Props Construction Melanie Chipman, Clara Shem-Tov
Props Crew Calvin Alvarez
Special Effects Manager & VW Driver .................................................................. Evan Clink
Catwalk Crew............................................................................. Diana Rodriguez, April Stilwell
Scenic Painting Colleen Blanchard, Travis Blanchard, Calla Cavanagh, Melanie Chipman, Hana Cohen, Janelle Gallagher, Kia Jones, Klara Klotzbach, Kelly Kobata
Van Construction & Painting ............................................................................. Jason Leong
Set Construction.................... Calvin Alvarez, Travis Blanchard, Michael Bruno, Mike Cavanagh, Anika Cummings, Siân Holter, Kia Jones, Brennan Klotzbach, Cate Pace, Aakash Shakya, Clara Shem-Tov, Miriam Shem-Tov, Shachar Shem-Tov, Luke Titi
Bar-B-Que Dance Palace Design & Build .................................. Theatrical Production I Class
Sunjana is a senior and has enjoyed playing the role of “Vi Moore” while sharing the stage with her favorite people. You might recognize her as “Mrs. Potts” from Beauty and the Beast or “Glinda” from The Wizard of Oz! Aside from being onstage, Sunjana plays volleyball, loves all things music, and thoroughly enjoys annoying her sisters. Enjoy the show!
RONAN CASEY (12) (Ren McCormack)
Ronan is ecstatic to be performing as Ren in his final production with Oakwood! While he is clearly a soprano, he looks forward to learning how to sing notes from the left side of the piano for his role. He is incredibly grateful for the support of his friends and family and hopes to break both legs during his performance tonight!
AARAV DESHPANDE (12) (Lyle)
Aarav will be playing the role of “Lyle” in Footloose. He previously appeared as “Tom” in the fall play Radium Girls. He hopes you enjoy the show and his song.
KIERA GALLAGHER (12) (Bomont Trio)
Kiera feels bittersweet about performing in her final show at Oakwood, having been involved in theater since her freshman year. She is thrilled to contribute to many aspects of the production, from costumes and makeup to performing on stage. You may remember her as “Scarecrow” in The Wizard of Oz or as “Kathryn” in the fall play Radium Girls. Kiera is deeply grateful for the friendships she has built through Oakwood and is excited to end her theater journey with such a fun production!
SIÂN HOLTER (12) (Bickle)
Siân is very excited to perform as “Bickle” in Footloose for her final Oakwood production. Her favorite role was “The Great Mage Steve” in She Kills Monsters Siân hopes to continue theater in college, where she intends to major in mathematics and computer science. She would like to thank her family, her friends, and Mrs. Blanchard for all the support they have given her during her time in Oakwood’s theater program.
AVA LOWE (12) (Ariel Moore)
Ava is excited to play “Ariel” in this year’s production of Footloose! She has had so much fun playing roles like “Glinda” in last year’s The Wizard of Oz and hopes to continue improving her performance this year. Ava has always loved singing and is thrilled to share this moment with others. She is incredibly grateful for her friends and family, who have shaped her into the person she is today. She loves and thanks you for coming and hopes you enjoy the show!
ROMAN MARQUEZ (12) (Willard)
This is Roman’s seventh time performing for Oakwood, and he is excited to play “Willard Hewitt” in Footloose. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games and pursuing his passion for photography. Roman has five siblings—two older and three younger. He is extremely grateful for all the hard work everyone has put into this production. Though he’s a bit anxious, he hopes you have a great night watching the show!
CATE PACE (12) (Ethel McCormack)
Cate is a senior at Oakwood and has been acting since second grade. Some of her favorite shows include Beauty and the Beast, Into the Woods, and Clue After high school, she plans to attend a BYU college and later hopes to become a registered nurse, a dream she has had since middle school. In addition to singing, Cate enjoys playing guitar, songwriting, acting, and spending time with her friends. She is very excited for this performance and hopes you cut loose and enjoy the show!
LAUREN SORCI (12) (Lulu Warnicker)
Lauren is a senior and has been at Oakwood since first grade. She has participated in many shows, including Radium Girls, The Wizard of Oz, and Beauty and the Beast. After high school, she plans to major in aerospace engineering. She wants to thank her friends and family who have supported her throughout high school and hopes you enjoy the show!
