JAN-FEB 2024 Plano Magazine

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Number One Tribute to JERRY LEE LEWIS, JOHNNY CASH, CARL PERKINS & ELVIS PRESLEY

ONE NIGHT IN MEMPHIS

Featuring former cast members of the Broadway smash MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET

EISEMANN CENTERSUNDAY, MARCH 10 eisemanncenter.com | 972.744.4650

CONTENTS 6 PXG GIVES PURPLE HEART VET A NEW OUTLOOK ON LIFE 8 WHISK BRINGS PARISIAN CREPES TO PLANO 10 IIAMERICAS CELEBRATION 12 MEET THE STARS OF PLANO’S UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS 19 PLANO PUZZLE 20 CALENDAR 21 GUEST LETTER 23 NEW YEARS ACROSS CULTURES PLANOMAGAZINE.COM | editor@planomagazine.com sales@planomagazine.com | 214.560.4212 PRESIDENT Jehadu Abshiro | EDITOR Alyssa High | CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Emma Ruby DESIGNERS Jynnette Neal | Lauren Allen | OPERATIONS MANAGER Alessandra Quintero SALES Michele Paulda |Frank McClendon | Linda Kenney

letter from the editor Dear readers, Happy New Year! 2024 is here (I know, super weird

BEST OF

to say out loud) and that means six new issues of Plano Magazine to look forward to.

One of these is, of course, our Best Of issue. And this year, we’re doing it a little differently.

In March/April we’ll be showing off Plano’s best Local

2024

Services, which you can vote on from January 8 to the end of January.

In May/June we’ll be showing off the best culture and entertainment venues in the city. Voting will go throughout the month of March.

For July/August we’ll be showing off our favorite dining and drinks with voting through the month of May. After a short break, for November/December, we’re showing off shopping with voting beginning in late August.

I can’t wait to see your favorites across the board. In the meantime, we’re celebrating the new year by getting to know the leads of some upcoming per for mances and highlighting the positive work of people and nonprofits in Plano. And xin nian kuai le to those celebrating in February!

Alyssa High Editor

TIME IS BRAIN; TIME LOST IS BRAIN LOST Rashedul Hasan, M.D., Medical Director of Comprehensive Stroke Program for Baylor Scott & White Medical Center explains

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ccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Stroke Association, statistics show: • Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke.

• Every 3.5 minutes, someone dies from a stroke.

• Every year, 800,000 people in the United States have a stroke.

• Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disabilities in the United States.

• Every minute without treatment following a stroke, 2 million brain cells die.

“Time is brain; time lost is brain lost,” according to Rashedul Hasan, M.D., Medical Director of Comprehensive Stroke Program for Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Plano. There are two types of strokes – the clotting type and the bleeding type. Eighty-five percent are due to blood clot and the rest, 15%, are due to brain bleeding.

Dr. Hasan says even though stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in this country, 80% of strokes are preventable. The number one cause of stroke is uncontrolled hypertension.

Among others are diabetes, high cholesterol levels, Atrial Fibrillation, smoking, illicit drug use, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle. By keeping these risk factors under control, you can markedly lower your risk of future stroke.

Who is at risk and why?

Dr. Hasan says a stroke can happen at any age; know your own risk factors. Based on the age group the risk factors may vary. Childhood stroke is typically linked to genetic causes but stroke in early twenties or thirties is related to preventable risk factors. Unfortunately, because of the increased prevalence of childhood obesity, sedentary lifestyle, and illicit drug use the incidence of stroke among this age group is rising. In the elderly one third of strokes happen due to irregular heart rhythm called Atrial Fibrillation which increases your stroke risk by five times compared to general population. Another risk factor in the elderly is cancer which changes the blood chemistry and increases the tendency of blood clot formation in your system.

Some cancers, when metastasized, can mimic stroke symptoms, especially in breast, melanoma, kidney, colon and lung cancers, but tests can determine a cancer’s relationship to a stroke, all on a case-by-case basis.

“Stroke rates are increasing among young people and decreasing among the elderly as they are taking a more preventive approach to controlling their risk factors,” Dr. Hasan says.

Why? Dr. Hasan is a huge proponent of the Mediterranean Diet to help mitigate stroke risk.

“The Mediterranean Diet focuses on healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, lean proteins, and heart healthy fats.

“Once stroke patients are discharged from the hospital, they should follow-up with their neurologist and their primary care provider for risk factor management and to promote education and prevent a readmission.

Dr. Hasan says if you witness a stroke, call 911 rather than trying to drive a stroke victim to the hospital. Calling 911 is a more efficient strategy since EMTs pre-notify the ER they are bringing a stroke victim, and the stroke team awaits the arrival, he says.

“The time window is very narrow, and one should get to the hospital immediately. A stroke victim can be treated medically up to 4.5 hours of the ‘last known normal,” and up to 24 hours after a stroke, wherein it is possible for a catheter device to pull out a blood clot but any delay is unwise.”

Don’t lose time, and don’t lose brain. For more information, visit BSWHealth.com/PlanoNeuro.

Physicians provide clinical services as members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Scott & White Health’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and do not provide clinical services as employees or agents of Baylor Scott & White Health or those medical centers

Advertisement

When Anderson came into PXG (Parsons Extreme Golf), McIllroy had no prior indication that Anderson was a disabled vet. “I just wanted to swing golf clubs like a normal person, so I had to go about it like a normal person,” Anderson says.

