Gatorbill 2022 by The Unquowa School

GATORBILL THE UNQUOWA SCHOOL

42nd Annual

Winter Festival December 2022

Wishing the entire Unquowa Community

Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Year!

An Unquowa Tradition A WORD FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL On the Tuesday of Thanksgiving break, I arrived at school just in time to see the last touches on the stained glass windows being hung in the gym by Mr. Mitchell and Mr. DiCorpo, and I knew that our resident Winterfest “Fairies” would secretly stop by soon after to hang the Winterfest banners on the ceiling of our gym. I love watching our kids respond to the slow transformation of our gym into a medieval castle, and I love watching those first few rough rehearsals - kids coming to the gym with lyrics and harmonies in their heads and eager to sing them while adding the choreography that Mrs. Kirk has designed to bring the piece to life. It’s the first attempt for dozens of kids to go through tying music to movement. I always watch these rehearsals, knowing that every time our kids do a run-through, they will get one step closer to the powerful synchronicity they’ll achieve during the final Thursday evening performance of Winter Festival. I watch it build every year, and the process is heartbreakingly beautiful and comforting in its certainty. Each year I feel so lucky to witness not just the end result but the magical process that leads up to it. Winter Festival is always an amazing event because it’s the culmination of a month of learning and mastering songs, dances and lines that leads to an evening of every student “nailing it” in a way that is magical. Each year I am ever more grateful to our performing arts staff: Performing Arts Department chair, Megan Kirk, who writes the script and designs the choreography specifically with our kids in mind; David Coe, who orchestrates live music and leads his talented students in playing it; and Lloyd Mitchell, who trains a tech crew who keeps the lights and sound professionally on cue. A host of others, including tireless and talented parents, add the touches that make this night beyond belief. Our entire school and returning alums who join in the closing traditional songs at the program’s end bond over its performance each year. It’s hard to remember that we were ever in hiatus mode, but this year we still need a little magic in our lives, and we can all benefit from building new memories, laughing with friends and experiencing the pride of creating a performance that provides both magic and memories for ourselves, our families and our friends. May you enjoy the tale we spin for you tonight, may you sing along if the spirit moves you, and may you and your family have a New Year filled with joy and peace. All the best, Sharon Lauer

Best of luck to the cast & crew for another magical Winterfest from the 2022-2023

Unquowa Board of Governors

Athena Adamson ~ Alan Steckler ~ Laurie Renzulli ~ Melody Waterhouse Margaret Farinella ~ Karl Martone ~ Paul Greenberg ~ Stephen Jones Joan Panagos ~ David McKinnis ~ Ryan Erenhouse ~ David Cooper Missy Howe ~ Alison Roberts ~ Sandra Wilson ~ Sasha Mack Hilary Tanner ~ Heather Winkelmann ~ Peter Toolan 4

Winterfest 2022 The Shrunken Kingdom

The Szalinski children always knew their father was a genius. A little on the strange side, but a genius nonetheless. The Thompson children, their neighbors, were not convinced. In order to prove that their father really was working on a device that could shrink anything, they decided to sneak up into the attic to show off his machine… But when the kids stumble across Mrs. Szalinki’s waterless, castle snow globe and accidentally push a button on the shrink ray, these six children find themselves in a most difficult - if not magical - situation! With some quick thinking on Lizzy Szalinski’s part, the children come up with a plan to find their way into the snowglobe’s castle. After some unexpected help from some friendly fireflies, the children find themselves confronted with two very curious prisoners… who only speak in riddles! Could these riddles be the answer to their shrunken situation? Will the Szalinskis and Thompsons ever be their proper size again? Might they, possibly, be able to help the Kingdom of Unquowa escape from their snowglobe prison?

A WORD FROM THE DIRECTORS Winterfest is such a magical time of the year at the Unquowa School! Seeing the joy that this show brings to our community is something I look forward to each year. The students have been working so very hard on all of the skills you will see before you in this year’s show. The performers and stage crew have been working on developing their characters, memorizing lines, song and choreography, perfecting their craft on their instruments, learning every aspect of the show’s lighting, sound, and set placement, and most importantly working together as a team! I could not be more proud of how these students have come together as a community of performers to put together this unforgettable show. Thank you to everyone who has put in so much time and energy into this year’s Winterfest! — Megan Kirk What a fantastic time of year this is at Unquowa! It’s so great to see all of the students singing, dancing and laughing together, and the smiles from teachers as they walk through the gym with a rehearsal in progress. No less remarkable is the physical transformation of the school as thrones, banners and castles begin to appear seemingly out of nowhere. The Instrumental Ensembles are in fine form and ready to kick off Winterfest 2022! Thanks to all who have contributed to making this Winterfest an exciting and entertaining one! — David Coe

Congratulations to Our Winterfest 2022 Kings & Queens

How King Will wonderfully magnificent you all have become!