YOZER WANG (12) (Chuck)
Yozer is a senior and is excited to perform as “Chuck” in his fifth and final production at Oakwood! When he participated in his first show as a sophomore, he never imagined that theater would become such a significant part of his time at Oakwood. Looking back, Yozer wants to thank his friends and parents for their support, as well as Mrs. Blanchard for being the best director he could have asked for—and for convincing him to perform in the first place. Ultimately, he hopes you enjoy the show!
MAKENA WILLIS (12) (Bomont
Trio, Waitstaff, Chicago Citizen)
Makena is a senior at Oakwood, and this is her ninth and final OPVA production. Since freshman year, she has taken on many aspects of theater, from set design to directing, and is grateful for the opportunities she has been given in this program. After high school, she plans to attend college, majoring in business and minoring in film. She would like to thank her friends both in and out of the show, Mrs. Blanchard for being an amazing director over the past ten years, and her family for their support.
KAILEE BARLICS (11) (Cop,
Chuck’s friend)
Kailee is a junior at Oakwood who plays the role of the Cop, as well as Chuck’s friend and a member of the ensemble. She is thrilled to be a part of Footloose While not on stage, Kailee loves playing sports such as basketball, volleyball, and softball, and she also enjoys spending time with friends. She really enjoyed working on this performance and hopes you enjoy the show!
KINGSTON CALL (11) (Reverend Shaw Moore)
Kingston is a junior at Oakwood and is very excited to perform in this year’s musical! He has had many years of experience as an actor, most recently as “Hickory/the Tin Man” in The Wizard of Oz and “C.B. Lee” in Radium Girls Kingston has enjoyed theater since he was little and also performed throughout elementary and middle school. He hopes you have a great time watching the show!
ANIKA CUMMINGS (11) (Teen 3, Council Member)
Anika is a junior playing “Teen Three” and participating in the Teen & Adult Ensemble. She enjoys singing and was part of the Vocal Ensemble in her sophomore year. Anika is very excited for this year’s production of Footloose, as it is her first time acting onstage since grade school. She hopes to be in more Oakwood productions during her senior year.
KAITLYN GOMEZ (11) (Cowgirl Becky)
Kaitlyn is a junior and is excited to be performing in Footloose this year! She previously participated in Beauty and the Beast during her freshman year but is now making her way back to the stage. She looks forward to the many memories she will make onstage with you. Kaitlyn would like to thank her family and friends for their support, and she hopes you enjoy the show!
LUKE HANSOTTE (11) (Wes Warnicker)
Luke is a junior and is excited to be performing in this year’s musical, Footloose His role as “Wes Warnicker” will be his first acting role in a high school theatrical production. However, he has experience as part of the backstage tech crew for five previous Oakwood productions, his favorite being Beauty and the Beast Luke is grateful for the opportunity, but he is still working on staying composed while his backstage friends try to make him laugh on stage.
KLARA KLOTZBACH (11) (Urleen)
Klara is a junior and is so excited to be in her first high school musical. She has previously been seen as “Regina” in Mean Girls, “Leading Player” in Pippin, and “Mrs. Fryer” in Radium Girls. In her free time, she loves spending time with friends and family and playing guitar. Klara is so happy you are here and hopes you enjoy the show!
BENJAMIN TARNE (11) (Cowboy
Bob)
Benjamin is a junior this year, performing in his first musical. He has been involved in theater before, appearing in She Kills Monsters and taking on tech roles in previous productions. This year, he will play “Cowboy Bob” and various adult characters as he hopes to help create a memorable experience for you all.
CALLA CAVANAGH (10)
(Coach Dunbar, Teen Lead Dancer & Singer)
Calla is a sophomore and is very excited for the production of Footloose, where she gets the opportunity to showcase her dancing skills in multiple scenes and explore her “mean coach” abilities in the show. When not performing, Calla enjoys exploring her other talents, including her passion for directing—she student-directed the recent fall play, Radium Girls—as well as her hobbies in dance, piano, violin, and Chinese. She is looking forward to performing with her friends and hopes you enjoy the show!
HANA COHEN (10)
(Principal Clark, Teen Lead Dancer & Singer)
Hana Cohen is a sophomore and is excited to be in Footloose. She has performed in many previous Oakwood productions, including last year’s The Wizard of Oz and this year’s play, Radium Girls. Outside of Oakwood, this past summer, Hana played “Clio/Kira” in Xanadu Jr. In addition to theater, Hana is a ballet, jazz, and tap dancer. She also plays the piano, guitar, and drums and enjoys songwriting. Hana thanks her family and friends for attending the show. Thanks for coming!
