Playbill: Big Fish

Gordon Theatre Davidson Day School Davidson, NC

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Davidson Day School Theatre PRESENTS

Big Fish School Edition Book by JOHN AUGUST Music and Lyrics by ANDREW LIPPA Based on the novel BIG FISH by Daniel Wallace and the Columbia Pictures film screenplay written by John August

Orginally Produced on Broadway by Dan Jinks, Bruce Cohen and Stage Entertainment with Roy Furman, Broadway Across America/Rich Entertainment Group, John Domo, The Nederlander Organization and Edward Walson in association with CJ E&M, Dancing Elephant Productions, Parrothead Productions, Carole L. Haber, Peter May/Jim Fantaci, Ted Liebowitz/Joe Piacentile and Columbia Pictures.

BIG FISH School Edition is presented through special arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are supplied by Theatrical Rights Worldwide 1180 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 640, New York, NY 10036 www.theatricalrights.com The video or audio recording of this performance by any means is strictly prohibited.

Directed by Joanna Gerdy Music Direction by Noel Freidline Choreography by Emily Griswold

Time and Place: Edward Bloom’s Alabama - then and now. Big Fish moves between the present and the past, weaving the characters and stories of Edward’s past in and out of our reality. A riverbank, Edward’s home, a swamp, a cave, the Calloway Circus, the town of Ashton, Auburn University, and the War will figure into the world of the play.

Big Fish will be performed with one 15-minute intermission

FROM THE DIRECTOR I first came across this play years ago. I remember standing at the back of the theatre and playing the opening number for Thaddaeus Freidline. I’m pretty sure we both cried. We desperately wanted to bring this gorgeous story to the Davidson Day stage, but were told at the time it wouldn’t be a success. It hadn’t done well on Broadway. Blah blah blah (I seem to like those shows the best!). I made the mistake of believing that story, so we set it aside. Until now.

Because this is a story worth telling.

As theatre people, we are in the business of telling stories. In fact, we stand in a long tradition of storytellers sitting around fires, on front porches, under circus tents, and on stages like this one.

We ask our audiences to share in these stories. And when we do our jobs well, we take words on a page and bring them to life on stage, or to put it more poetically, we transform the mundane into the magical. We take ourselves and our audiences on a literal and a figurative journey, continually asking “what if?”, and “what’s next” until we collectively experience “how it ends”. Along the way, we discover that the act of not just telling stories, but allowing ourselves to live in them for a while, is nothing short of magical. Within these stories, we step into fantastical worlds, we get to know ourselves in multiple dimensions, we face our deepest vulnerabilities, we experience fears, first loves, and epic adventures. In some cases, we even get to be the hero of our stories. Always, the stories live on - in our memories - and as they are re-told and shared.

In this story, Edward Bloom is a regular guy with a regular life, who can spin that life into stories filled with fantastical characters and grand gestures. I would ask you to consider for yourself, why does he do this? Who are his stories for? When you hear him say, “but when you tell my story and I hope somebody does, remember me as something bigger than I was”, how does that land for you? What matters most to you - whether the stories were larger than life, or whether the life was large enough - even, and especially, in its simplest moments - to become a story?

I hope this production reminds you of the stories and characters that shaped you, that you may see yourself in a father who yearns to be remembered, a son who desperately wants to find connection, in a husband, a wife, a young girl in love, a man with a secret, or a woman with daffodils in her arms and the promise of a life filled with a love “that never fades and never dies”.

Whatever your story, what if we told you you could Be the Hero of your Story ‘til it’s done?! ~ Joanna Gerdy ************************************************************************************************* I’ve said it before, and it bears repeating – verbatim – so here it is: My life is richer for the experiences I share with this dedicated, passionate, smart, gifted Davidson Day theatre community. We come together as individuals when we begin work on a theatre production, and during the 225+ hours spent together in rehearsal, we share stories, we test our boundaries, explore our creative capabilities, dig into words and feelings, and work really, really hard. We support each other, cheer our victories, and delight in our shared discoveries. We care about the process, about doing the very best we can, and we give everything we have to make theatre.

