SIGNATURE THE
SIGONELLA, SICILY
March 8, 2013
Vol. 30. No. 9
cnic.navy.mil/sigonella
BROADWAY COMES TO SIGONELLA
Survey assists with money allotted to Sailors living on the economy
Sigonellans perform "Masquerade" from Phantom of the Opera during Broadway Tonight!, a musical revue performed at Knights Hall on Naval Air Station Sigonella, March 1 and 2. The production included scenes from six popular Broadway musicals: Les Misérables, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Mary Poppins, Wicked, The Wizard of Oz and Phantom of the Opera. (U.S. Navy photo by Jackie Trembath/Released)
by jackie trembath NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
D
epartment of Defense Dependents Schools Sigonella and Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella Community Players performed Broadway Tonight!, a musical revue, March 1 and 2 at Knights Hall at NAS I. The production was a collaboration of more than 140 students and community members, ages 6 to 60-something. The show involved scenes from six popular Broadway musicals: Les Misérables, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Mary Poppins, Wicked, The Wizard of Oz and Phantom of the Opera. "Planning for the musical starts six months to a year in advance," said Lynn Soeby, creative director for Broadway Tonight!. "The rehearsal time was only eight weeks this year, which was a huge challenge." Auditions were held in 2012, before the holidays, and rehearsals started January 7, 2013. More than 70 elementary school students auditioned. Forty two were cast along with more than fifty middle school/high school students. Many of the actors cast played multiple roles, including Thea Burke, who took on the roles of a poor factory girl in Les Misérables,"Mary" in Mary Poppins and "Christine" in Phantom of the Opera. "There is really no substitute for live theatre," said Burke. "Broadway-style live theatre is very hard to come by overseas. When you sit in the audience and realize that everything you are seeing is 'real' and happening right before your eyes, it makes you appreciate what is involved. We get very 'small-screen' oriented with our
personal electronics. Theatre that comes alive on stage is like a whole different dimension." Bringing theatre to Sigonella was due largely in part to Soeby, who envisioned every aspect of the production, bringing the show to life. She was responsible for selecting and teaching the music, inventing and teaching the staging and choreography, designing the scenery and costumes and coordinating all aspects of the production. "Music, drama and the arts are a big part of what makes us human," said Soeby. "Study and involvement in artistic pursuits not only enriches our lives, but teaches us about the reward that comes from hard work and perseverance. Pushing ourselves to excel in our performance, we become more confident. We learn how to work as an integral part of a team. To have 140 Sigonellans working as a team in the musical was fantastic. Young and old -we all learned from each other." The Sigonella community worked together behind the scenes as well to make the production the best it could be, from volunteering to help sew costumes, to collecting props to assisting with stage makeup application. All the donations for tickets and the silent auction of masquerade masks were applied to the Student Activities Fund, which helped fund the production. "Programming scenes from six different musicals was a huge and expensive undertaking," said Soeby. "It would not have been possible without the generous support of the Sigonella community." More photos from Broadway Tonight! on Page 8 and 9
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” - Leonardo da Vinci
The Overseas Housing Allowance Utility and Recurring Maintenance Survey is conducted annually on behalf of the Department of Defense, by the Allowances Branch of the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO). This survey will be conducted now until March 13, 2013 for Italy. This survey is designed to collect utility and recurring maintenance expense data incurred by Uniformed Service members stationed overseas, who reside in private housing. Your data assists in determining the Utility/ Recurring Maintenance Allowance paid to Service members in the country surveyed. If you receive OHA and meet the following qualifications, you should participate in the survey: Will be stationed in the country where this survey is being conducted for six or more months; Reside in privately leased quarters (not a homeowner or home sharer); Receive an Overseas Housing Allowance. If you have participated in previous OHA surveys, the questions will be similar in scope. You will be asked to report the average monthly cost of each of your utilities and the average monthly cost of any routine maintenance expenses you incurred over the last 12 months. You may take the survey at https://www.defensetravel.dod. mil/site/marutil.cfm. The Overseas Housing Allowance is a valuable entitlement for members who are stationed overseas. You play a critical part as the data you provide will directly impact the Utility/Recurring Maintenance Allowance paid to members. Your time and effort spent answering the survey questions will enable the Department of Defense to set equitable OHA utility rates. If you have any questions or need further assistance, contact YNC Brickhouse at lewis.brickhouse@eu.navy.mil or 624-2072.
NMCRS Active Duty Fund Drive
Food Festival
Semiannual Wine Expo underway
Learn about the NMCRS Active Duty Fund Drive.
Mediterranean Food Festival in the Enna province.
Find out what is on the schedule.
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