Preparing

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putt

PXG gives Purple Heart vet Leonard Anderson a new outlook on life story Alyssa High | photography Kathy Tran

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u s t a f e w m o n t h s a g o , Te c h S g t . L e o n a r d A n d e r s o n w a l k e d i n t o PXG i n P l a n o f o r a c u s t o m g o l f cl u b f it t i n g w ith PXG M a s te r F it te r J a y M c I l l r o y.

T h i s w a s n’ t t h e t y p i c a l f i t t i n g , h o w e v e r, t h o u g h McI l l roy had no idea.

A n d e r s o n i s a g o - g o - g o k i n d o f g u y. A f t e r g r o w i n g a c c u s t o m e d t o w o r k i n g 18 - h o u r d a y s i n th e U n ited States A i r F o rce fo r m o re tha n a d ecad e, a n i m p rovi sed ex p l os ive d evi ce ca us i n g the loss of one hand and multiple othe r f inge r s w a s n’ t g o i n g t o l u l l h i m i n t o a s l o w l i f e .

Instead, Ande r son tu r ned to a hobby h e’d c a r r i e d w i t h h i m f r o m c h i l d h o o d to his time in the m i l ita r y — spo r ts.

Though sof tbal l was his focus, his inte rest in golf was almost i nevitab l e.

In the m i l ita r y c o m m u n i t y, Anderson says, s p o r t s a re “ h u g e” a n d h a ve a natu ral p rog ression. The communit y sta r ts out w ith softball, which Anderson still plays, and then g raduates to g o l f a s t h e g r o u p g e t s o l d e r. “[Af te r th e i n j u r y], it wa s a l l a b o ut th e recove r y p roces s and learning about what I could o r c o u l d n’ t d o i n t h e f u t u r e a n d adapting my l ife a round t h a t,” Anderson says. “Spor ts were huge th roughout my m i l ita r y ca ree r and befo re.

We g ot to b e a s p o r t s u n i t i n t h e m i l i ta r y a n d h a ve o u r o w n c o m m u n i t y.”

Anderson had tried dif fe rent p rosthetics th rough nonp rof it p rog rams that we re f i xated on e v e r y d a y l i f e o r e v e n s w i n g i n g a b a t, b u t w i t h o u t a n a b i l it y to m ove a g o l f cl u b th e way h e co u l d b e f o r e h i s i n j u r y, A n d e r s o n d i d n’ t t h i n k h e’d b e able to se r iously play again.

“Befo re I m et [McI l l roy], I co u l d g o h it so m e b a l l s a nd I wo u l d have fu n a nd not g et ca ug ht u p i n t h e y a r d a g e a n d d i s t a n c e s a n d w h a t n o t,” A n d e r s o n s a y s . “ N o w, I c a n l i t e r a l l y g o o u t t h e r e a nd g rab the sa m e [cl ub] so m ebody e l se g rabs a n d p u t o u t a g o o d s w i n g .”

A n d e r s o n f i r s t l e a r n e d o f P X G ’s c u s t o m - c l u b

wo r k when at a golf tou r nament fund raise r fo r 4 the Fallen, where Anderson was the p rog ram di recto r fo r p rosthetics.

D e t e r m i n e d t o b e a b l e t o n o t j u s t p l a y, b u t co m pete, Ande r so n m ade a n a p po i ntm ent w ith M c I l l r o y, w a l k e d i n a n d s h o w e d h i m t h e p r o b l e m s with his swing. “ I ’m s w i n g i n g c l u b s l i k e I w a s b e f o r e f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e ,” A n d e r s o n s a y s . “ I ’m t r y i n g t o r e t e a c h m y s e l f how to p l ay th e g a m e b ut I a l ready have a l l th e fundamenta l s sto red f rom playi ng [fo r] yea r s and y e a r s , s o I ’m a b l e t o a d j u s t a l i t t l e q u i c k e r.

B u t i f i t w a s n’ t f o r t h i s s e t u p , I w o u l d n’ t w a n t t o t a k e a n y b o d y ’s i n v i t a t i o n t o the course because it would just b e a w a s t e o f t i m e — I d o n’ t w a n t t o s l o w p e o p l e d o w n .”

McI l l roy got to wo r k , d raw i ng i n s p i rat i o n f ro m PXG fo u n d e r Bo b Pa r so n s, w h o i s a l so a vete ra n and Purple Heart r e c i p i e n t, h e s a y s .

He began by selecting stock P X G e q u i p m e n t, b u t A n d e r s o n needed an ex tension from the D e p a r t m e n t o f Ve t e r a n s A f f a i r s fo r his p rosthetics fo r the cl ubs t o f i t . M c I l r o y, s e e i n g t h e i s s u e a s a chal lenge to be tack led, took the clubs home while waiting on p a r t s f r o m t h e VA a f t e r w o r k a n d m a d e smal l adjustments unti l he was able to get A n d e r s o n’s s w i n g s a s n a t u r a l - f e e l i n g a s p o s s i b l e . “ Ta k i n g t i m e o u t o f m y p e r s o n a l d a y m e a n s nothing because this is something I wanted to get p e r f e c t,” M c I l l r o y s a y s . “ T h i s i s a n a b s o l u t e h o n o r f o r m e . T h i s i s w h a t I l i v e f o r, s o m e t h i n g s i m p l e t h a t m a k e s a l l t h e d i f f e r e n c e f o r h i m .”