Sometimes, it is really, really hard; sometimes, we are all really, really tired, and most of the time, we have So. Much. Fun doing this crazy theatre thing. But for all of the stress, the million and one things to remember and finish and fix and make better, it is still the best part of my life, and I am grateful to share in this piece of so many brilliant lives. “A man is as rich as his friends. I am a tycoon.”

MUSICAL NUMBERS ACT 1 Prologue Be The Hero

Edward, Company

I Know What You Want

The Witch, Witches, Edward

Just Take Another Look

Josephine

Stranger

Will

Magic in the Man

Sandra, Will

Ashton's Favorite Son

Jenny Hill, Cheerleaders, Townsfolk

Out There on the Road

Edward, Karl, Jenny Hill, Townsfolk

Little Lamb from Alabama

Sandra, Sandra's Two Friends

Time Stops

Edward, Sandra

Closer to Her

Amos, Edward, Circus Folk

Daffodils

Edward, Sandra

Act 2 Entr'acte Red, White, and True

Sandra, USO Show Girls

Fight The Dragons

Edward, Young Will

Stranger - Reprise

Will

This River Between Us I Don't Need a Roof Start Over

Will, Edward Sandra Don Price, Edward, Amos, Karl, Townsfolk

What's Next

Will, Edward, Company

How It Ends

Edward

The Procession Be the Hero - Reprise

Company Will, Will's Son

CAST Cast Members Edward Bloom

Lukas Paeper

Will Bloom

*Noah Larsen

Sandra Bloom

*Malena Lessa

Josephine Bloom

Lindy Dennis

Young Will

Syon Shah

Will's Son

AJ Dawkins

The Witch

Katelyn Ray

Karl the Giant

*Elizabeth Robinson

Amos Calloway

Kennedy Orr

Don Price

Maddy Cummings

Zacky Price

Harper Walters

Jenny Hill

*Mackenzie Beckman

Girl in the Water / Doctor Bennett

*Batson Pickens

Mayor of Ashton Cheerleaders

*Lorelei Robertson Kennedy Orr, *Batson Pickens, Quinn Socha, Harper Walters

Alabama Lambs / Sandra's Friends Circus Folk

Katelyn Ray, Harper Walters *Mackenzie Beckman, Nate Cantor, Lilly Harvey, Callum McAloon, *Batson Pickens, Adam Robinson, Quinn Socha, Maddy Cummings, Lorelei, Robertson, Niko

Witches

*Mackenzie Beckman, Lindy Dennis, *Malena Lessa, *Batson Pickens, *Elizabeth Robinson, Harper Walters

Scouts

Nate Cantor, AJ Dawkins

USO Performers

Abbie Barsosky, *Mackenzie Beckman, Lindy Dennis, Kennedy Orr, *Batson Pickens, Harper Walters

Red Fang

*Elizabeth Robinson

General Patterson Ensemble

Callum McAloon Nate Cantor, Lilly Harvey, Callum McAloon, Adam Robinson, *Lorelei Robertson, Quinn Socha

*Class of 2026

PRODUCTION Crew Members Director

Joanna Gerdy

Music Director

Noel Freidline

Choreographer

Emily Griswold

Stage Manager

Abbie Barsosky, '27

Assistant Stage Manager

*Kevin Haddad, '26

Scenic Design

Tiffani Thomas

Costume Design

Lane Morris

Lighting Design

Barbara Berry

Projection Design

Rob Merryman

Graphic Design - Posters / Apparel

Israella Freidline

Scenic Artists

Tiffani Thomas, Ashley Adkins, '27, Ellie Lippiner, '27

Props Master

Kim Lank

Additional Props

Jackie Hohenstein, Melissa Ohlman-Roberge

Master Carpenter

Ben Griffith

Set Construction Crew

Ben Griffith, Debbie Griffith, Tiffani Thomas

Backstage Run Crew

Emma Barsosky, '27 *Kevin Haddad, '26

Stilt Walking Coach

Shawnna Pledger

Light Board Operator

Abby Cantor, '27

Projections Operator

Owen Jeppesen, '28

Sound Technician Follow Spot Operators Cast Photographer Additional Photography Playbill Design Playbill Shoutout Design House Managers / Volunteer Coordinators Hallway Scenic Design Box Office

