School House Rock Live! Jr.
This weekend the curtain opens for the Children’s Theatre of Livingston production, Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr. The play is based on the popular children’s television series that debuted in the early seventies to teach children a fun approach to learning. The classic story features many songs that are incorporated into today’s curriculum with favorites being Conjunction Junction, Just a Bill and The Preamble. Fatima Calcado, President of the volunteer group said “ the entire production is done by children both on the stage and behind the scenes”. Our group has worked to offer opportunities to the youth of Livingston to” experience theater in every fashion”. This year we have even added a youth orchestra with students from Heritage Middle School said Calcado.
The play is directed by Janene DePalo, a fourth grade teacher at Riker Hill and Marilyn Fiordaliso is the music director. Both DePalo and Fiordaliso are joining CTL for a second performance after last years success Edna May’s Musical Theatre Camp. Susan Allen is in charge of costumes; Hugh Mahon is the set director and Amedeo Ciminnisi is doing sound. Jenn Mesce is the stage manager and has been instrumental in working with the backstage crew made up of over twenty middle school students. Not only will the crew be rising the curtains, they will also be running the lights, sounds, props and scenery.
The play will be performed on Friday April 11 and Saturday April 12 at 7:30PM at Mount Pleasant Middle School and on Sunday April 13th at 2:00 PM. The Sunday performance is close to being sold out. Tickets will be on sale at the door, but it is suggested that you call in advance to reserve.
Appearing on the stage are Rachael Richard, Allen Li, Evan Klein, Jackson Rynar, Jack Baer, Dominic Ricci, Trevor Wood, Emily Edwards, Jake Langberg, Shari Bernbach, Zachary Neff, Sahil Rodricks, Carly Katzeff, Zachary Durkin-Hirschberger, Ryan Healy, Zoe Pritikin, Toni Pauwels, Arya Mirchandani, Marisa Parnes, Victoria Goldverg, Emily Lasoff, Kate Sheehan, Katherine Ismen, Sarah Das, Lexie Gagliano, Tarushi Mittal, Nicole Zeppieri, Ilana Saltzman, Samantha Fernandez, Harris Paspuleti, Nishay Bhatnagar, Zoe Alekel, Will Taylor, Jamie Hung, Victoria Goldverg, Molly Edwards, Eve Goldstein, Alexa Mintz, Brett Fawer, Sydney Arnold, Marisa Parnes, Jesica Porcelli, Hillary Borker, Kimberly Peloquin, Emily Chaleff, Cassidy Glaser, Jill Friedland, Peri Margolies, Sara Navi, Susie Rosa, Tatiana Batista, Lizzy Kelton, Sara Portela, Griffin Davidson, Vinnie DeMaio, Eric Svetnikov, Gayle Edelstein, Arden Intile, Alysia Machlovitz, David Das, Macen Lantzman, Tilly Pecker, Victoria Belcuore, Isabella LaPolla, Amanda Stephenson, Valerie Schnapp, Abby Simko and Sofia Soroka, Lauren Critelli, Bailey Grey. Ellie Shahrabani, Elana Atlas, Maria Soroka, Shay Weiser-Schlesinger. The backstage crew is made up of Christine Ackermann, Samantha Brown, Simran Mirchandani, Kathy Nevola, Hilbert Chen, Devon Edwards, Dan Laveman, Matthew Borker, Josh Cimbol, Jacob Schofel, Annie Rishty, Emily Nevola, Tracey Bent, Logan Grossman,David Shulman, Jessica Ann Kelly, Lauren Naphtali, Liz Spencer, Michael Portela, Sami Mindlin and Alex Dereshteanu. The orchestra is directed by Marilyn Fiordaliso and features Rick Grey on drums with and Heritage students Klara Blazek, Lauren Magsayay, Matt Steinberg, Zak Schnapp and Shirley Shen.