N o w, A n d e r s o n i s f a r f r o m r e a d y t o c o m p e t e , h e s a y s . B u t h e’ l l k e e p p l a y i n g u n t i l h e i s . “ To m e , i t ’s h u g e m o s t l y f o r m y m e n t a l i t y,” A n d e r s o n s a y s . “ I w a s u s e d t o w o r k i n g 18 - h o u r d a y s n o n s to p, a n d I l oved it … B ut o n ce it wa s ta ke n away due to actions I cannot control, it changed [my] mental it y … The range is always open and g o l f c o u r s e s a r e a l w a y s o p e n , s o t h e r e’s a l w a y s s o m e t h i n g I c a n d o n o w. I t ’s m e n t a l f r e e d o m .”

P L A N O M A G A Z I N E . C O M

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Cutline.

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P L A N O M A G A Z I N E . C O M

s i r a P to o n a l P from

Legacy Hall’s Whisk brings Parisian culture to the food hall experience

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story Emma Ruby | photography Kelsey Shoemaker

hen Parisian Julien Eelsen found himself in Dallas running logistics for a French company in 2008, he noticed a distinct lack of French dining options in the city.

Specifically, his cravings for crêpes could not be satisfied by the Dallas restaurant scene.

“At the end of my contract I went back to France, and I was wondering what I would do next with my life and I remembered that when I was in Dallas, there was no real good crêpe shop. Anywhere in the world is supposed to have a good French crêpe shop,” Eelsen says. “So I decided to move back to Dallas, and invest my savings in the crêpe shop.”

He met with the developers of just forming-Sylvan 30 in West Dallas and enjoyed their vision of propping up independently owned and operated restaurants. He signed a lease with Sylvan 30 and opened Whisk, which has now celebrated its eight year anniversary and has expanded to Plano and Nashville.

The menu was developed by Eelsen, who wanted to combine traditional French crêpes whose recipes “could not be played with too much,” and more experimental flavor combinations that pay homage to Dallas cuisine.

A smoked brisket crêpe is stuffed with egg, Swiss, salsa verde, avocado,

jalapeños and smoked brisket. Eelsen, who first found himself missing traditional recipes, says it is one of his favorites.

Other recipes are more traditional, like the egg, ham and Gruyère crêpe. And no explanation other than “classic!” is needed to describe the Nutella crêpe.

The focus is on fresh, quality ingredients and Eelsen does not believe in cutting corners. Separate batters are made for the sweet and savory crêpes, and ingredients are sourced from abroad. Buckwheat flour imported from France is used for the savory batters — “very traditional.”

The restaurant scene has developed significantly since Eelsen first came to Dallas in 2008, and now he says there are more crêpe options than when he first came to town. Those shops can be split into two categories, he says.

Around half the crêpe shops are Korean and Japanese inspired crêpes, which “don’t have a lot to do with French crêpes.”

He “really enjoys” the Korean and Japanese inspired crêpes, but when it comes to French recipes, his shop is still the best in town.

“I think there’s three or four shops in Dallas, mine being the best honestly,” Eelsen says. “When it comes to French crêpes, that is our goal. To provide the best French crêpes you can find in Dallas.”

Whisk, Legacy Hall, 7800 Windrose Ave., whiskdallas.com/plano, 469.740.3918

P L A N O M A G A Z I N E . C O M

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Sowing the seeds IIAmericas Celebration strives for accurate education about Indigenous people story Krista Fleming photography Lauren Allen It i s 2011, al mo s t t hre e d e c a d e s a f t e r t he o r gan i zati o n star t e d — a ll whis p e r s , ho p es and pro m i se s of “accurate e d u c a t io n.”

A nnette A n de rso n, a P la noit e a nd m e m b er o f the c o u n c i l fo r t he I I A m e r ic a s C e le b r a t io n, fo r me rl y k n o w n a s t he I nd ig e nous I ns t it ut e o f the Am e ri c as, st are s a t a room f ull of k id s a nd seeds o n th e bri n k of e x t inc t ion.

“What does the word ‘extinct’ mean?” she asks.

Hands sh o o t u p.

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“ I t ’ s w ha t ha p p ened t o t he dino sa u rs! ” one c hild ex c la ims. “ I t mea ns w e w o n’ t ev er s ee t hem a ga in.”

She smiles — a lmo st la u ghs — b efo re she hol d s o u t a b a g filled w it h seeds, dirt a nd hist o r y . “ Ta k e c a re o f t hese u nt il yo u ’ re a gra ndma or gra ndp a ,” she t ells t hem, ea c h c hild gras pi ng t heir o w n b a g. “ Bec a u se, o ne da y, t hese seed s ma y go ex t inc t .”

The seeds a re a p a rt o f t he gro u p ’ s s eed

P L A N O M A G A Z I N E . C O M

ambassado r pro gr a m , whe re b a g s of he ir lo o m seeds are u se d to t e a c h c hild re n a b out t he i mpac t o f In di genous c u lt ure s on A m e r ic a ns toda y .

In fac t, i t i s e st i m a t e d t ha t 6 0 % of t he c urrent w o rl d f o o d su ppl y w a s d e v e lop e d b y I nd ig e no u s A meric an po pu l at ions .