Noel Freidline Sydney Jeppesen, '29, Izzy Glavin, '31 Israella Freidline *Madison Newman, '26 Cindy Walters Nadia Ervin, '28 Sherri Beckman, Holly Paeper Sharon Pickens Rolf Paeper, Caroline Ray

PRODUCTION Crew Members (continued) Cast & Crew Craft Services Concessions / Flowers / Cast Shoutouts

Melissa Dennis Holly Paeper, Rolf Paeper

WHO'S WHO Lukas Paeper

as Edward Bloom

is beyond excited to return to the stage in Big Fish, marking his ninth production at Davidson Day. Over the years, he has loved appearing in shows like Once Upon a One More Time, Peter Pan and Wendy, Something Rotten!, and many more. Lukas is deeply grateful to his parents, teachers, and friends for their constant encouragement and belief in him. He extends a special thank you to Ms. Gerdy, Mrs. Griswold, Mr. Freidline, and the entire creative team for bringing the magic to life.

*Noah Larsen

as Will Bloom

is very excited to be part of Big Fish, his third production at Davidson Day. He also appeared in Peter Pan and Wendy and in Once Upon a One More Time. In his free time, Noah likes to sing, write poetry and hang out with his friends. Noah would love to thank his family for always supporting and caring for him and his friends for their support and for always coming to his shows. He thanks Ms. Gerdy for being THE ABSOLUTE BEST director and always inspiring him to chase his goals and believe in himself. He would also like to thank Mr. Freidline and Mrs. Griswold for helping him with his music. He is grateful to everyone for coming to see the show and wishes them the best experience. Finally, thanks to Niko for showing up and getting the work done.

*Malena Lessa

as Sandra Bloom

is thrilled to be part of Big Fish, her favorite musical. Big Fish is Malena’s 2nd show at Davidson Day, but she is not new to theatre!

Malena has been performing since kindergarten and loves the stage.

As a senior, she’s grateful for all the memories theatre has given her.

In her free time, Malena enjoys being outdoors, creative projects, and being with friends. She would like to thank her theatre family for their endless support.

WHO'S WHO Lindy Dennis

as Josephine Bloom

is ecstatic to be part of this spring's musical. Lindy has been doing theatre for eight years, and this will be her seventh show at Davidson Day, having most recently played Tinkerbell and Mrs. Darling in last fall's production of Peter Pan and Wendy. In her free time, she loves to play guitar and play video games with her friends. Lindy would like to thank her parents for their support throughout the entirety of the rehearsal process. She would also like to thank Ms. Gerdy and Mrs. Griswold for their unwavering support and dedication to our shows.

Syon Shah

as Young Will

is thrilled to be part of the upper school production of Big Fish! Syon has previously performed in two shows at Davidson Day School, Aladdin and Matilda. He has also played the Lorax at Davidson Green School. When he’s not on stage, Syon enjoys practicing Taekwondo, spending time with his family, and building lots of Legos. He would like to thank his mom and dad for their constant encouragement to follow his dreams and for helping him manage his schedule. He would also like to thank Ms. Gerdy and Mrs. Griswold for being incredible directors.

AJ Dawkins

as Will's Son

is a fourth grader and is excited to be part of this Davidson Day Theatre production. He has been participating in lower and middle school plays since second grade, including Matilda, Aladdin, The Aristocats, Flakes, and Bugz. In his free time, AJ enjoys playing soccer and the clarinet. He would like to thank Ms. Gerdy and Mrs. Griswold for the opportunity to be part of this production.

