Artsci Musical 2024 - Project Sassafras Program

PLAYBILL 2024 Arts & Science Musical

Welcome to the 8th annual McMaster Arts & Science Musical, Project Sassafras! We are SO thrilled to have you here with us!

The Artsci Musical is a highly collaborative production only possible with your support. By being here, you have contributed to the longevity and legacy of ASM. This year, your love and kindness will allow us to support the Kids Up Front Foundation, whose mission is to provide access to enriching experiences to children facing barriers.

We are big advocates for access to the arts. The arts offer agency and autonomy in children’s learning by celebrating their identities and empowering them as creators and decision-makers.

Theatre is not just an art form—it is a transformative experience with the power to inspire, educate, and heal.

Theatre is a safe space to come together as a community, regardless of our backgrounds, and share in the magic of storytelling. It allows us to explore complex emotions, challenge our perspectives, and ultimately, celebrate the beauty of the human experience.

This production, in particular, holds a special place in our hearts.

To our cast, dance line and band: You are our biggest and fiercest inspirations. We are so grateful for all of you and you have made us so proud. Seeing you perform, whether in rehearsal or on stage makes us tear up. You are all such charismatic performers and that is something you can’t teach! Your drive and sheer passion have made this production an opportunity of a lifetime.

Thank you for the mems! We love you all so much!

To our writers, Amarah, Sam and Mitch: You are such stars! Your attention to detail and care for this show elevated it in every way possible. Watching your ideas come to life on stage has been a remarkable experience, and we are in awe of your talent and dedication to your craft. Thank you for sharing your gifts with us and for enriching our year with your creativity.

To our stage manager, Tess: Your dedication, organization, and community values were the reasons everything came together so seamlessly. You have truly held down the fort, managing countless moving parts with grace and precision. Your leadership behind the scenes has not gone unnoticed, and we are incredibly grateful for all that you do. Thank you for your hard work, your passion, and your unwavering commitment to this production.

To our beloved creative and music team: Thank you for the countless hours you have dedicated to this show. You have all poured your hearts and souls into this production, and it shows in every detail. Thank you for sharing your passions and creativity with us and for bridging this story to life in such a magical way. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with you and watch you all “spin it” in your elements.

To our backstage team (props/costumes/tech): From the intricate props that helped set the scene to the stunning costumes that brought our characters to life, and the flawless tech work that created the perfect ambiance, each of you played a crucial role in making this production a success.

To our behind-the-scenes superstars (promo, fundraising, production): Your hard work and passion have not gone unnoticed, and we are incredibly grateful for everything you have done. Thank you for your tireless work, your creativity, and your unwavering commitment to this production.

Tonight, as you immerse yourself in the world we have created on stage, we hope you feel the same sense of wonder, joy, and connection that we do.

Thank you for being a part of this journey. Big things coming soon...

With gratitude,

Imaan Mitha and Maia Poon

Hello and welcome! If you’re reading this, then you’ve chosen to spend your weekend with us at the 2024 Artsci Musical, Project Sassafras. The Artsci Musical is a programwide tradition that allows Artsci students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends to come together around stories by and about Artsci students. Often, these stories ask questions about what Artsci is—what it means to be in the program, what makes our community special, why the “Artsci identity” can resonate with students in so many ways.

Perhaps most importantly, the Artsci Musical is entirely student-run—cast, crew, band, creative direction, and administrative roles are all occupied by students in Artsci and friends of the program studying in other faculties.

Last summer, we three had the privilege of writing the script for this year's production. Since then, it's passed through the capable hands of producers, directors, choreographers, cast members, musicians, and many others. All involved have poured their creative talent and energy into the show, and we feel so lucky that they've brought our script to life. As graduating students, the opportunity to collaborate with so many Artscis (and friends!) to make this show in our final year has been .

incredible, and we’re so grateful that you've all come out to see it.

Project Sassafras, the eighth annual Artsci Musical, takes place in 1977, four years before McMaster's Arts & Science program was founded. It follows students from different departments at Mac finding their way, while also vying for a competitive internship with a mysterious university research group called SASS (not to be confused with the present-day Society of Arts & Science Students). We took some creative liberties in imagining McMaster in the 1970s, so don't take any of this as a historical document.

Still, we hope you can indulge in our imagined past with us, and have fun listening to tunes from the 70s (and before!) while doing it. Enjoy the show!

- ASM (Amarah, Sam, and Mitchell)

This year’s production is proud to support local organization Kids Up Front in their totally radical mission to provide all kids with enriching experiences in arts, culture, and sports.