E ach se e d bag t ha t is p a s s e d ou t c onta ins part o f th e 7% o f he ir loom s e e d s t ha t re ma in from tri be s re pre s e nt e d in t he nonp ro fit , A nderso n say s. S h e k nows t ha t not e v e r y child w i l l ta k e c are o f the m , t ha t s om e of t he s e s eeds w i l l b e l o st t o ti m e j u s t lik e the o t h e r 93% o f In d ig e nou s hei rl oo m se e ds, b u t s he ho l ds o n t o h o pe .

Yea rs l at e r, at p owwows , thos e k i ds w i l l b e you ng adul ts an d a f e w of t he m w i l l re c o gn i ze h e r.

“Yo u ’re t h e se e d la d y, ” they’l l say an d she ’ ll s m ile as the y add, “ I s t ill ha v e mi ne.”

A p art o f th e c ounc il f or the Indi ge n o u s Ins t it u t e of the A m e ri c as ( IIA m e r ic a s ) , the o r gan i zat i o n t ha t hos t s many o f th e l ar ge s t ind ig e no us c e l e brati o n s t hrou g ho ut the state , A n d e r s on a nd her te am ai m to sp re a d a c cura te k n o w l e dge of A m e r i can In di an pe o pl e .

IIAmericas hosts celebrations, such as powwows and dances, and provides educational videos and resources for teachers. They also host Zoom presentations and develop new educational material for classrooms.

“The pe o pl e w ho a re g oing t o ha v e t he mo st i m po rt an t i m p a c t will b e in t he f ut ure,” A nderso n say s. “ R ig ht now, t he y’ re j u s t k ids, but th e y ’l l gro w u p t o ha v e op p or t unit ie s a nd v oi ce s. Th at ’s w h y we e d uc a t e t he m — t ha t ’ s w hy w e gi ve t h e m our a t t e nt ion. ” When th e o r gan iz a t ion s t a r t e d in t he ea rly 1 9 8 0 s, th e y c re ate d a t r unk f ull of a r t if a c t s t ha t co ul d mo ve f ro m p la c e t o p la c e q uic k ly. As ti me w e n t o n , IIAm e r ic a s s wit c he d t o m o b ile di spl ay s th at c o u l d s ha re m ore inf or m a t ion .

“We re al i ze d th a t it wa s a b ig g e r is s ue t h a n a trunk c o u l d pro vi d e , ” A nd e r s on s a ys . “ C hildren

b eliev e t ha t t he Na t iv e p o p u la t io n w a s exti nct a nd t heir t ex t b o o k s p ra c t ic a lly c o nfir m it .”

I n t he p a st dec a de, t he Americ a n I nd i an p o p u la t io n grew 1 1 .6 % t o 2 ,1 5 9 ,8 0 2 . Texas ha s t he fift h highest p erc ent a ge o f Nati ve p o p u la t io n in t he U .S ., a c c o u nt ing fo r 4.8%.

I n P la no , t ha t ’ s ro u ghly 9 0 0 p eo p le o f Nati ve o rigins.

As a v o lu nt eer-driv en o r ga niz a t io n, I I Amer i cas b ega n t o ex p a nd t heir rea c h t hro u gh t he hel p o f int ert rib a l gro u p s w it hin la r ger c o rp o rati ons , su c h a s AT& T. W hen COV I D-1 9 hit , ho wever, t he nu mb er o f p a rt ic ipants dro p p ed signific a nt ly. “ COV I D-1 9 hit our c o mmu nit y a nd v o lu n teer s rea lly ha rd,” Anderso n s ay s . “ We’ re st ill rec o v ering.”

Du ring t he p a ndemi c, I ndigeno u s p eo p le ha d the highest ho sp it a liz a t io n r ate fo r COV I D-1 9 o f a ny r aci al o r et hnic gro u p a nd a mong t he highest fa t a lit y r ates .

Amo ng t ho se lo st were k no w ledge k eep ers and elders, ef fec t iv ely l os i ng hist o ries a nd t ra dit io n s for ma ny gro u p s.

Tho se w ho su rv iv ed t he vi r us a re u na b le t o w o rk in publ i c t o t he sa me degree, su f fer i ng lu ng disea se a nd reinfecti on desp it e b eing o ne o f the highest v a c c ina t ed gro ups . “ The p eo p le w ho l ed so me o f o u r mo st imp or tant c eremo nies ha v e p as s ed a w a y,” Anderso n sa id. “ I f w e do n’ t have so meo ne w ho k no w s t ho se t hings t ha t c a n l ead t ho se ev ent s, t hen t he ev ent s a re go ne t oo.”

Bec a u se o f t his, Anderso n sa id I I Ame r i cas needs mo re v o lu nt eers t o sp rea d a w a renes s .

Vo lu nt eers can help w it h p resent ati ons , dev elo p ment a nd help a t ev ent s. They have I I Americ a s c eleb ra t io ns a t Chisho lm Tr ai l Ou t do o r Mu seu m, w hic h t hey need v o lu n teer s fo r t w o w eek s b efo re a nd t he w eek s a ft er. “ U nlik e so me o t her c u lt u res, o u rs is q ui et — a lmo st silent ,” Anderso n sa id. “ The o nly w ay we c a n ma k e a c ha nge is t hro u gh rela t io nships and o ne-o n-o ne t a lk s. We need p eo p le t o reach o u t , t o a sk u s [ ho w t hey c a n] help , b ecaus e w e’ re no t v isib le w it ho u t su p p o rt .”