Katelyn Ray

as The Witch

is thrilled to be part of Big Fish! This is her latest show, following costume design work for Mamma Mia! and Mean Girls, as well as performances as Flute in Something Rotten! and the Stepmother in Once Upon a One More Time. She would like to thank her family for their unwavering support, Ms. Gerdy for being an amazing director, Lane for always believing in her, Griz for putting up with her two left feet, and Mr. Freidline for encouraging her to use her voice. She is also grateful to everyone who helped make this show come alive!

WHO'S WHO *Elizabeth Robinson

as Karl the Giant

is beyond excited to bring the role of Karl the Giant to life in Big Fish!

She is currently a senior in her third year at Davidson Day School and has loved being part of the theatre program. Outside of school, Elizabeth trains at Dance Davidson, where she focuses on contemporary and jazz and continues to grow as both a dancer and performer. Dance has played a huge role in shaping her creativity and stage presence, and she loves getting the chance to blend that passion with acting in this production. Elizabeth would like to thank Ms. Gerdy for being such an inspiring director whose positivity, guidance, and dedication make every rehearsal so enjoyable. She is also incredibly thankful for her mom, Tiffany, and her brother, Adam, for their constant love and encouragement.

Kennedy Orr

as Amos Calloway

is very excited to be part of Big Fish, her 10th play at Davidson Day. She also appeared in The Aristocats, Aladdin, Once Upon A One More Time, and Peter Pan & Wendy, to name a few. In her free time, Kennedy likes to sing and spend time with her little brother. Kennedy would like to thank her parents, her aunt, and her uncle for driving her to all her rehearsals, and her school for this opportunity. She would also like to thank Ms. Gerdy and Mrs. Griswold for both being AMAZING directors and giving her the confidence to go up on stage!

Maddy Cummings

as Don Price

is very excited to be in Big Fish as Don Price. This is her third time on stage at Davidson Day, having appeared in the Musical Theatre Club productions of Annie (Miss Hannigan) and The Wiz in Ozland (The Wiz). In her free time, she likes to play volleyball, learn guitar, sing, spend time with family, and play with her pets. She would like to thank her parents for driving her to theatre rehearsals and volleyball, sacrificing their time, and for being the best supporters. She would also like to thank all of her friends for persuading her to audition for the musical and the cast for being so entertaining and kind. Most of all, she would like to thank Mr. Freidline, Mrs. Griswold and Ms. Gerdy for making the show possible!

WHO'S WHO Harper Walters

as Zacky Price

is excited to be part of this production of Big Fish. A sophomore in high school, this is Harper’s sixth production with the Davidson Day theatre program. Most recently, she appeared in Once Upon a One More Time and Peter Pan and Wendy. When she’s not acting, Harper enjoys reading, crafting, and cheering on the DDS cheer team. She would like to thank her mom for taking her to and from rehearsals and her dad for his unwavering support. Harper would also like to say thank you to everyone that has been involved with making this production a reality!

*Mackenzie Beckman

as Jenny Hill

is so excited to be playing Jenny Hill in Big Fish. Big Fish is Mackenzie’s 10th high school production at Davidson Day School.

She also appeared in Mamma Mia!, Clue, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Something Rotten!, Peter Pan and Wendy and many more! Mackenzie loves to run and hang out with her friends. She would like to thank her mom for all her support throughout her life. She would also like to thank Ms. Gerdy for a fantastic experience in theatre as this is Mackenzie’s final show here at Davidson Day.

*Batson Pickens

as Girl in the Water / Doctor Bennett

can’t believe this is her final show at Davidson Day, excluding Women being performed next month. After 4 years, she has loved every moment she has gotten to experience. Batson wants to continue her love of acting in college. She would like to thank the Davidson Day Theatre program for everything it has given her and everything she has learned. She is so happy to learn so much in rehearsals as she always does, especially being able to learn hula hoop tricks and perform her first tap dance number for this show. A special thank you to Ms. Gerdy who has so lovingly directed and inspired Batson these past 4 years. Batson would also like to give another special thank you to her mom who has never left her side no matter what and has done so much for her giving her endless love and support.