Queen Virginia

King James

Queen Ava

With much love & admiration to you all from the

di Bonaventura, Murphy, Tanner &, Sylvestro Royal Parents 6

THE UNQUOWA SCHOOL presents the 42nd Annual Winter Festival with students from PreK through Grade 8

The ShrukenKingdom THE ROYAL COURT: COURT Queens: Virginia Murphy, Ava Sylvestro Kings: James di Bonaventura, William Tanner Director: Megan Kirk Instrumental Director: David Coe Script: Megan Kirk Choreography: Megan Kirk Music: Megan Kirk, David Coe Technical Director: Lloyd Mitchell Assistant Technical Directors: Ryan Taylor & Eric Snow Costume Design: Missy Howe Playbill: Jacqui Mudre & Beatrice DeGrand Playbill Bio Coordinators: Debbie Leidlein, Tresor Kayumba Ariel Warshaw & Eric Snow Banner & Winterfest Logo: Krissy Ponden Props: Lloyd Mitchell, Joey Casey Costume Closet Key Holders: Ebba Werring and Nathan Howe Set Design: Lloyd Mitchell, Tom DiCorpo and Joel Werring Lighting: Joe Saint Traditional Song Coordinators: Krissy Ponden and Megan Kirk ~ support provided by Unquowa Faculty and Staff

MUSICAL NUMBERS (in order of appearance)

Greensleeves - Traditional 8th Grade Candle Dance and 7th grade Instrumental Ensemble

7 Nation Army - The White Stripes Norwegian Wood - The Beatles 6th grade Instrumental Ensemble

Song for My Father - Horace Silver Joy of Man’s Desiring - JS Bach 7th grade Instrumental Ensemble

Chameleon - Herbie Hancock Ukrainian Bell Carol 8th Grade Instrumental Ensemble

I’m a King Bee - Rolling Stones Kindergarten

Fireflies - Owl City 4th Grade Star Dancers

Under Pressure - David Bowie and Queen Upper School Vocal Ensemble and Instrumentalists

Armor Best - Surfaces 1st Grade Knights

Safe and Sound - Capital Cities Upper School Vocalists

MUSICAL NUMBERS (continued)

Enemy - Imagine Dragons Upper School Vocal Ensemble

Twisting the Night Away - Sam Cooke 2nd Grade Jesters

Footloose - Kenny Loggins 3rd Grade Wizards

Crazy Train - Ozzy Osbourne Upper School Vocal Ensemble and Instrumentalists

I Ain’t Worried - OneRepublic Upper School Vocal Ensemble

I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyes Peas 5th Grade Stick Dancers

You Can’t Stop the Beat - Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman Upper School Vocal Ensemble

Traditional Songs and Dances Funga Alafia Lord of the Dance Oh Hanukkah 12 Days of Christmas

Funga Alafia Funga Alafia Ashe Ashe Funga Alafia Ashe Ashe Ashe Ashe Ashe Ashe Funga Alafia Ashe Ashe

Lord of the Dance by Sydney Carter

‘Tis a gift to be simple ‘tis a gift to be free ‘Tis a gift to come down where we ought to be and when we find ourselves in the place just right ‘twill be in the valley of love and delight Chorus: Dance, dance wherever you may be I am the lord of the dance said he and I’ll lead you all wherever you may be and I’ll lead you all in the dance said he

O Hanukkah O Hanukkah, O Hanukkah, We’ll light the menorah; We’ll celebrate the season by dancing the hora. Happiness and joy on this holiday. Ev’ry day for eight days children will play! And while we are playing, the candles of Hanukkah glow! Shining so brightly, reminding us nightly of wonders of days long ago. O Hanukkah, O Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights.

Twelve Days of Christmas On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me Twelve drummers drumming Eleven pipers piping Ten lords a-leaping Nine ladies dancing Eight maids a-milking Seven swans a-swimming Six geese a-laying Five golden rings Four calling birds Three french hens Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear tree 11