Co-Producer — Imaan Mitha Co-Producer — Maia Poon Stage Manager — Tess Macdonald Co-Scriptwriter — Amarah Hasham-Steele Co-Scriptwriter — Sam DePaul Co-Scriptwriter — Mitchell Lane Script Supervisor — Dani Wohl Co-Director — Aliana Niezova Co-Director — Monica Yeom Co-Choreographer — Victoria D'Anna Co-Choreographer — Gabriella Pelosini Co-Choreographer — Soraya Lee Wo Co-Vocal Director — Tobi Adesipo Co-Vocal Director — Maia Rousseau Music Director — Victoria Li Music Arrangement Team — Bronwyn MacLeod Music Arrangement Team — Sam DePaul Costuming Director — Sim Jolly Props & Set Master — Maya Kim Props & Set Master — Olive Thomas Promotions Coordinator — Rya Adronov Fundraising Coordinator — Adda Epstein-Shapiro Production Coordinator — Ella Gwendolyn Jeffery Tech Director — Aleksandar Guzina

Barry — Kai Yang Ariel — Olivia Cara Charlie — Eve Adams Wendy — Sofia Ferraro Larissa — Ashly Edde Evangelina — Rameesha Ahmad Taylor Schmidt, Director of the Board of SASS — Lee McMillan Dennis/Mascot Laurel/The Judge — Joshua Watson Gail — Ashly Edde SASS Researcher (Creativity)/Board Member 1 — Dani Wohl SASS Researcher (Open-Mindness)/Board Member 2 — Ella Brown SASS Researcher (Ambition)/Board Member 3 — Arthy Pansanathan SASS Researcher (Temperance)/Board Member 4 — ​ Sara D’Ambrosio SASS Researcher (Confidentiality)/Valet — Sarayu Nambiar IE Cow Parsnip/Ensemble — Luke Morrison IE Giant Hogweed/Ensemble — Evan Tyler IE Staghorn Sumac/Ensemble — Airo Marsh IE Rabbit/Margaret/Ensemble — Naomi Moshe IE Blueberry/Harold/Ensemble — Ezra Cento Bernard/Ensemble — Alyssa Abush Tim/Venue Tech/Ensemble — Alice Qiu The Wheel - Olive Thomas Tinson Chen as himself

Anna Farley April Louie Emily Yang Kiran Oberai

Lauren Misiaszek Mia Saha Naia Lee Olly Griesbach

Conductor — Victoria Li Percussion — Ishmeet Johal Piano — Jennifer Lin El. Guitar — Ben Hemsworth Bass — Kate Linardic Trumpet — Sam DePaul Trumpet — Jonathan Rosenhek Alto Saxophone — Sara Paterson Tenor Saxophone — Samantha Potts Tenor Saxophone — Victoria Yip Clarinet — EJ Jiang Violin — Graeme Lavrence Violin — Ella Boich Violin — Sophia Moosa Flute — Brownwyn MacLeod Flute — Gia Chahal

Margaret Kirke Maya Krieger Ahastan Surees Serena Suleman Olli Zelek

Indigo Kim Karina Tavernese Becca Hiller-Ranney Ava Wynhofen Geneva White Vivian Vuong Laila Somani Sarah Shawaf Sara Paterson Flynn O’Dacre

Soren McMillan Brayden Roberts

So Much to Do! tune of Grease's "Summer Nights" "Don't be scared, be excited and proud/To join a club, to find your crowd" Our Cardinal Values tune of Spanky & Our Gang's "5 Definitions of Love" "One, creativity: knack for thinking outside boxes..."

Far Greater Things tune of My Fair Lady's "On the Street Where You Live" "An overshadowing yearning to be concomitant with Martin and Eugene [Short, Levy]" The "Game Show" tune of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory's "Pure Imagination" "If they want to work with genius, all they have to do is win it" What's Sassafras? tune of Chicago's "All That Jazz" "What kind of operation are they running there? Just thought we'd ask" PG BnB Ad Jingle tune of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory's “Oompa Loompa” No context ;) Where Will I Go (Charlie's Theme) tune of Dionne Warwick's "Silent Voices" "The leading years to my career have left me fearful and alone"

The Meaning of SASS to the tune of Sweet Charity's "Rhythm of Life" "Though a small town's solitude was first appealing, Hamilton uniquely had a halfway feeling" Without Me to the tune of Nina Simone's "He Needs Me" "Will you feel alone and without a clue? Just as I am without you" The Most Peculiar Folks to the tune of Sá, Rodrix, & Guarabyra's "Zepelin" "Safe to say I'll likely never know to what I'm contributing" Never Enough to the tune of A Little Night Music's "Send In the Clowns" "What did I do? Why can't I explain?

Never Enough (Reprise) "Isn't it sad? I gave them my all" Barry & Ariel Visualize an Orange to the tune of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" "I wish you'd sew your heart onto your sleeve/So I'd know if you feel the same about me" Take It as You Choose to to the tune of ABBA's "Thank You for the Music" "Far as I see, there's no worth walking a path guaranteed"

SPECIAL THANKS TO: Dr. & Mrs. Samji and Nizar Dhalla for their generous donations.

Jadyn Westenberg for our show art & program cover.

Fiona Chung, Grace Pender, Ciel Thevathesa, & Vivian Vuon for our poster & sticker designs.

MacNeill Baptist Church, Randall Kovas, & Brad Haalboom for their generosity with rehearsal spaces.

The MSU Underground for assisting with all of our printing needs.

ASM alumni for their expertise and generous support.

The McMaster Engineering Musical for their advice and ongoing support.

The Robbie: Lisa, Brayden & Nim for providing a space to perform our show and their invaluable logistical & technical support.

Griffin Kinzie, SASS Master of Coin.

Anthony Jones for photography and videography.

Grace Pender for her heart and wisdom.