WHO'S WHO *Lorelei Robertson

as Mayor of Ashton

is a senior and very excited to be in her seventh and final production at Davidson Day. She has participated in Theory of Relativity, Mamma Mia!, Clue, Mean Girls, Once Upon A One More Time, and Peter Pan and Wendy. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her family and write articles for the magazine she has worked on for 4 years. She is Editor In Chief of The Untold Stories of DDS, and she is also part of the Varsity Cheer team. Lorelei would like to thank her parents for supporting her throughout these 7 magical years and would like to thank Ms. Gerdy, Mrs. Griswold, and Mr. Freidline for believing in her throughout the shows she has done and for helping her grow as an actor and singer. Lorelei will truly miss the Davidson Day Theatre program, but she will be forever thankful for it, and is looking forward to Big Fish being the best show yet!!

Callum McAloon

as General Patterson

is very happy to play a number of roles in this production of Big Fish.

He has worked both on and offstage in a number of Davidson Day Theatre productions. Previous onstage appearances include Skylights in Peter Pan and Wendy, Bull, Bryce’s Father, and Neal in The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane and Robin in Something Rotten!. He also designed lights for our outdoor production of Mamma Mia!, and worked as Light Board Operator for Mean Girls, Mamma Mia!, Clue, The Last Five Years, Annie, and The Wiz in Ozland.

Previously, he served as Assistant Stage Manager and Deck Chief setting, coordinating, rigging, and cleaning up after all the things that went wrong in The Play that Goes Wrong. This past fall, he flew people to Neverland, played a pirate, a crocodile, and the head of the shadow of the Boy who Never Grew Up.

Nate Cantor

Ensemble

is very excited to be a part of his second high school production at Davidson Day. He appeared last fall in Peter Pan and Wendy (Michael Darling) and was in two Musical Theatre Club productions, Shrek and The Aristocats. He would like to thank everyone who is a part of this show for making it a wonderful experience.

WHO'S WHO Lilly Harvey

Ensemble

is in 8th grade and is very excited to participate in Big Fish. This will mark her seventh show with Davidson Day, some of which include The Aristocats, Aladdin, and most recently, Peter Pan and Wendy.

She would like to thank her mom for helping her along the way and her dog, Roxie, for her moral support. She would also like to thank Ms. Gerdy, Mrs. Griswold, and Mr. Freidline. She is very grateful that she is able to be a part of Big Fish!

Adam Robinson

Ensemble

is a 10th grader attending Davidson Day School. Throughout his time at the school, Adam has participated in past musicals such as Something Rotten! and Once Upon a One More Time. He is extremely grateful for his mom and his sister, Elizabeth, as well as some of his friends, including Owen, Milly, and Wyatt for supporting him throughout the show. He is also grateful to Ms. Gerdy, Mrs. Griz, and Mr. Freidline for giving him the opportunity to perform alongside his friends.

Quinn Socha

Ensemble

is very excited to be part of Davidson Day’s Big Fish. This is her first year at Davidson Day and her second high school production. Quinn likes improv, singing, and listening to music. She would like to thank her family, friends, and Ms. Gerdy for being an awesome director!

Niko Barsosky

as Niko the Nimble

is excited to make his stage debut in Big Fish! A natural performer with a talent for tail wags and eating treats. He’s thrilled to be part of the cast. When not rehearsing, he enjoys long walks and playing with his toys. He would like to thank his family for putting up with his chaos.

CREW WHO'S WHO Abbie Barsosky is thrilled to be stage managing Davidson Day’s production of Big Fish. This show marks her seventh production with Davidson Day Theatre. She recently appeared onstage as John Darling in Peter Pan and Wendy, and played various roles onstage in The Play That Goes Wrong, Something Rotten!, and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. She also previously stage managed Once Upon a One More Time and Mean Girls. A junior this year, Abbie loves being part of the Davidson Day theatre community and helping bring each show to life.