Grade 8

Julia Broder

Miran Falk

Charles Farinella

Clarissa Fleming

Tanyse Floyd

Michael Frascatore

Nathan Howe

James Khatana

Ethan Kirk

Noah Kurzenberger

Lara Kusche

Teddy Kushel

Eddie Musser

Eliza Raben

Charlotte Roberts

Mateo Rojas

Raleigh Simmonds

Ty Srihari

Elijah Starke

Ebba Werring

Jordan Wilson

Eloise Young

Tessa Balmer

Matteo Brebbia

Piper Carrillo-Foote

James di Bonaventura

Chipili Dumbwizi

Owen Epstein

Jack Ferrandino

Bryael Gonzalez

Mason Gray

Kyra Karayiannis

Wyatt Lieberman

Sarah Maximin

Zeylah McDowell

Addie Mulvehill

Virginia Murphy

Sam Tanzer

Grade 7

Adrian Omisore

Aidan Omisore

Sawyer Onthank

Finn Parsons

Anson Pitts

Ava Sylvestro

William Tanner

Coco Thomson

Emily Toolan

Michael Toolan

London Acunto

Sylvia Barbuto

Oola Breen-Ryan

Reya Halper

Cole Herlet

Ellie Holtz

Grade 6

Weston Doyle

Sierra Iacovella

Vivian Kelley

Max Kusche

Neru Lopez- Aponte

Cameron Mitchell

Isabelle Onthank

Ethan Perez

Clara Pompa

Alegria Rojas

Clara Scotto

Emi Smith

Everette Spinner

Asher Tulupman

Vivian Winkelmann

Jax Yeung

Mrs. Megan Kirk

Mr. David Coe

Mr. Lloyd Mitchell

All About Our Cast and Crew LONDON ACUNTO (Sami) This is London’s first Winterfest! London is excited to contribute to this production by playing the role of Sami and being a “bee helper”, which is to help the kindergarten during their performance. London reflects, “I am most excited about the theme, “Honey I shrunk the kids!” I am also excited that I am working to present this play with a lot of amazing people!” London loves being on stage, she often gets compliments about her stage presence and how she is meant for the stage. These amazing praises keep her going, she just loves performing. Last year, London had the distinct honor of sitting in the audience and watching the production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It’s never easy to pick your favorite hobby, however, London shares that she enjoys acting, dancing, and baking! TESSA BALMER (Uma) Tessa Balmer is a new 7th grader this year, and she is looking forward to seeing her new friends in their various roles in the production. This year she is in the Royal Court as Uma, and she is loving it! She is looking forward to all of the dances, especially since she knows she has them all down. One of her favorite parts about acting is having lines to say in the show.. Outside of school, Tessa volunteers at Earthplace, a teen club, and cleans out animal cages. SYLVIA BARBUTO (Royal Announcer) This is Sylvia’s 9th Winterfest and her first for having a speaking part. Her part as the Royal Announcer is a perfect role for Sylvia and she is looking forward to the show. Sylvia has been eyeing several of the dresses from the time that she was six years old and is so excited to finally be able to wear one in the performance. Sylvia is looking forward to the night show and the pre-show butterflies. When not on stage Sylvia enjoys playing soccer, hosting parties, and hanging out with friends. MATTEO BREBBIA (Prison Guard Samuel/Ensemble/Instrumentalist) Matteo is excited for his fourth Winterfest at Unquowa. Last year he was court member Tristan, and this year he is prison guard Samuel. This year, Matteo is excited to have the traditional dances back, given that Winterfest has not had all of the traditional dances in a few years because of COVID-19. The thing that Matteo likes most about Winterfest is the fact that everyone, even the little kids, are able to dance and perform something, no matter their skill level. He likes performing because of the thrill you get while doing so and because of the bonds you create with your fellow performers. When it’s warm, Matteo likes to paddleboard, go sailing, and go to the beach. When it’s too cold to do those things, he likes to play his guitar and fence. Overall, Matteo is very excited for Winterfest this year and hopes everyone enjoys it. OOLA BREEN-RYAN (Royal Announcer) This will be Oola’s 7th Winterfest. Her favorite part of Winterfest is the excitement leading up to the show and seeing it all come together. Oola loves acting because you make so many friends during the preparation for the show, and the adrenaline rush before the performance is really fun. Winterfest unites the entire school, and she thinks that’s really great. In her spare time Oola likes to read, write, and bake, and play softball. Oola is SO excited for the performance this year! She feels that Winterfest is an amazing tradition!! JULIA BRODER (Tech Crew) Julia is excited to take part in her second Winterfest. This year she will be managing the microphones on Tech Crew! She will be playing the ukulele at the beginning of the show and doing the candle dance. She is most excited about the process of the production and watching the tradition come together and the fun holiday songs at the end. One of her favorite celebrations is the memorable confetti featured at the end of the show. Outside of school, Julia enjoys playing basketball and squash and loves to hang out with her friends and family. PIPER CARRILLO-FOOTE (Knight Talio) Piper can’t wait for her fourth Winterfest! She is so excited to go from being a royal court member to protecting the kingdom as Knight Talia! She really enjoys the traditional dances at the end of the show and being in the production with everyone! Outside of school, she loves to play with her dogs and spend time with her family as well as read, and play tunes on the piano. Piper can’t wait to see everyone perform in this year’s Winterfest.

JOEY CASEY (Props Coordinator) This is Mr. Casey’s second Winterfest and he is looking forward to the festivities beginning. He has worked hard with classes to create some of the larger-than-life props you’ll see in this year’s production. Mr. Casey loves working with Mrs. Kirk to make the words in the script into real-life objects. DAVID COE (Instrumental Director) David is the Instrumental Music instructor at Unquowa. He loves being part of the Unquowa community as everyone comes together to create this magical event! He especially looks forward to working with the amazing and talented Mrs. Kirk and Mr. Mitchell! JAMES DI BONAVENTURA (King Garrett/Instrumentalist) James is excited for his 9th Winterfest. This year, James is going to play the role of King Garrett. He is excited to perform with his friends. He likes Winterfest for its different themes throughout the year, like the Star Wars version with the lightsabers a few years ago. He is usually an instrumentalist and likes playing songs to a crowd. Outside of school, James likes running and playing video games with his friends. He is a big fan of the tradition of Winterfest and hopes that it will continue forever! WESTON DOYLE (Tech Crew) This will be Weston’s first Winterfest at Unquowa, contributing to Tech Crew. He is most excited about the different music. Weston thinks of himself more as a background person than performer. Weston has many hobbies, his two favorites are, playing baseball and video games. Weston is exceedingly excited and looks forward to everything Winterfest has to offer. TOM DICORPO (Set Design) Mr. Tom joins us for his second Winterfest here at Unquowa. He has taken the reins for many of the “behind the scenes” projects and activities from set decoration with giant ladders to creating and painting props to even making it snow! Mr. Tom is always available to pitch in wherever needed to ensure the show is a success. CHIPILI DUMBWIZI (Advisor Nikola) Chipili is thrilled to be a part of Winterfest for the second time during her time here at Unquowa! She’s looking forward to playing Royal Advisor, Niko and singing and dancing along with everyone around the majestic kingdom! Chipili is in love with the traditional candle dance and the reveal of the banner at the beginning of the show! Even though she enjoyed playing Libby in the last Winterfest, she’s excited for this new production and can’t wait for you to see it all come together! You can find Chipili shooting some hoops or swimming, doing flips in the water, and socializing with her friends in the woods of Unquowa! OWEN EPSTEIN (Instrumentalist) Owen is a great instrumentalist who plays guitar, and he’s very excited for his second Winterfest at Unquowa. Owen is excited to play his guitar and drums in front of an audience in the show just like last year. Owen likes the loud cheering at Winterfest and he also likes playing in the drum circle with his peers. Outside of school, Owen likes to play soccer and cook. Owen is looking forward to this year’s banner and seeing its decorations! MIRAN FALK (Tech Crew) This is Miran’s 4th year in Winterfest. They acted in it for their first two years, and they are now a part of the amazing Tech Crew! This year they are the Light Manager, and they will make sure to use some of their artistic ability to make this year’s Winterfest bright — literally! Other than just tech, Miran likes to play the guitar and play D&D. We’re sure they’ll be ready and able to roll really high at showtime. Miran is really excited about Winterfest, because it is their last year doing it being an 8th grader. Knowing them, nothing will get in their way. No matter what happens, they will try their hardest to make this Winterfest fun! CHARLES FARINELLA (Wayne Szalinski) Charles has been in three Winterfest productions. He is playing the father, Wayne, and is excited to have a bigger role than last year! He likes the finale the best, especially “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” His role last year was the head knight. When he’s not at school, his favorite activities are playing baseball and skiing.

