Imagine a Dragon Program

2023-24 Season

Book & Lyrics by KATHRYN FUNKHOUSER

DIRECTOR’S NOTE

Welcome to our Kidservatory production of Imagine a Dragon! Myself, our choreographer Chloe Cance, the production crew, and the actors are all so excited that you are here! Thank you for supporting Valley Christian Theatre.

Imagine a Dragon, on the surface, is a fun show about a group of innkeepers who lie to a troupe of heroes and princesses about the presence of a dragon in their village. After shenanigans ensue and the lie is found out, the heroes, princesses, and innkeepers realize that they had a misunderstanding and forge a new alliance of adventurers, where all parties benefit equally.

There is a hidden but highly valuable lesson within this show. At some point in our lives, we will all endure a trial. It might not be a dragon attacking your village, but it might be a financial hardship, a strained relationship, or conflict within the family. These overwhelming situations may tempt us to forsake faith and forge our own path to find a solution. The trouble is, that would be no solution at all. The Bible tells us in James 1:2-4 (NIV), “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” What a beautiful promise of God! God doesn’t place these temptations in our lives (James 1:13), but He does use these situations to create a beautiful testimony to His glory when we persevere in Him.

We all have a choice when experiencing a season of trial: either we doubt His faithfulness and turn to a worldly solution, or we persevere in genuine faith and “Receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12). I encourage you tonight, friends, to lean into God when things get rough; He will sustain you. Let us never forget Romans 8:28: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” Take heart, trust this promise, and be encouraged tonight. I am so glad you’re all here. Please enjoy our presentation of Imagine a Dragon!

Nathan McCann, Director

A NEW MUSICAL

May 10 & 11 | 6:00pm

BOOK & LYRICS BY KATHRYN FUNKHOUSER

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR JUSTIN McPHERSON

SOUND ENGINEER ROBERT RUBINO

SCENIC DESIGN

AVALENNE DELKE

AUDREY STARINK

MUSIC & LYRICS BY DENVER CASADO

COSTUME DESIGN KATHY RISK

PRODUCTION & HOUSE MANAGER REBEKAH RISK

ASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR KEATON MILLER

LIGHTING DESIGN KEATON MILLER

STAGE MANAGER HANNAH BALOG

GRAPHIC DESIGN LENA CHOI REBEKAH RISK

RUNNING CREW

JOHAN GONZALEZ JORDAN JONES MARIAN KUCHAREWSKI

MALIA LIU SOPHIA MORAIS TALIA SANTIZO

SYDNEE SMAHA VALERIE TSAI

CHOREOGRAPHY BY CHLOE CANCE

DIRECTED BY NATHAN McCANN

MUSICAL NUMBERS

Back When the Dragon Was There ......................... Company

Don’t Give Up ................................................................. Innkeepers

Don’t Give Up (Reprise) ....................... Bards, Guards, Cooks

The Dragon is Back ........................................................ Company

Pretty Pretty Princess .................................................. Princesses

Saving the Day ....................................................................... Heroes Find the Dragon .............................................................. Company

Isobel’s Reprise ............................... Isobel, Heroes, Princesses

Imagine a Dragon ........................................................... Company

CAST

(in alphabetical order)

Indiana Basanese ......................................................................... PRINCESS MAGNOLIA

Leo Chen .................................................................................................. HERO ENSEMBLE

Yueh-Ning (Amber) Cho.................................................................. VALERIAN (HERO)

Chloe Cochran ......................................................................................STARLING (BARD)

Phoebe Faucette PRINCESS LAVENDER

Yasmeen Gyger PRINCESS ZINNIA

Kalaigho Hipolito PEREGRIN (HERO)

Kaitlyn Huesca .......................................................................................... PRINCESS ROSE

Lena Jung .................................................................................................. PRINCESS LILAC

Erin Kim ......................................................................................................................... ISOBEL

Caleb Kraver ............................................................................................ FLORIAN (HERO)

Joshua Loofbourrow ............................................................................. TERRY (GUARD)

Elise Luu PRINCESS VIOLET

Dina Matheou ROBIN (BARD)

Eleni Matheou CHEF CLOVE

Lillian Morrison .......................................................................................... ARDEN (HERO)

Kyle Mukkananchery ............................................................................ THORN (GUARD)

