Bring Back The Broadway Lights - 2021

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BRING BACK THE

DIRECTOR'S NOTE When the reality set in that my second year directing the Rivers School musical would be during a global pandemic, did I panic? No!!... Okay, that's a lie. Yes, a little. Much of what I have known as a theatre educator, director, and performer was being challenged. When choreographing, the new "5, 6, 7, 8!" was now "6 feet apart, dancers!!" Creating Bring Back the Broadway Lights didn't come without hurdles. From not being able to go the traditional costume route due to song licensing, having our filming date postponed three times, organizing hundreds of audio and video clips from students, and learning complicated harmonies via zoom, it wasn't always easy. But you know what I quickly realized? Although putting on a musical was different this year, the important parts remained the same.

Joy. I've gotten pretty good at knowing when someone is smiling under their mask! Our time in person together was precious, and the cast treated it like so. Community. Did you know these kids have a 32 person group chat? Yep! That's right; every single cast member is included. They have built a supportive and inclusive environment that has made every rehearsal feel safe. Creativity.

2020 was the year of getting creative to hold on to normalcy. This cast brought forward many exciting ideas on engaging our audiences through the screen and making this project a success.

This process was a valuable lesson to us all on adapting to make it work! Passion. Above all else, these students love musical theatre and the confidence and self-expression that it brings. I hope their love and dedication to making this musical happen shines through while you watch our show from home. With this type of show, you are able to see all 32 dedicated cast members shine through with their own individuality. That is worth everything to me.

When it is safe to do so, Broadway, just like Rivers Theatre, will be back, more vital than ever.

Musical theatre is an important art form that offers so much in this world, and we can't wait till we can Bring Back the Broadway Lights. And though our focus in this show was on Broadway theatres, we dedicate this show to all theatre, local, regional, tours etc., currently on pause. These kids taught me nothing stands in our way. Together, we are unstoppable. Different? Yes. Less meaningful?

Never.

-Zoe Iacovelli Dedicated with love to Cora Mae Hogan, the newest Nonesuch Player <3.

Six, Six Maggie Leeming, Meredith Shah, Hannah Long, Schuyler Bartlett, Cecily Bua, Maddie Wambach, Full Company Dance Waving Through A Window, Dear Evan Hansen Alex Massarotti, Maggie Leeming Drive A Person Crazy, Company Schuyler Bartlett, Cristina Gomez, Anna Monaghan Think Of Me, Phantom Of The Opera Payson Salyer, Natalie Kloman, Colin Falvey You'll Be Back, Hamilton Finn McCusker, Calvin Smith Lida Rose/Will I Ever Tell You, Music Man Josh Rocha, Alex Massarotti, Calvin Smith, Colin Falvey, Maddie Wambach (Female Soloist), Cristina Gomez (Soloist with quartet) You Learn, Jagged Little Pill Phoebe Fogel, Brooke Brennan, Marina Joseph, Valentina Joseph, Maya Holzman, Bridget Minogue, Paige McCarthy, Adrienne Correia All I've Ever Known, Hadestown Nicole Baldwin, Alex Massarotti; Featured Dancer: Meredith Shah You Will Be Found, Dear Evan Hansen Colin Falvey, T Sallie, Adrienne Correia, Cole Pierson, Brooke Brennan, Aaron Weiner, Full Company

I'd Rather Be Me, Mean Girls Marin Broderick, Rinny Leeming.

Featuring Adrienne Correia, Aaron Weiner, Phoebe Fogel, Marina Joseph, Valentina Joseph For Good, Wicked Hannah Long, Cecily Bua Little Shop Of Horrors, Little Shop Of Horrors Natalia Ramos, Crystie Frometa, Anna Rosenfeld, Aaron Weiner (introduction) Friend Like Me, Aladdin T Sallie, Calvin Smith; Full Company Dance Featured Dancers: Cole Pierson, Meredith Shah, Adrienne Correia, Paige McCarthy Burn, Hamilton Natalia Ramos, Crystie Frometa, Anna Rosenfeld, Hannah Long Me And The Sky, Come From Away All female-identifying cast members Being Alive, Company Josh Rocha I See Stars, Mean Girls Rinny Leeming Full Company

CAST Nicole Baldwin '23 Schuyler Bartlett '21 Brooke Brennan '23 Marin Broderick '22 Cecily Bua '21 Adrienne Correia '22 Colin Falvey '23 Phoebe Fogel '24 Crystie Frometa '23 Cristina Gomez '23 Maya Holzman '23 Marina Joseph '24 Valentina Joseph '24 Natalie Kloman '23 Maggie Leeming '21 Rinny Leeming '23

Hannah Long '21 Alex Massarotti '23 Paige McCarthy '23 Finn McCusker '22 *GSA Representative Bridget Minogue '24 Anna Monaghan '22 *Bridge Representative Cole Pierson '23 Natalia Ramos '22 *Bridge Representative Josh Rocha '21 Anna Rosenfeld '23 T Sallie '21 Payson Salyer '23 Meredith Shah '21 *Dance Captain Calvin Smith '21 Maddie Wambach '21 Aaron Weiner '23 PRODUCTION TEAM:

Director/Choreographer- Zoë Iacovelli Music Director - Eve Budnick Video Editor - Parker Wright Producer - Julia Auster-Hogan

Costumes - Cathy Favreau P '22, '26 Costume Assistant - Lucy TonThat '22 Tech consultant - Ben Leeming P '17, '19, '21, '23 Original Script: Zoë Iacovelli and Julia Auster-Hogan

Scripted introductions, intermission, “Being Alive” video & curtain call edited by Zoë Iacovelli Special thanks to Gabriella Sanna, Katie Harrigan, Riza Takahashi, Marrick Smith, Zach Bencal, and Jake Boyd

Schuyler Bartlett Six, Drive A Person Crazy, You Will Be Found, Me And The Sky, I See Stars Schuyler is so excited to be in her fourth production with the Nonesuch Players! She has been seen in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Zombie Prom, and Legally Blonde. She so glad she gets to perform her final show at Rivers with her best friends and an amazing cast. She wants to thank Zoë, Mrs. Auster, Mrs. Fav, and Mr. Leeming for making this show so fun to be a part of despite the difficult circumstances.

You’ll be with me like a handprint on my heart!

Cecily Bua Six, For Good, You Will Be Found, Me And The Sky, I See Stars Cecily is so excited to be performing in her last show with her cast mates. She has loved being a part of the musical cast these past four years, and wants to thank Zoë, Eve, and Ms. Auster for their support and guidance. Coronavirus has got nothing on thespians. Thanks to everyone and everything that has created and put on this incredible show!

Maggie Leeming Six, Waving Through A Window, You Will Be Found, Me And The Sky, I See Stars Maggie is so excited to be in her fourth production with the Nonesuch Players. She has been seen in Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Zombie Prom, and Legally Blonde. She is so grateful she gets to perform her final show at Rivers with such a caring, talented cast. She wants to say a huge thank you to the production team, especially Zoë for being an amazing, patient director, and to her fellow seniors for making it all worth it!

Hannah Long Six, For Good, Burn, You Will Be Found, I See Stars Hannah has performed in Rivers Theater ever since middle school.

Some of her favorite past productions have been Puffs, Alice in Wonderland, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way To The Forum, and Legally Blonde. Coming to rehearsal after a long day of school, whether in the blackbox or on zoom, is always the best part of her day. Her fellow castmates, and amazing teachers: Ms. Iacovelli, Ms. Bailey, Ms. Devore, Ms. Auster, and Mr. Bower, have supported her throughout her theater career, and have inspired her to continue her passion for acting beyond Rivers. She has grown such unforgettable friendships and memories throughout her years in Rivers Theater, and she is going to miss everyone so much next year at college.

Josh Rocha Lida Rose, Being Alive, You Will Be Found, I See Stars Josh is so excited to be in his fourth production with the Nonesuch Players. He has been seen in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Zombie Prom, and Legally Blonde. He loves singing and is happy to be able to finish off his high school theatre career doing so, albeit differently. He wants to thank Ms. A-H, Zoë, Eve, Mr. Leeming, Ms. Fav, Lucy and Parker for making all of this possible.

Tayja "T" Sallie You Will Be Found, Friend Like Me, I See Stars T is so excited to be in their first production with the Nonesuch Players. They love music and singing, and they are so happy that one bright side of Covid was being able to do both basketball and the musical this year. They are so thankful that they were able to experience musical theatre at least once during their Rivers career and they would like to thank Ms. A-H, Zoë, Mr. Leeming, Eve, Ms. Fav, Lucy, and Parker for making this show come together.

Meredith Shah Six, You Will Be Found, All I've Ever Known, Friend Like Me, Me And The Sky, I See Stars Meredith is so excited to be in her second production with the Nonesuch Players. Her favorite parts of the show this year were the full cast dance numbers, and she is so glad that (despite extenuating circumstances) the cast was able to share the incredible sense of community and love that it feels every year.

She wants to thank Zoë, Ms. Fav, and all of the seniors for making this show so awesome!

Calvin Smith Friend Like Me, You'll Be Back, Lida Rose, I See Stars, You Will Be Found Calvin is thrilled to have performed in two productions with the Nonesuch Players! He has been seen in Legally Blonde and in Bring Back the Broadway Lights. He enjoys performing, playing music, and the occasional goof. He wants to thank Zoë, Ms. Auster, JB, Eve, Ms. Fav, Lucy, and the entire cast for being his favorite people at Rivers!

Maddie Wambach Six, Lida Rose, Me And The Sky, You Will Be Found, I See Stars Maddie is so excited for her fourth Rivers musical! She has been in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way to The Forum, Zombie Prom, and Legally Blonde, and is so grateful for all of the laughs and love that she has experienced during her time as a Nonesuch player. She wants to give a huge thank you to Zoë, for putting up with her and making sure she got to be a part of this show her senior year, JB, Mr. Leeming, Eve, Ms. Fav, Lucy, and Ms. AusterHogan. She’s going to miss everyone SO much next year, and wishes the cast the best of luck with everything…can’t wait to see those sweatshirts! Delta Nu forever. You guys are amazing <3