She would like to thank her family for their constant support and everyone involved in the show, especially her amazing mentor and director Ms. Gerdy, for making the process so special.

Emma Barsosky is very excited to be part of Big Fish. She has always loved watching her twin, Abbie, perform in productions, and being involved behind the scenes is especially meaningful to her. Emma is thrilled to support the cast and crew, and is grateful for the opportunity to help bring Big Fish to life.

Abby Cantor is a junior at Davidson Day School and is thrilled to be part of Big Fish!

This is her seventh year at the school and her second Davidson Day Theatre production, having performed in The Play that Goes Wrong as a freshman. In her free time, Abby likes to take pictures with her camera, listen to music, and hang out with her dog. She would like to thank her family for always showing up for her.

CREW WHO'S WHO Izzy Glavin is excited to be part of Big Fish as a member of the tech crew. She has previously worked on tech crews in middle school and is thrilled to continue her behind-the-scenes work in upper school at Davidson Day School. Outside of theatre, Izzy practices martial arts and loves doing crafts. She is especially interested in math and science and enjoys learning anything hands-on and creative. Izzy would like to thank her mom and dad for their constant support, as well as her younger sister, Elle, who is in 4th grade at Davidson Day. She is grateful to the cast and crew for making this production such a fun experience.

*Kevin Haddad is very excited to be part of Big Fish! He is a senior and has been involved in various capacities in The Play That Goes Wrong, Something Rotten!, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Once Upon a One More Time, Peter Pan and Wendy, and Big Fish. In Kevin’s free time, he likes to play guitar, ride his skateboard, play video games, and listen to music. He would like to thank his friends and family for their support and the AMAZING director, Ms. Gerdy, for directing these wonderful plays!

Owen Jeppesen is ecstatic to be part of Big Fish, his fifth play at Davidson Day School.

He helped out with Something Rotten, the Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Once Upon a One More Time, and performed in Peter Pan and Wendy. In his free time, Owen enjoys reading and sleeping.

He would like to thank his mom for driving him to rehearsals. He would also like to thank Ms. Gerdy for being a terrific and inspirational director.

Sydney Jeppesen is very excited to be part of Big Fish. This is her third production with Davidson Day School. Last fall, she ran the light board for Peter Pan and Wendy and operated the follow spot for Once Upon a One More Time. In her free time, Sydney enjoys playing tennis and free skating.

She would like to thank her family for their continued support and Ms. Gerdy for the opportunity to be part of this production.