GABBY GOMEZ (10) (Eleanor,
Church Choir)
Gabby is a sophomore and is very excited to perform in the role of Eleanor in Footloose. This is her second year participating in a high school play; she was previously in The Wizard of Oz. Gabby enjoys doing arts and crafts, along with listening to music. She wants to thank her family and friends for the support they have given her along the way. She hopes you enjoy the show!
KIA JONES (10)
(Wendy Jo)
Kia Jones is a 15-year-old sophomore at Oakwood and is super excited to be performing as Wendy Jo and working on the set in Footloose! Kia has been involved in musical theater for about 3 years and has a very strong passion for it. Some of her previous roles include “Mary Poppins” in Mary Poppins Jr., Crow in The Wizard of Oz, and “Jackie Youngwood” in Radium Girls. In her spare time, Kia enjoys playing her instruments, singing, crocheting, drawing, and playing tennis. Enjoy the show!
KELLY KOBATA (10)
(Chicago Trio)
Kelly is a sophomore at Oakwood and is very excited for Footloose! She enjoys theater very much, but when she isn’t on stage or in the wings, she loves cooking, crocheting, and drawing in her free time. She also has a strong interest in chemistry and coding. This will be her 25th show, and she simply cannot wait! She hopes you enjoy the show!
CLAUDIA READ (10) (Bomont Trio)
Claudia is in 10th grade. Some of her recent roles at Oakwood include the “White Witch” in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and “Madame Curie/ William J.A. Bailey/Dial Painter” in Radium Girls. Over the summer, Claudia was in Rent at CMT. Among her passions are horseback riding, tidepooling, music, theater, and studying language. She loves spending time with her parents, cats, horses, and friends. She appreciates those who encourage, support, and inspire her. She hopes you all enjoy Footloose!
AAKASH SHAKYA (10) (Travis, Choir)
Aakash is a sophomore and has been attending Oakwood since 7th grade. Throughout his time here, he has taken part in many theatrical productions and is glad to be able to continue that streak. Some main characters that Aakash has played so far are “Chief Tui” from Moana Jr., “Oliver Rivers” from Puffs, and “George” from Mary Poppins Jr. Outside of theater, Aakash enjoys doing other things such as robotics, playing badminton, video games, and spending time with family. He hopes you enjoy the show!
SAIDEE AVILA (9) (Rusty)
Saidee Avila is a freshman thrilled to perform in her first Oakwood production! Some of her favorite roles include “Dorothy” in The Wizard of Oz, “Patrice” in 13, “Gertrude” in Seussical, and “Polly” in Crazy for You. Saidee is the 2023 recipient of the Joshua Grant Brawn Award and couldn’t be more excited for you to cut loose with this show. She hopes you enjoy it as much as she loves being part of it!
NATALIA CERVANTES CHAVEZ (9)
(Band Member 1, Teen/Adult Ensemble)
Natalia is greatly anticipating this year’s production of Footloose! She is bringing passion and curiosity to the musical, as this is her first acting experience. She loves the fact that she gets to run around and play so many different characters with her roles in the ensemble. Natalia is very grateful for the opportunity to work with such an amazing cast and be part of a fun and energetic production.
RIA DESHPANDE (9)
(Betty Blast, Teen/Adult Ensemble)
Ria is 15 years old and in 9th grade. This will be her 7th theatrical performance at Oakwood, including Moana Jr., Puffs, Mary Poppins Jr., The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Newsies Jr., and The Canterville Ghost. Ria has also performed harmonies and played the ukulele in past Oakwood productions. Her hobbies include swimming, Indian classical dance, piano, ukulele, and art. Her favorite sport is basketball, and her favorite team is the Warriors. Ria receives lots of support from her friends, family, and dog. She hopes you enjoy the show!”
BRENNAN KLOTZBACH (9) (Chicago
Trio/Ensemble)
Brennan is a freshman and is so excited to play the Chicago Trio in this production of Footloose! Her past roles include “Mrs. Fezziwig” in A Christmas Carol, “Tess” in Crazy for You, “Cat” in Honk!, and “The Cat in the Hat” in Seussical (CMT). Most recently, Brennan received the Joshua Grant Brawn Award at CMT. Outside of theater, she enjoys playing percussion, reading, and spending time with her friends and family. She hopes the show knocks your socks off!