P L A N O M A G A Z I N E . C O M

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CHOREOGRAPHING CINDERELLA

GETTING TO KNOW THE PRINCIPAL DANCERS OF PLANO MET BALLET’S NEWEST PRODUCTION very week for the last 11 years, Priyanka Parkar and Gabby Trost have left school, changed into their ballet attire and headed to Gotta Dance, the practice studio for the Plano Metropolitan Ballet. Now in their senior year of high school, their final per formances are upon them, including their upcoming roles as Cinderella and the Fairy Godmother.

Nonprofit ballet company Plano Metropolitan Ballet per forms an annual original fairy tale ballet at the beginning of the year where local ballet students per form nine shows, including those for the public and shows with Q&A sessions for area Girl Scout troops, at The Courtyard Theater in Downtown Plano.

“Girl Scout per formances are always fun because we get to answer questions from little girls who are watching ballet probably for the first time,” Parkar says. “They’re always so curious about the costumes or how we dance or how long we dance, so it’s always fun answering their questions.”

This year, the company is per forming Cinderella, where principal dancers Priyanka Parkar, a senior at Plano East Senior High will play the Fairy Godmother, and Gabby Trost, a senior at Plano Senior High will play Cinderella.

“We’ve danced together for so long and it being both of our senior years, like every show season we’ve been in the same role or at the same level,” Parkar says. “So this is our last year dancing together and it’s sad.”

When did you start your career in ballet?

Parkar: I came to Plano Met Ballet in the first grade, so I’ve been dancing

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for 11 years now. My first production was actually Cinderella with the junior company and I was a mouse.

I stayed in the junior company for a few years, and then moved up to Plano Met Ballet where I’ve been since sixth grade.

Trost: I came to the studio in kindergarten and joined the junior company when I was in third grade before joining the Plano Met Ballet in sixth grade as well.

One thing that’s been really highlighted in this show is the costumes. Have you had any challenges with the costumes in this production?

Parkar: We have to start the costume process really early to make sure that we can actually wear it because we actually had a situation where my crown was just really big so I wouldn’t have been able to dance with like two pounds on my head.

But I’m wearing a crown and a white and pink tutu.

Trost: I have two separate costumes because I have the raggedy one in the first half of the ballet, which is just like a blue dress with a little apron and a bandana. Then I have like a minute to change out of that and change into the ballroom dress, which is a pancake tutu. That has been a little difficult because I have some partnering work, so I’m trying to figure out how to maneuver because of this big thing around me.

If you were to describe this production to someone who wants to come but isn’t familiar with ballet, how would you describe it?

Trost: It’s definitely not your typical ballet that you would go see. It’s

P L A N O M A G A Z I N E . C O M

P L A N O M A G A Z I N E . C O M

Ballet isn’t the pair’s only artistic endeavor. Trost has been playing the cello since sixth grade and Parkar sings in her school’s 15 choir.

something that’s a little bit easier for younger kids to sit through since normal ballets are two to three hours and ours is probably an hour and a half with intermission.

Parkar: It’s also a story that most people know, whereas with ballets we have done like Carmen or something, not many people know those stories.

Over the past 11 years at Plano Met Ballet, what is your favorite production that you’ve done?

Trost: It’s a really hard choice, but I think my favorite was Aladdin, just because it was right after COVID. Our COVID year wasn’t fun because we couldn’t dance with the entire company. Aladdin was right after the company finally got to be altogether in the house. We were also both level sevens that year, and it was just the two of us at that level, so it was our first year in a bigger role which was really exciting.

Parkar: I loved Aladdin, but also our first year.

It was Sleeping Beauty and we were little kids.

Your first year in the company, you’re always seeing changes so it’s not anything crazy but I remember that we all thought we were amazing and thought nothing could stop us.

How do you feel that you’ve grown over the course of being in the company?

Trost: Definitely through this program and also the drill team I’ve learned how to listen to my body’s needs, like if something is hurting or whatnot. That way I don’t overdo it and get hurt.

Parkar: I think I found my own individual artistic appearance, whereas when I started through level three, four or five we were always in a group and I never paid attention to my own dancing because it didn’t feel like it mattered as much, but I’ve grown over the years and really tried to find my own style.

What are your plans for next year? Will you be pursuing ballet in college?

Parkar: I want to major in business, hopefully at UT. Fingers crossed. I’m going to probably find some classes or clubs in whatever college I go to see if I can continue ballet. You can always find dance groups, but it’s really difficult to find the specific niche of ballet groups at some schools, so I hope I can find that.

Trost: I’m not sure where I want to go, but I want to major in something related to education and then minor in dance because I’m still hoping to have at least some kind of professional career, but we will see how that plays out.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Cinderella will be showing at the Courtyard Theater at 1509 Avenue H from Jan. 5-20.

Tickets are $20 and are available online.

THE STRATTON LEGACY

SAMANTHA STRATTON TAKES ON THE DROWSY CHAPERONE FOR ONE OF HER LAST NTPA PERFORMANCES s she nears the end of her final year at North Texas Per forming Arts Academy, Samantha Stratton recalls sitting in the backseat of her mom’s car as a young child, inserting a CD of her older siblings per forming in The Drowsy Chaperone at North Texas Per forming Arts Academy.

She’d hit play over and over, never getting enough of the production.

Now, Stratton is in her final year at the academy herself, and preparing to play Janet in that very same musical.

