she is in the Wizard of Oz. The depth of her character is incredible and I think I would thoroughly enjoy playing her.” Cece (Shiyu) Gu started training thirteen years ago in Beijing at CISCA (Royal Ballet Dance). She then moved and joined Los Gatos Ballet in 2016 while starting in the VCS dance program. Cece joined VIVID as a freshman and pursued different genres, such as hip-hop, jazz, and open. She delved into choreography as a sophomore and enjoys creating unexpected and unique moves that tell a story. “If I can play any role in this production, I would want to play the Tin Man. Not only does the Tin Man have an extraordinary costume and personality, but I feel like the dancing of the Tin Man is fun with contrasting robotlike moves with its humane inner being. Incorporating ticking and hard-hitting moves would be fun while expressing Tin Man’s exciting personality.”

CHOREOGRAPHERS Angela Li is a VCHS Class of 2022 alum, currently studying Psychology and Computer Science at Wellesley College. She is a member of the hip-hop dance team Wellesley Freestyle and currently serves as one of their Publicity Chairs. Angela has been dancing since she was 9 years old, and during her time at Valley she was a part of the dance department and the Vivid Dance Team. “If I were to play a character in this production, I would be the Tin Man. I find his desire to find a heart really touching, and it makes his character have a lot of depth and meaning. I also think the concept of being made of tin would create something super cool for a hip-hop piece, and I would love to explore that.” Michelle McLaughlin, Artistic Director of Valley Christian Dance Program since 2013, thrives on spreading her excitement and passion for dance to her students! Michelle brings over 25 years of knowledge and experience training dance artists in performance, choreography, mentored creative work, movement practice, instruction, and analytic studies. She holds a BA in Dance Arts from the University of California, Riverside, attending school on a dance scholarship as a Maxwell H. Gluck Fellow and Chancellor’s Performance Award recipient. Michelle toured with the undergraduate ensemble as a Gluck Fellows Performer of the Arts. After graduating from UCR, Michelle continued her dance journey and moved to New York City! Attending the prestigious arts school Sarah Lawrence College, she was honored to be a Bessie Schönberg Scholarship recipient! Graduating SLC in 2003, with an MFA in Dance & Choreography, Magna Cum Laude, Michelle stayed in NYC to work as a dancer, teacher and choreographer for over a decade, until she returned to be with her family in her hometown of San Jose. “If I could play any character in this production, it would probably be the Wicked Witch. Why? Well for the start she wears ALL BLACK!! Second, there is nothing better than dancing a character who has so many levels and nuances. Yes, it is easy to see the witch as always scheming and power hungry, with a flair for the dramatic. She is definitely evil as she uses manipulation and intimidation, not magic, to get her way. However, she is also broken, hurt, isolated and insecure. She is a result of her CHOICE to turn to evil…she didn’t start out that way. I love characters who allow me as a dancer to go on a journey and evolve. Playing with emotions and the underlying intention helps refine the movement and makes for great storytelling.”

CHOREOGRAPHERS Nigel Shum has been dancing for 22 years and has been working at Valley Christian for 5 years. He graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in Communication Studies. He has training in various styles including: Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Contemporary, Lyrical, and Ballet. “If I were to play any character in this production I would want to be Tin Man. I think it would be a unique supporting role to play that I could bring to life using my dance skill set. The other role would be the Flying Monkeys. I think it would also be fun to be one of the bad guys and dance aggressively.” Megan Stagi, a native of San Jose, California, has been dancing, educating, performing, and choreographing for over 20 years in a wide variety of styles and levels. While earning a BA in Dance from San Jose State University, she founded the Spartan Competitive Dance Team—The Sirens of Sparta. In her eight years of service with the United Spirit Association, Megan has had the pleasure of working with thousands of dancers and cheerleaders across the country; including multiple Varsity events, such as The Sacramento Kings Varsity Halftime Spectacular, Stanford and Berkeley Spirit Days, and The Varsity Spirit All-American Tour in Orlando, Florida. Ms. Stagi acts as an academic dance educator in the VCS Conservatory for the Arts for both the Valley Christian Junior High and High School, in addition, she assists as a coach for the Vivid Dance Team. “If I could be any character within the Emerge: Welcome to Oz production, I would be Glinda! She has a very pretty and graceful presence at first glance, but throughout the production, we see even more depth of character with moments of humor and hope. She has a servant’s heart in the sense that she wants to help all of those around her to be their best and reach their full potential.” Kara Richey was born and raised in Brea, California and trained in dance for sixteen years in the Southern California area. Kara continued her dance training and graduated in 2019 from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance. She started teaching and choreographing in 2013 and is currently working with two competitive dance studios in the Bay Area teaching many genres. While continuing to teach, she is also one of the co-creators and board members of Commonality, a competitive adult hip hop team. “If I were to be any character in this production I would be Toto so I could really push myself in acting as well as doing many different dance genres in this show.”

ENSEMBLE CAST New Territory-Munchkinland, Ease on Down, March of the Winkies Hip-Hop I

Suriya Demps, Asithi Jha, Kaliah Loud, Samantha McEwen, Darlene Tran, Tayla Turnquest, Carys Venneman, Angelina Zavala-Alfaro

Deceivers - No Bad News, Bad Blood Hip-Hop II

Elissa Barte, Aubrey Heath, Madison Lee

Hip-Hop III

Nora Garlick, Hyehyang (Zeruiah) Kim, Peyton Skovmand

Hip Hop III Honors

Kayla Sophia Abaya, Brooke Johnson, Michael Villegas, Angela Yu

Life’s Temptations - The Poppies, You Have What You Need Dance Technique II

Hannah Darrow, Rayne Johnson, Annie Li, Makena Suekawa, Claire Tan, Noelani Wedemeyer, Lillian Zhong

Dance Technique III

Dylan Chang, Nora Garlick, Jordan Jones, Ruhi Kalambur, Alivia Lambrecht, Ella McLean, Cat Sandoval, Caitlin Tsang, Emily Wan

The Deceivers - A Wizard’s Life Dance Technique III/IV Honors

Minhui Bartels, Hannah Bitter, Katelyn Chan, Sophia Grabinger, Arya Gulati, Brooke Johnson, Charlotte Kautzer, Leah Liang, Gwen Lundgaard, Hailey Mac, Courtney Pacheco, Allison Roderick, Emmalene Rosingana, Julie Shi, Evangeline Trigg, Nicole Yavorski

Oh My, Life’s Temptations - Emerald City Vivid Dance Team

Allison Chen, Estella Chen, Ashlee Concepcion, Bethany Dohn, Jordyn Elford, Hailey Elliott, Maya Hsian, Adrina Hsieh, Sharis Hsu, Katya Kuzmenko, Rebeca Rebello, Cat Sandoval, Hayden Shirley, Ava Suzuki, Mia Suzuki, Melinda Wong, Lucy Xie, Angela Yu

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AFFIRMING THE ARTS Fall 2023 Sept 28-30.................. One Acts Festival - JH Theatre Oct 18........................... Sounds of Autumn - JH/HS Bands Oct 19-21...................... William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night - HS Theatre 26-28 Oct 24.......................... Fall Choral Concert - JH/HS Choirs Nov 2............................ Fall Strings Concert - JH/HS Strings Nov 16-18..................... Emerge: Welcome to Oz! - HS Dance Dec 4-7......................... Christmas at the California - K-12 Conservatory Monday, December 4 - K-3 EL Choirs Tuesday, December 5 - JH Music Wednesday, December 6 4/5 EL Music, HS Band and Percussion Thursday, December 7 - Conservatory Night Dec 15-16..................... Space Pirates! - EL Theatre

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