JACK FERRANDINO (Instrumentalist) Jack is excited to participate in his third Winterfest this year! He is playing piano with the instrumental group, and he is very excited to perform (as he usually is). Jack finds it amazing how his friends are able to memorize so many lines in just a few months! Jack loves to play keyboard and drums at School of Rock outside of school, and is a huge fan of video games. Jack hopes that the show will be as great as it always is! CLARISSA FLEMING (Instrumentalist) This is Clarissa’s 4th Winterfest as an instrumentalist. Her favorite part of the celebration is after the show with all of the confetti. Outside of school, while she enjoys playing sports such as swimming, she would prefer to sleep. Clarissa is very shy and nervous about performing, but you won’t miss her in this year’s show! TANYSE FLOYD (Mae Thompson/Instrumentalist) This is Tanyse Floyd’s 9th and final Winterfest here at Unquowa. She has stepped down from being Queen and is now Mae Thompson. In her free time, Tanyse enjoys dancing and listening to music, activities she’s loved ever since she was a little kid. Her favorite subject is math. Tanyse’s favorite part of Winterfest is when we all sing our traditional songs at the end. It has been a long and fun journey here at Unquowa, and she will miss it all! MICHAEL FRASCATORE (Tech Crew) This is Michael’s 10th Winterfest! In 2021, Michael played King of Unquowa. After a very successful performance last year, Michael decided to switch roles and orchestrate the magic backstage on Tech Crew. Michael is excited to learn … with tech crew. When Michael is not at Unquowa, you are sure to find him on the hockey rink or playing chess or pool. BRYAEL GONZALEZ (Rida) Bryael is super excited for her eighth Winterfest this year! She is looking forward to trading in her previous role of Christiana and suiting up to play the role of Rida. Bryael enjoys the brightening atmosphere of the gym when it’s turned into the amazing Winterfest castle! Outside of school, she loves to sing, spend time with her sisters, and get creative with makeup. Bryael is thrilled to debut her lines, and grab that mic to sing her solo in front of the crowd. Let’s go, Bryael! MASON GRAY (Rowen) Mason is experiencing his first Winterfest this year! Mason’s role this year is Rowen, a member of the royal court. He is excited for everyone’s roles, and is especially excited about the dances! Mason really likes the Winterfest because everyone is included, and he likes the big all-Upper-School rehearsals on Friday. Outside of school, Mason’s favorite hobbies are drawing and painting digitally! REYA HALPER (Instrumentalist) This is Reya’s first Winterfest! Reya will be contributing to the production as an instrumentalist. Reya looks forward to sharing her love of instruments and music with others. Upon reflection, Reya appreciates that everyone is included and it’s a caring community. Reya loves art, playing music and singing. As it is Reya’s first Winterfest, Raya looks forward to seeing everyone’s performances. COLE HERLET (Tech Crew/Instrumentalist) This will be Cole’s 2nd Winterfest and he is very excited to be a part of the Tech Crew this year. This will give him the perfect opportunity to watch the whole show as it unfolds, which is his favorite part of Winterfest. In his spare time Cole likes to sail, play video games, and he loves electronics in general. He is very excited to play on the basketball team this year and can’t wait to work with his teammates to have a successful season. ELLIE HOLTZ (Isabel) This will be Ellie’s very first Winterfest! She will be playing the part of Isabel. She is very excited to wear a costume and participate in the singing and dancing. She can’t wait experience the whole event. Outside of school Ellie enjoys participating in swimming and playing basketball. She also likes spending time with her friends. NATHAN HOWE (Nick Szalinski) Nathan Howe, last year’s King Aslan, is excited to take off his crown and play the part of Nick in his 10th, and last, Winterfest! Nathan looks forward to the many songs performed by the lower grades, such as the Star Dance. Nathan loves the excitement leading up to Winterfest and the revealing of the traditional themed banner. Outside of school, Nathan plays on a competitive hockey team along with Michael Frascatore, who is a proud member of the stage crew this Winterfest.