JONATHAN KRANZ (9) (Jeter)
Jonathan is a 15-year-old ninth grader playing the role of “Jeter.” This is Jonathan’s 13th show, and he is very excited to be participating in his first Oakwood production! When not on stage, Jonathan can be found biking, hiking, or playing games with his siblings. He hopes you enjoy the show!
STHANIKA RAHOOL (9) (Teen 2, Teen/Adult Ensemble)
Sthanika is playing “Teen 2” in Footloose and could not be more excited! Before this, she played a “Munchkin City Father” in The Wizard of Oz in 2024, making Footloose her second musical. She loves singing, dancing, and acting, and Footloose could not be a more perfect fit for her interests, as it involves plenty of all three. No matter how small the role, Sthanika is always excited to be part of a musical—whether behind the scenes or on stage!
JOSEPH TAYLOR (9) (Garvin)
Joseph is a freshman at Oakwood and will be performing as “Garvin” in his first musical production. This will be his fourth time on stage at Oakwood, with his previous notable roles being “Edmund” in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and “Weeds” in The Canterville Ghost. Outside of theater, you might find him playing basketball or video games with his friends. He hopes you enjoy the show!
SIENNA TEEL (9) (Band Member 2, Teen/Adult Ensemble)
Sienna is a freshman, and this is her first year at Oakwood. She enjoys all aspects of theater, especially how being on stage allows her to take on the personalities of different characters. Sienna has been part of the theater community for almost eight years. Some of her favorite roles have included “Mrs. Gloop” in Willy Wonka, “Jafar” in Aladdin, and “Baloo” in The Jungle Book. She hopes you enjoy the show!
CREW BIOS
MYSHA BHATTI (12) (Lighting Board
Operator)
Mysha, a senior, is excited for her final Oakwood production as the lighting board operator. Since joining theater tech in 9th grade and participating in various shows like Beauty and the Beast and Into the Woods, she has loved being part of the team and the community it has given her. She will miss the friendships, the rehearsals, and the experience of working behind the scenes to make each show come together.
GABRIELA CAMPBELL (12) (Backstage
Co-Manager)
Gabi is really excited to finish her senior year as co-stage manager for Footloose! She has been involved in Oakwood musicals since her freshman year, starting with Into the Woods. She has loved managing plays and musicals throughout high school and is thrilled to do it again this year! She hopes the audience enjoys the musical and appreciates all the effort that Caitlin and she put into making everything come to life. ❤❤
EVAN CLINK (12)
(Special Effects Manager, Tech Crew)
Evan is a senior who is in his second semester at Oakwood. He plays basketball on the varsity basketball team. He hopes you enjoy the show.
ELLA GUTIERREZ (12)
(Props Manager, Tech Crew)
This is Ella’s fourth year as a tech in Mrs. Blanchard’s theater class, and she keeps coming back each year because she loves doing behind-the-scenes work. She plans to attend college—hopefully near the beach—so she can study in the sand and reminisce about the days when she pulled props, painted watches, and pushed chairs onto the stage.
CAITLIN KANAZAWA (12) (Backstage
Co-Manager)
Caitlin is a senior, and this is her fourth year stage managing for Oakwood. Outside of theater, she enjoys drinking boba, playing volleyball, and hanging out with her friends. She hopes you enjoy the show!
CLAIRE LORD (12) (Sound Tech)
Claire, a senior at Oakwood, has been a dedicated member of the tech crew since freshman year, working both on stage and behind the scenes in sound and lighting. She has contributed to productions including Fools, Into the Woods, Beauty and the Beast, and The Wizard of Oz. Claire is grateful for the friendships and experiences these productions have given her, and she hopes you enjoy the show!
DIANA RODRIGUEZ (12) (Tech Crew, Catwalk)
Diana is a senior, and this is her second time working backstage. She has previously helped on the catwalk and is excited for this production as well. Outside of school, Diana enjoys reading, coloring, and spending time with her friends. She really hopes you enjoy the show!
APRIL STILWELL (12) (Tech Crew, Catwalk)
April is a senior, and this is her first time working on the catwalk. She has previously helped with set design for past plays and has acted in Hairspray Jr. and Mulan Jr.. April enjoys coaching volleyball and hanging out with her friends. She hopes you enjoy the show!