Samantha Stratton is the youngest in a line of family actors. Both of her parents did theater throughout college, and passed on that passion to their three children, who all attended North Texas Per forming Arts Academy.

“My brother had already started at NTPA when I was born because we’re six years apart, and [my family has] been there since my brother was five years old,” Stratton says.

“So before I was even born, I was automatically going to go into this theater and so I kind of grew up here.”

Following in their footsteps, Stratton began taking classes at NTPA at five years old. Now, she’s a senior getting ready to graduate and move on to college.

“When I’m on the stage, it’s where my heart is,” Stratton says. “I have always loved it so much that I’m not going to stop. I’m already in the college audition process for musical theater. That’s really stressful but it will all be worth it in the end because I’ll get to go and train and practice my craft for four years and then go off and do it professionally.”

Tell me about The Drowsy Chaperone.

So it is a comedy show within a show. You watch a man tell the story about his favorite musical and the show comes to life in his apartment as he puts on his record of the show.

While he’s listening to the record, the show is going on inside his apartment, obviously it’s not really there, but the audience can see what he is envisioning and seeing in his mind, and it’s such an overdramatic show.

Every character is very overemphasized and very comedic and dramatic – my character especially. And it’s so upbeat and lively and energetic. It’s a really good show to come to if you just want a great night at the theater. You can come here, watch the show and get so many laughs out of it. It’s such a good time and it’ll keep you in a positive mood.

I think what’s so special about it is it’s a comedy at heart but inside of the show. There’s a character who has a lot of depth and then he watches this show to make himself feel better. Something that an audience can take from this show when you’re feeling sad or you just kind of want to get out for a second, watching this show will make you feel a lot better and it’ll make you feel happy and just make you feel joyful inside. I think that’s the main thing theater is supposed to do.

What is your character, Janet, like?

Janet is a show girl who becomes engaged to a man the day that she meets him. They met in Paris and are at their wedding party, the weekend of the wedding. She’s a show girl, so she’s very dramatic and she plays everything up. What I think is so neat about her is she has a lot of real life feminine feelings. When you’re in love, you can never really tell if they really love you, especially if you get engaged to a man the same day you meet him. Not that I would know. A part of her pull is like, “Does he really love me? Should I just give up? Why am I giving up this thing that I’ve created? People know me because I’ve created this world of me being a show girl.”

and do this and get the next level of training that I need to get. It’s more of me trying to do everything that I possibly have the time and energy to do because I think part of my brain doesn’t want it to go away. I know I’ll always have this place and these people but it’s never the same. So I think I’m just trying to savor every bit of time that I have left in these rooms and in these rehearsals because it’s my favorite place. And I never really want it to go away. But I’m super excited for the next chapter wherever I end up.

I’ve never met people more dedicated to what they do. I’ve never met people who care so much about the kids that they teach. It’s a

wonder ful environment. The biggest thing that I’ve realized as a teenager, especially getting ready to go off to college, is that if you have the right people behind you and supporting you that will make you successful.

It’s the most kind environment. I’ve lived my life here. I come here and I go home to my wonder ful family and that’s my day. And I wouldn’t want it any other way.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

You can spot Samantha Stratton in The Drowsy Chaperone at the Rodenbaugh Theatre at the Willow Bend Center of the Arts from Jan. 18-21. Tickets are available online for $12-25.

How did you prepare for the role of Janet? Do the two of you have anything in common?

She is a different person than me on some levels, but not in the fact that she is a dramatic girl who loves the stage. It’s really fun to play that type of overdramatic, comedic role. I’m used to playing these very feminine and pretty roles, but I’m getting to play something super comedic and out of my comfort zone a little bit with the dancing and wearing the glamorous, more sexy costumes. It’s really fun. I really wanted to play this role and I’m very grateful and excited that I got to do it. It’ll be such a fun time. I work with the best scene partners and cast and just a creative team that makes it easy to go into rehearsal and be excited to play this role and do this show.

This is one of your last shows before graduating. How are you feeling about ending the year and moving on?

It’s kind of a bittersweet feeling.

It’s kind of been bittersweet this whole year. I have a few more shows I do before I go off but this year has been so stressful on the college side. Because doing this audition process for colleges, it’s a stride, so I try to savor every moment that I can in these rehearsal rooms. I’ve been here for 12 years so I think part of me doesn’t really want to leave but they’ve prepared me so much for doing this. I’m at the spot where I’ve been trained enough to go out

As a young child, Stratton watched her older siblings perform The Drowsy Chaperone in her parents’ car CD player, a full-circle moment for the NTPA senior.

17

LIAM AND NIAM TAKE ON WONKA

Paynter and Sachdev are Planoites through and through. Paynter is a sophomore at Clark High School and Sachdev is a fifth grader at Harrington Elementary.

MEET THE TWO LEADS OF OUTCRY THEATRE’S UPCOMING PRODUCTION OF WILLY WONKA

iam Paynter and Niam Sachdev might have similar names, but that’s where the similarities stop. The two Outcry Theatre actors are getting ready to start their production of Willy Wonka - a musical adaptation of the candy-filled movie. Liam, who towers over even adults, is set to play Willy Wonka himself.

According to his directors, his “sassy” disposition makes him perfect for the character. Niam, on the other hand, isn’t much bigger than a teaspoon of sugar himself – and he’s just as sweet.