SIERRA IACOVELLA (Daria) This will be Sierra’s 6th Winterfest and she is looking forward to playing the role of Daria, her first speaking role. She is most excited to wear costumes, participate in the big rehearsals, watch the gym come to life, and the excitement of performance night. In Sierra’s words, the gym always transforms into a castle and it is so cool and magical to watch. You also make so many memories with your friends each year in just one night! Outside of school Sierra loves to figure skate, cook, and participate in the performing arts. KYRA KARAYIANNIS (Advisor Nevet) This will be Kyra’s second Winterfest. She went from being a royal court member last year to being a royal advisor this year. She is so excited for this show to come together with the lights and music - it’s truly magical! Kyra loves Winterfest because it’s a special tradition to this school, and it’s where everyone, from the youngest students to the oldest, comes together. Kyra especially loves telling a story through a musical and dancing to the music with her friends. When not in school, Kyra figure skates seven days a week to prepare for, and perform in, high level competitions! Yay Kyra! TRESOR KAYUMBA (Gatorbill Biographer) This is Trésor’s sixth winterfest and he takes delight in seeing the joy this celebration brings to the community. This is an important part of the school experience and there is nothing more communal than this event. He is exceedingly excited for the young people and teachers to have this moment. VIVIAN KELLEY (Erin) This will be Vivian’s ninth Winterfest. In this year’s production, Vivian will be part of the royal court as Erin. While there is a lot to be excited about with Winterfest, Vivian is most excited to be part of the magic! Upon reflection, Vivian said, “I love all the thought and feeling that goes into the show. I love just going out there and showing everybody what I’m made of.” Last year Vivian was a stick dancer. Some of the activities Vivian does outside of school include, playing soccer, acting, and she loves baking and cooking. Vivian is definitely not new to the school and has been here her whole life. Vivian looks forward to Winterfest because it’s a lot of fun. JAMES KHATANA (Instrumentalist) This will be James’ second Winterfest. His role in Winterfest this year is playing the ukulele and drums. He is most excited about performing drums with his friends Mateo and Ty. His favorite thing about Winterfest is the experience of coming together with the whole school to perform with an audience. His favorite part about performing is being able to share the music that his school performs with others. His previous role last year was also playing the ukulele and drums. His absolute favorite thing to do outside of school is rock climbing. He decided that he loved it enough to even get on a competitive team! ETHAN KIRK (Russell Jr/Instrumentalist) Ethan is excited to enter his 9th and final Winterfest playing Russ, Jr.! Certainly a shift from his previous role of Uncle Kevin, Ethan’s excited to once again have guitar incorporated into his role. Ethan likes the confetti, and likes being able to put on a show for his family and his friends. Outside of school, Ethan can often be found playing the guitar, video games, lacrosse, or playing air guitar with his lacrosse stick while on a video game. Ethan is most looking forward to the show itself, and the party the day after. Ethan loves to put on a good show and loves the whole celebration itself. MEGAN KIRK (Director/Musical Director/Choreographer/Playwright) Winterfest is one of Megan’s favorite times of the year! All year, Megan’s students, from Pre-K-4 through 8th grade, have been working extremely hard in class on their vocal, dramatic, and dancing skills. It fills her heart with joy to see all of their hard work payoff in such an amazing show! Winterfest holds such a special place in Megan’s life as it brings the whole Unquowa community together, celebrating each and every student. It is so amazing to see the excitement build in our school from the moment the winterfest theme is announced all the way to our final show. She would like to thank all of the students, faculty, staff, parents, and especially the Performing Arts Team for making this show a huge success. NOAH KURZENBERGER (Instrumentalist) This year, Noah is more than thrilled to play guitar again in his second ever Winterfest. He is most excited about performing the class’s new songs, and watching the younger kids have their first performances. Noah is fond of being up on stage, especially if he doesn’t have to sing. He adores watching the celebration, especially the confetti at the end. When not in school, Noah is a big fan of going out with friends and sketching in his notebook. An avid lover of writing, this year’s editor-in-chief of our literary magazine is ready to hit the spotlight!

LARA KUSCHE (Tech Crew) This is Lara’s sixth Winterfest and her first one as a member of Stage Crew. She is super excited to experience Winterfest from behind the scenes. Lara loves seeing all of the students have tons of fun while dancing and singing on stage. Although she doesn’t like performing, she does like to sing along to the songs backstage. Last year, she played the part of Rita, a court member, and then turned into one of the White Witch’s minions. After school, Lara enjoys reading, riding horses, playing polo and spending time with animals. MAX KUSCHE (Tech Crew) This is Max’s sixth Winterfes!t Max is ecstatic to be part of the tech crew as well as having the opportunity to be performing with the instrumental group. Max is a veteran at the different performances including his favorite as a stick dancer last year. Outside of school, you can expect to see Max playing soccer, tennis, skiing, or playing Minecraft Bedwars. TEDDY KUSHEL (Instrumentalist) Teddy is excited to hang up his stage crew boots and take on a more relaxed role playing the ukulele and drums in his 5th and final Winterfest! Teddy is most excited for the feeling of finishing something you’ve worked hard on, and for the confetti at the end! Outside of school, Teddy is often found playing soccer, stuck on a zipline, watching college football at obnoxiously late hours, or stuck upside down in a fence. Teddy would like to add that the previous points show how graceful he is at all aspects of life, especially while skiing. DEBBIE LEIDLEIN (Tech Crew/Gatorbill Biographer) When December rolls around and the excitement for Winterfest begins to build, Unquowa turns into a truly magical place. This will be her twenty-first Winterfest and she has seen the celebration evolve throughout the years, but one thing always remains the same - the fact that Winterfest is truly a magical event! It is all inclusive and celebrates everyone’s talents. I can’t wait for the stage to be lit! WYATT LIEBERMAN (Rom Thompson) Straight out of tech crew Wyatt is taking a new role in his 8th Winterfest. Wyatt is excited to have a bunch of lines in this Winterfest and to play a really interesting character. He can’t wait to blow you all away with his incredible acting skills! While Wyatt is eagerly anticipating the performance, he’s also excited for the sleep he’ll get after. Outside of school, you can find Wyatt waiting in line at Starbucks to help keep him awake in Winterfest rehearsals - the show must go on! NERUSHKA LOPEZ-APONTE (Wendy/Instrumentalist) This is Nerushka’s seventh Winterfest and she will play the role of Wendy. Nerushka is excited about the costumes that everyone wears and that amazing transformation. One of her favorite things she likes about Winterfest is singing Hanukkah song at the end of the celebration, she enjoys delivering her lines and certainly dancing as well. The culmination of all this brings her a lot of joy. Last year Nerushka was a stick dancer. When Nerushka isn’t in school, you can expect her to be enjoying food, playing basketball, sleeping, watching TV, calling friends and then hanging out with the friends. Nerushka enjoys shopping, singing and dancing, and taking care of her dogs as well. In a nutshell, Nerushka loves art projects and having fun in general, a school dance here and there wouldn’t be so bad neither! SARAH MAXIMIN (Jenni) Sarah is excited for her 8th Winterfest this year! In this production, Sarah is playing Jenni. Like every year, she is most excited to see everyone perform, and is especially looking forward to the confetti cannons at the end - they’re a big part of what she loves about the final performance. Sarah was in the tech crew last year, and is glad to be acting as a change of pace. Outside of school, you can find Sarah playing a number of different video games! ZEYLAH MCDOWELL (Instrumentalist/Dani) This is Zeylah’s second Winterfest, and she is excited to play music and also to perform in the show this year. This year, she plays Dani, who is part of the royal court. In addition to playing music and acting, she is also excited for the confetti at the end of Winterfest, and looks forward to seeing it all come together after. When she is not drawing in her sketchbook, you can find Zeylah hanging out with her friends or family or taking pictures of nature. CAMERON MITCHELL (Tech Crew) This is Cameron’s 9th Winterfest. Cameron’s looking forward to contributing as Tech Crew in this year’s production. This will be Cameron’s inaugural year in this role. One of Cameron’s favorite parts of Winterfest is, “when we throw the hats up in the air during Hanukkah song!” Last year Cameron was a stick dancer, along