RECOGNITION SPECIAL THANKS TO: Noel Freidline for his musical genius, calming presence, willingness to step in and make things work whatever it takes, advice and technical know-how whenever I don’t know how, his windscreen gluing prowess, and for years of genuine friendship. We Can Do Hard Things!; Emily Griswold for continuing to say Yes, and for being an absolutely invaluable part of what we do here – I am so grateful for her staunch dedication to every part of the process, her spot-on collaborative spirit, myriad musical talents, for convincing me to take a day off once in a while, and for her support and friendship over the years; we make a pretty good trio; Tiffani Thomas for her mind-reading prowess, and for always being a calm and reasonable sounding board, a symbiotic co-creator, a brilliant artist, and a dear friend who I have and always will admire fiercely; Laura Woods for lending her professional photographic and photoshop skills; Angie Spraberry for letting us use the wheelchair; Kevin Julian for letting young Will read his copy of The Iliad; Tia Hill, Caitlin Barndt, Jessica Thompson, and Patience Perry for last minute prop assistance; Barbara Berry for illuminating this story with her brilliant lighting design; we are so happy to be able to bask in the magical glow she (literally) creates; Ben and Debbie Griffith for being invaluable members of this team, for stepping in and building, clearing, cleaning, supporting, and generally instilling calm into what tends to be an often chaotic process – I am in awe of your incredible talents and willingness to help us make our theatre dreams a reality – I am so grateful for everything you’ve done; Kim Lank for her positive energy, fun and easy going approach to, and handling of the creation of so many props – from human cannonball cannons, thanks to Steve Lank for helping to engineer said cannons, to dancing elephant butts, there is nothing you can’t do!; Lane Morris for intuiting what is going to make the actors shine, her steadfast “get it done” attitude on yet another Big (Fish) of a show, for literally turning tablecloths into giant pants, coming up with yet another new and different rip-away costume, for years of designing remarkable costumes with creativity and ingenuity, even more years of true friendship; Henry, for being Lane’s co-creator and number one supporter; Shawnna Pledger for lending yet another of her crazy talents - teaching Elizabeth how to walk on stilts so we could turn her into a giant; Rob Merryman, one of two Davidson Day alumni who has come back to offer his brilliant technological and troubleshooting prowess as Projection Designer; Madison Newman for helping us with some additional photography needs; Sherri Beckman and Holly Paeper for shouldering the huge responsibility of coordinating so many aspects of the production you wouldn’t know about – I would be unable to do what I do without them! Holly and Rolf Paeper for also curating and donating our show-themed concessions for countless productions; Sherri Beckman for taking on the mantel of show apparel coordinator, rock painting coordinator, and all-around kind and heartcentered supporter of all of us; Cindy Walters for the hours she commits to creating this beautiful playbill; Melissa Dennis for organizing all of the cast dinners; Caroline Ray for managing the box office; Israella Freidline for reuniting with the Davidson Day Theatre community, bringing her photographic talents and graphic artistry to the production; and Rumi – who showed up in my life exactly when I needed him – and who happens to be an awesome Assistant Director behind the scenes; Anna Montgomery and Emily McCurdy for helping find some previously unfindable costume pieces; Melissa Ohlman-Roberge, Jackie & Peter Hohenstein and Carrie Cranford / Davidson Community Players for loaning us so many props, with eternal gratitude to Chris Lundstren’s legacy; the Rodesilers for the baseball stuff; Abbie Barsosky for being a phenomenally gifted and highly organized stage manager, an equally talented performer, and one of the best people I’ve ever had the pleasure to work and create with; Megan Gray and Addison Lanter for marketing DDS Theatre - and for understanding the nature of things in general, Lisa Thomas and Suzette Watson for listening, understanding, and helping us finance DDS Theatre, Catherine Glass and Chris Turner for their unwavering arts/athletic team spirit; Dominic Barsi & Jeremy Randazza for being able – and willing - to do just about anything we ask; Davidson Day School staff, faculty, and Board of Directors for supporting live theatre, and an INCREDIBLY supportive, enthusiastic and willing band of parents who are helping to create a vibrant, professional theatre scene at Davidson Day.

RECOGNITION TO THE CLASS OF 2026: Mackenzie, Noah, Malena, Batson, Elizabeth, Lorelei, Kevin – you are about to join the ranks of a pretty remarkable group of Davidson Day theatre alumni who are out in the world making us proud. As you prepare to close out your high school careers, give yourselves the gift of remembering where you’ve been, and who and what have been a part of your journey to that final curtain call on the Gordon Theatre, er, Joanna Gerdy stage. But take time too, to see yourselves for the lights you are, and for what you will continue to bring to your own stages moving forward.

Know that you are forever a part of our theatre family, and a vibrant part of the heart and soul of what we’ve created here. There aren’t a lot of jobs that give you a chance to be a consistent and long-term part of people’s lives, to share in their discoveries, successes, creative breakthroughs, heartbreaks, and joys. I am honored to know each of you, and to have played even the smallest role in this piece of your lives as your teacher, director, co-creator, and friend. I consider it a beautiful gift to have been a part of your journey here. Thank you for sharing your incredible talent, your passion, your creativity, your voices, your laughter, your tears, and your beautiful spirits with us over the years. We love you, and know you’re on your way to opening exciting and fulfilling new chapters. Whenever you feel like re-visiting your past, or in this case, your stories, we’ll be here. Always. “It all ends well. This much I know”.

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BLUMEYS