Aria Nair ................................................................................................... HERO ENSEMBLE

Eliott Nyberg ............................................................................................ AVALON (HERO)

Chelsey Park ...................................................................................... TARRAGON (HERO)

Edugisle (Kikele) Pasternak PRINCESS JASMINE

Julianna Robertson LARK (BARD)

Camryn Sawkins CASPIAN (HERO)

Matthew Sienicki ..................................................................................... ROWAN (HERO)

Gracelyn Silva ..................................................................................... PRINCESS LAUREL

Sofia Umansky .................................................................................................. CHEF BASIL

Ruby Williams .................................................................................... PRINCESS JUNIPER

Elissa Yeo ................................................................................................. BILL COLLECTOR

BIOGRAPHIES

Nathan McCann Director

An alumni of the Valley Christian Theatre program, Nathan is honored to have the opportunity to return as a director for the elementary program. Nathan is currently earning his Bachelor’s degree in Music Production from the Berklee College of Music online, and has performed in musical theater programs and student films for over thirteen years. In addition to acting, Nathan has written, directed, and produced a handful of short plays performed by various classes of youth performers. Projects with VCT include vocal directing for the Summer Theatre program and directing last fall’s Kidservatory Musical, Space Pirates.

Chloe Cance Choreographer

Chloe Cance is a lifelong dancer. She spent 14 years at a local dance studio and continued on to major in Dance and Psychology at Santa Clara University, class of 2019. Since graduating, Chloe has taken on multiple roles in the arts: she was a dance instructor at Valley Christian and is currently a co-director at Lana’s Dance Studio, where her team was crowned Grand National Champions in Anaheim last year (shoutout to co-director Kara Richey). Chloe loves teaching students of all ages and dance levels, and will always be an advocate for the arts!

Join us for an unforgettable evening as the brilliance and artistry of the Valley Christian Conservatory of the Arts takes center stage!

FOTA FREE ADMISSION | 5pm

(Please note: Admission to the 7:30pm Anthem Lights ticketed event is not included)

ANTHEM LIGHTS CONCERT | 7:30pm

(Ticketed Performance – Use Discount Code FAMILY)

VIEW WEBSITE FOR TICKET PURCHASE & EVENT DETAILS

SUMMER THEATRE CAMP

JUNE 10-21, 2024

for students entering 3 rd -5 th grade

Summer Theatre 2024: Journey of the Noble Gnarble

Dates

June 10-21 (Closed June 19) (Monday-Friday)

Time 9am-12pm

Cost $495

Grades

Entering Grades 3-5 (Co-Ed)

Location

Valley Christian Schools 100 Skyway Drive San Jose, CA 95111

Instructor

Mrs. Myra Kaelin

Mr. Justin McPherson

It’s time for SUMMER THEATRE CAMP! The ocean floor is filled with the rarest of creatures, but none are as rare as gnarbles. Their fins are small, their tails are floppy, and they have never strayed far from their homes…until now. Journey of the Noble Gnarble is a story of a little gnarble with a big dream. Friends along the way teach him the importance of positivity and determination!

Join us for a two-week, half-day camp for students entering grades 3-5. These young actors will focus on learning lines, basic stage directions, introductory vocals, stage movement, and even technical theatre, culminating with a performance of Journey of the Noble Gnarble on June 21. This year’s camp is not to be missed, and will give budding thespians great building blocks for their future at VCT.

No camp on Wednesday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth.

Camp Performance June 21 at 12pm in the Skyway Theatre, immediately after our camp day.

Note: Daily snack and camp t-shirt included. If you have questions, or if all spots are full when you go to register, please contact Rebekah Risk, rrisk@vcs.net, to be placed on a waitlist.

SUMMER THEATRE CAMP JUNE

10-28, 2024

for students entering 6 th -12 th grade

Summer Theatre 2024: Moana Jr.

Dates

June 10-28 (Closed June 19) (Monday-Friday)

Time 9am-3pm

Cost $695

Grades

Entering Grades 6-12 (Co-Ed)

Location

Valley Christian Schools 100 Skyway Drive San Jose, CA 95111

Instructor Mrs. Myra Kaelin

Mr. Justin McPherson

This thrilling and heartwarming coming-of-age story follows the strong-willed Moana as she sets sail across the Pacific on an epic journey to save her village and discover the truth about her heritage. With empowering messages of bravery and selflessness, Moana JR. is sure to bring out the hero within each of us.