This isn’t the first time the two have been in a production together. In March, Paynter played Matthew in Anne of Green Gables and Sachdev played Moody Spurgeon.

What got you guys into theater?

Paynter: I started acting four years ago. Outcry Theatre is my go-to spot; I love acting here. I started with a summer camp because I had nothing to do one summer and my mom wanted me out of the hosue. She knew this place so she called up and was like, “Hey, I have an 11-year-old boy.” Ms. Becca picked up the phone and was like, “Well, I have the place for him.” I have not turned back since. I’ve done as many shows as I can and I’ve grown a lot here. I love acting here. My first show was their adaptation of The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe, and it was a very fun one, one of my favorite shows I’ve ever been in. I’ve been doing shows here consistently since then.

And now, we’re doing Willy Wonka, which is probably the biggest and most challenging show so far. I’ve never been a huge musical man, but I’m very excited to undertake this and get better at musicals. The show and the role is very whimsical and out of my comfort zone, and I’m very excited to step into that and grow even more.

Sachdev: I started acting when I was six with North Texas Performing Arts. My first show was 101 Dalmations and I played Jasper. I did some other shows and then stumbled into Outcry.

I started with summer camp, where I did Peter Pan, and from there I did Anne of Green Gables and that kind of thing. Then I did a musical called Finding Nemo Jr. which was my first show with Mrs. Becca (the director for the older group of children).

Here I am now playing Charlie Bucket in Willy Wonka. I’m

excited for the flying scene and also to get to sing lots of fun songs and just act joyful and have a good time.

What should the audience be the most excited about?

Paynter: Everyone should come see the show. It’s going to be great. It’s at the Addison Theatre Center, which is a very big theater and it’s on the main stage. We’re going to use this set to the best of our abilities. We’re going to throw candy, so it’s a little interactive. It’s all just so amazing. Every song brings so much to the show, and I think every song is unique and very captivating.

We have such a talented cast to bring this to life. Everyone is putting in 110% effort every day, really trying to make this happen. We’re still kind of early in the process. We’re a pretty good chunk of the way through the book at this point. It’s a beefy show, and it’s a tough undertaking, but I think everyone’s really dedicated and really wants to see this come to life.

What is your favorite part of working on the production?

Sachdev: I really like the music. It’s just so breathtaking. It’s a wonderful experience for all of us, and I just can’t wait to see it happen. It’s so fun to see the process and steps. With the singing, you get to make it exactly how you want it. You have to really push yourself to the limits and you’ve got to be in the character and it’s awesome.

Paynter: And the dancing is magnifique. It’s kind of a staple of Outcry, in my opinion. Something that we’re doing with this show that I feel a lot of other productions don’t do is really going hard into the movement of the dances. There’s never a dull moment in these numbers because everyone is bopping around and really showing off the energy that we all have. It’s great.

This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka, directed by Becca JohnsonSpinos, will run at the Addison Theatre Centre from Jan. 18 Jan. 21. Tickets are $10-15 for general admission and $20 for premium reserved seating. Tickets are available online and at the door.

PUZZLE

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P L A N O M A G A Z I N E . C O M

MI NG

OUR CITY

By YAILYN LORA-ROMERO

Hendrick Helps HSF scholarship recipient discusses the nonprofit My name is Yailyn Lora-Romero. I am a Hendrick Scholarship Foundation scholar and social media coordinator for Hendrick. The following is a speech I wrote for a Hendrick event to shed some light on this phenomenal nonprofit.

“I would like you to imagine the color of shame.

A lot of people would say shame is the bright red of blushing cheeks or the black bundle of negative emotions that promptly follow it. We each develop a reference point, a specific memory we go back to that first defined that feeling of shame. For me, the color of shame is the navy blue of plastic chairs in my preschool classroom as I have to sheepishly admit to the teacher that I can’t understand what she or any of my classmates are saying, that the words spilling from their mouths are foreign sounds that register no familiarity. More embarrassment still as I realize that she can’t decode my frantic whispers any better than I can hers. Shame is the color of deep navy blue as the tears cloud my vision and the day passes by in a blur of blue.

I am the eldest daughter of immigrant parents.

My parents immigrated to the United States without speaking more than a few words of English. They got to work building a life, and brought me and my siblings up in a two-room apartment we shared with my aunt. As foreigners with no knowledge of the language and very little education, they worked physically demanding jobs that took their time, bodies and energy from us. For the first four years of my life, the only language I knew was the tired, soft Spanish my mother used to lull me to sleep. During my school years, this meant that any question I had about my homework was met with a tired “I don’t know sweetheart, I don’t understand it” or an “ask your teacher tomorrow.” My grades slipped further and further away from me.

The school system decided this wouldn’t do, and I was placed in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes in kindergarten. A bullying incident in first grade left me with two scars on my face and a determination to improve my English.

I spent the rest of my elementary school years pouring over books, taking home extra English homework, and molding myself into the perfect student. I spent every ounce of free time reading and writing, getting perfect scores on spelling tests and

becoming the librarian’s favorite student. Several of my teachers asked me if I was considering a career in writing, but it wasn’t until my fifth-grade teacher asked for a copy of my first book that I took writing seriously.

As a first-generation college student, I wrote every college essay, every scholarship essay, filled out every form and called every office. I wrote my way into Midwestern State University and the University of North Texas. I put in the work and dedication and I wrote myself here.