LANGSTON WATSON (12)
(Props Manager, Tech Crew)
Langston has been part of the theater class every year of high school, helping backstage and making an appearance as the reporter in Clue. He is the president of the Online Business and Marketing Club and plans to attend college for business.
CLARA SHEM-TOV (11)
(Sound, Lighting Design, Props)
Clara has experience with almost every part of a production. Currently, her favorites are lighting, sound, and stage management. Recently, she was the technical director for Limelight’s Dear Jack, Dear Louise and the lighting designer as well as an actor in Oakwood’s Radium Girls. On the rare occasions that Clara is not at the theater, she enjoys baking, making puppets, and creating fake food props. She would like to thank Mrs. Blanchard for another fun opportunity.
MAXWELL CALE (10) (Properties
Master, Costumes)
Maxwell is a sophomore at Oakwood High School. He has been involved in many productions, and you may have recently seen him performing in SVCT’s Mean Girls as “Mr. Duvall,” The Lightning Thief as “Gabe Ugliano,” and Oakwood’s Radium Girls as “Dr. Knef.” This is his first time on the tech crew, and he would like to thank Mrs. Blanchard for giving him the opportunity. He loves theater, writing, and wearing scarves. He hopes you enjoy the show!
BRENDAN LYLE (10) (Assistant Stage Manager)
Brendan is a sophomore who is still relatively new to the theater department. He has enjoyed getting involved by applying his technical skills to building and designing set pieces. Outside of theater, he spends his free time playing the piano and competing in games with his brothers. Brendan is excited to see all the hard work come together and watch the final production take shape.
CALVIN ALVAREZ (9) (Tech Crew)
Calvin is greatly anticipating his first production with Oakwood Performing Arts. He is currently working backstage as a jack-of-all-trades, assisting with props, set changes, and anything else the stage managers need. However, he plans to move up to lighting in future productions.Calvin hopes that nothing breaks during the performance and that everyone enjoys the musical!
LUKE TITI (9) (Assistant Stage Manager)
Luke Titi is the Assistant Stage Manager for Footloose. This is his 11th year attending Oakwood and his fourth year doing tech. He has worked on many productions at Oakwood, most recently including Newsies, The Wizard of Oz, and Radium Girls. Luke enjoys computer science and engineering classes. He also participates in various sports, including basketball, golf, and mountain biking. However, his favorite is skiing, which he competes in almost every weekend.
STAFF BIOS
COLLEEN BLANCHARD (Director)
Colleen is the Upper School Drama teacher and Performing Arts Head at Oakwood School. She has been directing shows in the Bay Area over the past 25 years for several community theater organizations, elementary schools, Gavilan College, and Gilroy Recreation. She is passionate about fostering creativity and confidence in her students, and she couldn’t be prouder of the hard work, dedication, and talent the high school cast and crew have poured into Footloose!
CHRISTINE CARILLO (Choreographer)
Christine is a Jr. Kindergarten teacher and the MS/HS choreographer with OPVA. She is also a longtime choreographer and director with SVCT, where she has worked on numerous teen shows. Her most recent productions include SVCT’s Mean Girls and Finding Nemo Jr. She hopes you enjoy Footloose and the flashback to some ’80s hits. These talented teens have worked so hard to bring you an exciting show—enjoy!
TERRY SODERGREN (Vocal Director)
Terry is honored to return to Oakwood this year to work on Footloose after previously working on Newsies Jr. and The Wizard of Oz last year! She has been the music director for several Bay Area productions, including 1776, Into the Woods, Fiddler on the Roof, Seussical, The Wizard of Oz, and Singin’ in the Rain. She also teaches private piano and voice lessons, runs Morgan Hill Music Studios, and directs the kids’ choir at Hillside Church in San Jose. However, her favorite job is being a grandma to Lo.
SKYE TAYLOR (Technical Director)
Ms. Skye is honored to be a part of Oakwood Performing Arts and is grateful for the opportunity to work with Mrs. Blanchard. She has a deep love for theater arts, and the cast of Footloose is especially dear to her. She looks forward to seeing many final performances on stage, behind the scenes, and in the tech booth from Oakwood’s amazing seniors. This is a fun and exciting show, and the seasoned stage and tech crew will be incredible as always. Go Peaches!