with his fellow 5th grade classmates. Cameron has a lot of hobbies, amongst his favorite is playing soccer. LLOYD MITCHELL (Tech Crew Director) Mr. Mitchell is thrilled to direct his 15th tech crew. This is his 16th Winterfest. Mr. Mitchell has worked on many productions both on stage as an actor and behind the scenes in a variety of roles including sound, light and stage direction. He loves orchestrating the surprises of Winterfest each year! He is looking forward to this year’s production and another flawless performance in Tech Crew’s new production booth! ADDIE MULVEHILL (Paula) Addie is excited to become Paula in this, her second Winterfest! Her role in Winterfest last year was a court member and a dryad! Addie loves dancing and singing in the ensemble! Outside of school, she enjoys watching RuPaul’s Drag Race and playing with her dogs, Bob and Tugboat! VIRGINIA MURPHY (Queen Amelia) Virginia is looking forward to her ninth Winterfest! Last year, Virginia was Royal Caller Rachel, and this year she has moved up in the kingdom to Queen Amelia! Not only is she excited for the traditional dances, she is also looking forward to her first solo in Winterfest! Virginia always enjoys being on stage with others and says it makes the show so much more fun! Outside of school she loves to play soccer and spend time with family! EDDIE MUSSER (Zetain) By the end of this year, Eddie will have been in 3 Winterfest productions. In this year’s show, Eddie is performing as one of the mysterious Veneficus children, Zetain. In addition, he is excited to perform and sing with his friend, Sam (including the vigorously difficult rap). Eddie enjoys the Winterfest festivities for our kind community and the fun celebration that ensues after the performance, but he also enjoys performing in general. Last year, Eddie performed as the White Witch of Narnia, and he enjoyed the opportunity to play as the main antagonist! Aside from performing, he enjoys visual arts (usually through technology) and rollerskating! I mean, who wouldn’t enjoy roller skating on a cool autumn day, or drawing on a nice plush couch on a cold winter’s day (with hot chocolate, of course)?! ADRIAN OMISORE (Instrumentalist) American-born Adrian is excited for his fourth Winterfest this year. He is going to be an instrumentalist, playing the music everyone will get to enjoy. He is excited to play in front of anyone, and enjoys the thrill of the crowd. Adrian is especially excited about the confetti that will close out the evening. Outside of school, Adrian is busy playing sports, video games, drumming, running, and playing with his friends at Unquowa. AIDAN OMISORE (Instrumentalist) This is Aidan’s fourth Winterfest. This year, he is going to be an Instrumentalist, and is excited to play in front of a crowd. He likes to perform music, which he did last year, and share happiness with everyone. Aidan’s favorite hobbies are playing with his friends and playing video games with his brother. He also likes to breakdance and to play basketball. ISABELLE ONTHANK (Lucy) This is Isabelle’s fifth Winterfest and her role will be a member of the courtroom named Lucy and a bee helper, this is a special role for people helping the Kindergarten. Isabelle is most excited to be in the ensemble and the dances, she really enjoys doing the rehearsals and loves that we are always how thoroughly prepared all the actors are before the show. Last year Isabelle was a stick dancer, this is a big year for Isabelle. Outside of school, she loves horseback riding and hanging out with her horse at home. You’re not reading that wrong, Isabelle can hangout with horses at home because she lives on a farm!!! SAWYER ONTHANK (Lenny/Instrumentalist) This is Sawyer’s seventh Winterfest! He is happy to be playing Lenny, one of the members of the royal court. He’s excited that there is more action and that this is Honey I Shrunk the Kids. He likes being onstage at night, just singing and dancing. Last year, he was a royal court member. Outside of school, he likes D&D, gaming, and collecting. Not much more to add! FINN PARSONS (Prison Guard Christopher) This is Finn’s third Winterfest, and he is super excited to perform in it. He is excited to move beyond the one-line role he had last year, and is looking forward to playing Prison Guard Christopher this year. Finn has always