This is who Hendrick is, that is who these students are. These students have faced challenges and adversities, they have been told over and over again that they don’t belong in academia, that they will never succeed, and every one of these 80 scholars has picked themselves up and done it anyway. These scholars have taken everything life has thrown at them and used it to further themselves and Hendrick has been that launchpad for each of them. Because of Hendrick, my future children will be able to answer “bachelors or higher” for their parent’s education after generations of “middle school or lower.” Because of Hendrick, my children will have someone to help them with their homework, to help them with their college applications, to give them advice on scholarships and the college experience, something generations before me didn’t have.

That is Hendrick’s mission, and every scholar that passes through this program is further proof that their mission moves mountains.”

Founded in 1991 by Plano ISD superintendent Dr. Wayne Hendrick, HSF’s mission is to provide Plano ISD graduates who have overcome significant adversity with scholarships and support services to promote success in life through education.

Yailyn Lora-Romero is a Plano 2021 graduate.

She is a student and creative working on her Interdisciplinary Art and Design major and Marketing minor from the University of North Texas. In her free time, she works as part of Hendrick Scholarship Foundation’s marketing team as their Social Media Coordinator and also enjoys spending time with her friends, reading, drawing, painting and taking care of her multiple aquariums.

P L A N O M A G A Z I N E . C O M

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P L A N O M A G A Z I N E . C O M

N e w Ye a r ’ s t r a d i t i o n s across cultures Story by Alyssa High Whether you’re eating black-eyed peas, watching fireworks, releasing lanter ns or watching the ball drop, everyone has New Year’s Eve traditions. In a city as culturally diverse as ours, there’s plenty of ways to celebrate each tradition from right here in Plano.

AMERICAN TRADITIONS

Traditional foods: Rice cake soup, or tteokguk, and

When to celebrate: Dec. 31 to Jan. 1

jeon, a pancake-like dish that contains green onions

Activities: Watching the Times Square Ball Drop on TV,

and kimchi or seafood.

making New Year’s resolutions, watching fireworks,

Expressions: saehae is one of the words that means

lighting sparklers, counting down to midnight

“new year,” bok means “luck,” and mani means

Superstitions:

“many” or “lots of.” badeuseyo is the honorific

Kissing

a

loved

one

at

midnight,

toasting with Champagne

way of saying batda, meaning “to receive.”

Traditional foods: Black-eyed peas Expressions: Happy New Year

INDIA When to celebrate: Celebration of the new year is

CHINESE NEW YEAR

different in India depending on whether the region

When to celebrate: Feb. 10 to Feb. 20

follows a Lunar, Solar or Luni-Solar calendar.

A.K.A.: Lunar New Year, Spring Festival

A.K.A.: Yugadi, Samvatsaradi, Telugu New Year, Hindi

Legends: Thousands of years ago a monster named

New Year

Nian, or year, would attack villagers at the beginning

Activities: making New Year’s resolutions, watching

of each new year. As the monster was said to be

fireworks, exchanging cards and gifts, attending

afraid of loud noises, bright lights and the color

concerts,

red, celebrations to bring in the new year often

Superstitions: Cleaning and decorating the house

include firecrackers, fireworks, red clothes and red

before the day of Ugadi, wearing new clothes and

decorations.

taking an oil bath

Traditions: Cleaning one’s home to get rid of lingering

Expressions: Sal Mubarak or Nutan Varshabhinandan

bad luck, lantern festivals, dragon dances Expressions: Xinnian Kuaile or Gong Hey Fat Choi

THAILAND When to celebrate: April 13-15

MEXICAN TRADITIONS

A.K.A.: Songkran, Thai New Year

When to celebrate: Dec. 31 to Jan. 1

Activities: water fights, pouring scented water onto

Activities: Fireworks

sacred Buddha images to represent purification,

Superstitions: Wearing colored underwear, throwing

pouring scented water onto elders’ hands and feet

a bucket of water out of a window to celebrate

in return for blessings and floral garlands, music

throwing out the old year, sweeping coins from outside

festivals, spring cleaning

the house to bring in the new year, walking an empty

Expressions: Sawadee Bee Mai

suitcase around the house, burning candles for wealth Traditional food: 12 grapes before midnight, lentils

VIETNAM

Expressions: ¡Próspero Año Nuevo!

When to celebrate: Feb. 8 to Feb. 14 A.K.A.: Tet, Tet Nguyen Dan, Lunar New Year

KOREAN NEW YEAR

Superstitions: g iv in g o f f e r in g s t o a n c e s t o r ’ s a lt e r s;

When to celebrate: Feb. 10 to Feb. 13

c h o o s in g

A.K.A.: Lunar New Year, Seollal

e du c a t io n o r s u c c e s s t h a t will ma t c h wit h t he

Activities: Sebae, the act of kneeling on the ground

a s t ro lo g y o f t h e o wn e r ’ s h o u s e t o e n t e r t he

and bowing deeply so that one’s hands are also on

h o u s e f ir s t

the ground. Younger people typically bow deeply to

Activities: designated days to visit and celebrate

their elders to wish them a happy new year, signifying

with one’s father’s side of the family, then mother’s

respect. Charye, the worshiping of one’s ancestors

side, then teachers, then other relatives; fireworks,

through setting food out on the table as a gift for

lantern festivals, gambling games, dragon dances,

one’s ancestors in front of their ancestral tablets.

lion dances, musical per formances

a

person

wh o

has

good

mo r a lity,

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