Join us for a three-week, full day camp for students entering grades 6-12. Students will spend their days rehearsing vocals, choreography, and staging, leading up to performances on June 27 & 28. Every student is guaranteed a role in the show! Join us for a summer filled with creativity, growth, and the magic of Moana JR!

No camp on Wednesday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth.

June 27-28: adjusted schedule, 3:30pm-7:30pm, to accommodate performances.

Performances June 27-28 at 6pm in the Skyway Theatre.

Note: Camp fee includes daily snack and camp t-shirt. Students must bring a lunch from home. If you have questions, or if all spots are full when you go to register, please contact Rebekah Risk, rrisk@vcs.net, to be placed on a waitlist.

WARRIOR FUND

Tuition funds operations. Philanthropy fuels vision. Every gift makes a difference, so please consider donating to the Warrior Fund today.

UPCOMING EVENTS

uest Ball

presented by Extend the Gift

April 5, 2025

Join us for our annual Quest Ball dinner and auction. Enjoy a night to honor and celebrate the Warrior legacy and Extend the Gift for current and future Warriors. vcs.net/questball

May 13, 2024

We look forward to welcoming the VCS community for a round of golf and a day of fellowship at the annual Golf Classic. vcs.net/golfclassic

Wherever you may be, we’re always here to support our amazing alumni like you.

As you continue to make a positive difference in communities around the world, we want to stay connected! We currently have 29 ambassadors all over the country that have connected with fellow alums near them. This past year we have visited 11 cities across the US and look forward to hosting an alumni dinner near you soon. Simply scan the QR code and fill out our “Alumni Connect Form” to stay updated on news and events. Let us know about where you’ve been, where you’re headed and stay connected with us today!

Giving PLANNED

The Shechem Oak Society empowers our community to make an extraordinary impact on future generations. The society comprises all who generously bequeath legacy gifts to Valley Christian Schools.

God assured Abraham of keeping His promise to grant the land to Abraham’s descendants. Shechem holds a significant place in this narrative—it’s where Jacob excavated a well and erected an altar, where Joseph’s family laid his remains to rest, where Joshua delivered his parting words in service to the Lord, and where Jesus revealed Himself as the Messiah to the Samaritan woman at the well (Genesis 12:6, 33:18, Joshua 24:26, John 4:12). Shechem stands as a powerful symbol of God’s faithfulness across generations. We fervently pray that VCS, like Shechem, will serve as a reminder of God’s unwavering faithfulness in Silicon Valley and worldwide.

At a time when many American educational institutions are straying from biblical values, you can ensure that Valley Christian Schools continues its Quest for Excellence™ for future generations. Join us in providing high-quality Christ-centered education to our children and grandchildren by including VCS in your will.

VCS partners with Thompson & Associates to offer confidential and complimentary estate planning consultations to our board members, administrators, faculty, staff, and community. Join my wife, Kris, myself, and others in discovering the most tax-efficient means of transferring your estate to benefit your family and your passions.

As a trusted member of our VCS community, please accept our gift to you and arrange your estate planning consultation with Darren Penny of Thompson & Associates. You may email advancement@vcs.net or call my office at 408-513-2503. If you have already included VCS in your planned giving, kindly inform us so we may include you in our Shechem Oak Society.

Looking forward,

Clifford E. Daugherty, Ed.D. President

MISSION STATEMENT

Valley Christian Schools’ mission is to provide a nurturing environment o ering quality education supported by a strong foundation of Christian values in partnership with parents, equipping students to become leaders to serve God, to serve their families, and to positively impact their communities and the world.

VISION STATEMENT

A world where every student pursues their personal Quest for Excellence™

FOUNDING STATEMENT

Valley Christian Schools supports the homes and churches of students in providing an education that is grounded in the Judeo-Christian values of the Bible, as reflected in the life and teaching of Jesus Christ. Valley Christian Schools is committed to a Quest for Excellence™ in all of its educational programs, and provides a comprehensive kindergarten through twelfth grade curriculum with a rigorous college preparatory program. Firmly founded on Christian values, Valley Christian Schools challenges youth to aspire toward lives of character, service and influence while pursuing their individual Quests for Excellence

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