enjoyed acting, but this year he says he’s going to do even better than last year. He is also really excited to perform in front of a bunch of people. Outside of school, Finn is a budding artist, taking a liking to graffiti and street art. He has been doing graffiti for almost two years and has met a lot of cool people that have helped him on his journey. He also really loves heavy/death metal, and likes a number of bands that excel in that genre. Finn is extremely excited to take his love of art and self expression to the next level this Winterfest! ETHAN PEREZ (Instrumentalist) This will be Ethan’s 7th Winterfest and he is looking forward to performing with our instrumental ensemble. Ethan’s favorite part of Winterfest are the traditional dances and how everyone is able to participate in them. In his free time Ethan enjoys participating in sports and can often be found on the court shooting baskets or on the field playing football or soccer. ANSON PITTS (Instrumentalist) Born in Mt. Kisco, New York, Anson will be experiencing his third Winterfest this year. Anson is part of the instrumental program and will be performing on the drums and bass throughout Winterfest. He is most excited to play in the drum circle this year at the end of Winterfest. Anson loves DJing, playing guitar, bass, piano and playing hockey for the Milford Southern Stars. CLARA POMPA (Remi) This will be Clara’s 3rd Winterfest and she will be playing the part of Remi, a member of the Royal Court. Clara is very excited to have her very first speaking role this year. Clara’s favorite part of Winterfest is the festive feeling that takes over the entire school. Outside of school Clara’s favorite hobby is snail catching! Yes, you read that right, snail catching! KRISSY PONDEN (Banner/Art/Candle Dance/Choreographer) This is Mrs. Ponden’s twenty-fourth Winterfest and her seventeenth behind the scenes. She loves working with students to create the decorations for the castle and choreographing the Candle Dance. Mrs. Ponden especially enjoys watching the crowd’s reaction when the new eighth grade banner is revealed! ELIZA RABEN (Tech Crew) Eliza is joining Tech Crew for her second Winterfest, and she’s looking forward to learning what goes on behind the scenes! She loves the sense of community that working in Winterfest provides and all the fun memories that come with it. An avid birder, Eliza loves looking for her feathered friends. She’s seen everything from turkeys to nuthatches to hawks visit the feeder outside her window, but her favorite are the cardinals - each one is unique and identifiable by personality alone! When she’s not watching birds, she’s either drawing (a bird) or writing (about birds). CHARLOTTE ROBERTS (Diane Szalinski/Instrumentalist) Charlotte is taking on her 9th Winterfest this year! Charlotte is shifting from the Queen of the Kingdom to taking on the role of Diane Szalinski. Her favorite part of the celebration is the traditional dances at the end. She likes performing because she gets to do it with her friends. Outside of school, Charlotte loves playing sports such as swimming, running, and skiing. Be sure to look out for Charlotte in this year’s show! ALEGRIA ROJAS (Bee Helper) This will be Alegria’s 3rd Winterfest. She will be playing the part of Sasha, a Bee Helper. She is very excited about wearing a long pretty dress during the performance. Her favorite parts of the show are the rehearsals, performances and the dances, which means pretty much everything. Outside of school Alegria likes to sing and dance and she also enjoys riding horses. MATEO ROJAS (Instrumentalist) This will be Mateo’s 5th Winterfest. In 4th grade he was a star dancer, in 5th grade he was a stick dancer, and in 6th grade he became an instrumentalist, which he is very excited to still perform as this year! He will be rockin’ on the guitar and is ready to solo on stage. Mateo’s favorite part of Winterfest is watching the show (especially the confetti and streamers at the end)! He is sad that this is his last year participating in the play, but he is ready to join in the fun as an alum. Outside of school he is either jamming out on guitar, playing soccer, or hitting double resets on his opponents in Rocket League. CLARA SCOTTO (Laurence) This is Clara’s third Winterfest at Unquowa. Clara will play two parts in this year’s production, royal court member and ensemble. Clara is extremely excited to have a real role in Winterfest. Clara loves the traditional songs that we have

