Parent Association

PARENT ASSOCIATION

A Show 50 Years in the Making!

Cabaret years are always special. This year’s Parent Association Spring Event was especially meaningful, coinciding with Crossroads’ 50th anniversary celebration year and the departure of Bob Riddle, our beloved head of school. On May 22, our talented community graced the stage at the glorious Orpheum Theatre in a “Wizard of Oz”-inspired production. More than 150 students performed in various ensemble numbers as well as in featured roles. The adults did their part, too: More than 170 parents, alumni, parents of alumni and employees participated behind the scenes and onstage.

An event this ambitious is only possible because of the hundreds of volunteers who dedicate their time and talent. Heartfelt gratitude goes to everyone who helped make Cabaret 2022 a successful community builder and fundraiser. In particular, kudos go to our truly impressive co-chairs— Deborah Dragon, Margaret Smith, Mollie Starr ’98 and Kevin Neustadt—for overseeing this amazing event and dedicating over a year of their lives to making it happen. Congratulations also to auction and raffle co-chairs Hee Ko, Alan Rakov and Yasmin Yaghmai, who worked with many other volunteers to raise more than $748,000 to benefit Crossroads’ Affordability Program (formerly known as the Financial Aid Fund), making this the highest-grossing Cabaret in Crossroads history!

The unique alchemy that took place onstage began with the incredible imagination of head writer Marsha Myers

Clockwise from top left: The fantastic Cabaret co-chairs and their children introduced the show; Matt Groening (or is that Marge?) made a cameo; actor/athlete/school counselor James Black gave Dorothy (Harper Edgerly) some advice; accompanied by her daughter, Zooey Deschanel ’98 serenaded Bob with “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”; Sam (Magnus Thompson), Lia (Anastasia Shima-Hernandez), Tim (Matthew Smith) and Dorothy followed the yellow brick road; Glinda (Ashley Thompson) and Elementary Schoolers welcomed Dorothy to Oz.

Kamer and her writing team. Their brilliance, humor and love of Crossroads shone through every scene, every song and every word of this original production. Deep gratitude and awe go to the talented faculty who took the show from page to stage: director Brian Mulligan; production coordinator David Listenberger; assistant director Claire Larsen; choreographers Bryanna Brock, Sophia Stoller and Chippy Wassung; vocal director Jarod Sheahan; music director Emily Stewart; and orchestrators Ramsey Castaneda and Tony Hundtoft. Former trustee and parent of alumni Darlene Chan generously reprised her invaluable role as show producer for the umpteenth time. The team’s collective expertise, vision and leadership delivered a joyful production for all to enjoy.

The myriad facets of Cabaret that fall outside of the proscenium stage—including fundraising, community building, volunteer management and logistical wrangling of this Herculean endeavor—were overseen for the eighth time by event producer and Director of Parent Relations & Special Events Mery Grace Castelo.

Whether you were dancing, singing, acting, behind the scenes, in the audience and/or supporting the event as a sponsor, underwriter, auction or raffle donor or bidder, thank you for participating in this community-wide event and showing that there’s no place like Crossroads!

Did you know? The very first Cabaret was held in 1985 at the Wadsworth Theatre!

Clockwise from top left: Middle Schoolers dazzled; Upper School dancers struck a pose; a talking tree looked an awful lot like Oscar-winning actor Helen Hunt; the wonderful wizard of Crossroads said goodbye aboard a hot air balloon; the Parent Ensemble took a break from Council to belt out a “Crossroadian Rhapsody”; the Employee Ensemble sang about “Changing Lives.”