and sing every year. Clara enjoys performing and stepping into the role of someone else. In previous performances, Clara was a stick dancer. Clara loves sewing, soccer, basketball, acting, and reading. Clara has one brother who graduated from Unquowa, and two cats named Winnie and April. RALEIGH SIMMONDS (Rachel Thompson) This will be Raleigh’s 4th Winterfest 2022 here at Unquowa. This year, she scored the role of Rachel, a character close to her personality. Rachel is charismatic, and has a best friend who she is very close with. This is the first year Raleigh has gotten a main role, and she looks forward to having more stage time. One of her favorite parts of the Winterfest season is being able to perform for everyone; she also loves the confetti. Now, although these are both fun, the best part for her has to be the traditional dances and songs at the end of the show, including “12 Days of Christmas” and “Oh, Hanukkah”. Raleigh has always loved school, but also has lots of hobbies. Some of the things she enjoys to do are draw, bake, and hang out with her friends. EMI SMITH (Tracy) This year marks Emi’s second Winterfest. This year, Emi’s role will be court member and Tracy. Emi is excited to perform the songs and dances she and her classmates have worked on together. Emi is also looking forward to singing the traditional Winterfest songs. One of Emi’s favorite parts of Winterfest is the dances, she loves it because she is a trained and experienced dancer herself. In her first Winterfest, Emi was a stick dancer. Outside of school, Emi can be found dancing at her dance studio and doing ballet. She is currently practicing for a performance of Nutcracker. Emi has two siblings, one is a student at Unquowa and will be performing as a jester. ERIC SNOW (Gatorbill Biographer/Assistant Technical Director) This is Mr. Snow’s fourth year at Unquowa, and he’s been roped into helping backstage with Winterfest again! (Just kidding - he loves being backstage, ever since he joined tech crew for the first time in high school!) Now that he’s an old pro with the show, he’s very much looking forward to seeing his students perform and joining in the celebrations at the end! And, once again, for all of the Lower Schoolers who keep asking, Mr. Snow is still trying VERY HARD to make it snow as much as possible this year! EVERETTE SPINNER (Tech Crew) This will be Everette’s very first Winterfest. They is so excited to see how the show all comes together and how the show comes together and how the performers do. Everette is looking forward to being a part of the stage crew and hopes to help make some of the props that will be used by the actors. They is excited to see how the whole school will work together to put this performance together and thinks it is really cool. Outside of school Everette likes winter sports like skiing and figure skating. They also really enjoys art using all kinds of medias. Everett has also taken an interest in studying and trying to solve true crime. TY SRIHARI (Instrumentalist) F(Name)=(¼(8T+8Y)(½T-½Y) is performing in their 3rd Winterfest this year as a guitarist and drummer. While performing can feel stressful, they are pumped to be able to watch their friends sing. They enjoy secretly sleeping on the bleachers; with a winter jacket it is actually super comfy! Outside of school, they play video games and do math. ELIJAH STARKE (Russell Thompson/Sr., Instrumentalist) Elijah Starke, a king in last year’s Winterfest, is excited to take a break from royalty and play Russell, Sr., in his 10th and last Winterfest. Elijah has always enjoyed taking part in shows and is quite excited to take part in this year’s production. Outside of school, Elijah likes jammin’ out on instruments, and when he’s not playing an instrument, he competes in tennis tournaments. AVA SYLVESTRO (Queen Alora) Ava is excited to be Queen Alora in this year’s Winterfest! After being Aunt Laura in last year’s production, this will be Ava’s ninth Winterfest! She is most excited for the confetti and getting to wear the fun dresses and capes! She loves that the whole school comes together to perform as one. Out of school, Ava does even MORE theater at Broadway Method Academy! She is also very excited for her little sister Taylor (Poppy) to come see the show! WILLIAM TANNER (King Bob/Instrumentalist) This Winterfest is Will’s ninth, and he will be one of the two kings at Winterfest. He is excited about being able to act in this year’s show. He likes it when everyone is able to come together and make something beautiful, and he also thinks acting is fun. Will was in tech crew last year, and he loves to play video games with friends.

SAM TANZER (Zebadia, Instrumentalist) Sam Tanzer (he/him), has been in six Winterfests during his time at Unquowa. He is looking forward to playing the role of Zebidiah in this year’s performance, and played Edmond in last year’s show. Sam looks forward to performing for everyone in the audience this year, and hopefully entertaining all who come! When out of school, Sam enjoys playing the piano, participating in professional musicals or plays, and drawing. RYAN TAYLOR (Assistant Technical Director) Ryan is excited to be joining the stage crew for yet another incredible Winterfest! He has always loved the excitement and magic of the season, and this year is no exception. As a graduate of Unquowa (Class of 2006!) AND as a past King of the Royal Kingdom of Unquowa, he couldn’t be happier to help make all of the magic happen for this year’s Royal Court! He is excited to be back at the place where it all started, and part of the show once again! Go Gators! COCO THOMSON (Knight Tristin) Coco Thomson has been a part of four amazing Winterfests! This year, she plays Knight Tristin and is very excited about the traditional songs and dances after the performance! Coco loves to be able to come together with friends for Winterfest. Just last year, Coco played Tracy and was in the ensemble. When not prepping for her role, Coco loves to draw, go shopping, and play drums! EMILY TOOLAN (Lizzy Szalinski) Emily is super excited for this year’s Winterfest. She went from playing royal court member Fiona to stepping up to play the role of Lizzy this year. Lizzy is the youngest kid of the family, and Emily is looking forward to playing her, though at home Emily is TECHNICALLY the oldest of three (sorry, Michael)! Outside of school, she enjoys singing, drawing, acting, and skiing. Emily is always excited for the traditional dances and the 12 Days of Christmas song, and she is especially looking forward to the confetti at the end. Go Emily! MICHAEL TOOLAN (Instrumentalist/Eric) This is Michael’s 5th Winterfest. Last year he was an instrumentalist, and this year he is a part of the royal court as Eric. He is most excited about being in the show, having lines in the script, and seeing the performance all come together. He likes the ending of Winterfest with the holiday songs and confetti. He also likes watching the other lower school songs in Winterfest. Michael enjoys skiing in the wintertime and reading a good book. ASHER TULUPMAN (Instrumentalist) This will be Asher’s 1st Winterfest. He is very excited to see what Winterfest is really like and how it all comes together. Asher loves performing and feels that each performanc is a one-of-a-kind experience. Outside of school Asher enjoys fencing and running. He is most looking forward to having fun with Winterfest this year. ARIEL WARSHAW (Gatorbill Biographer) Ms. Warshaw is excited for her 6th Unquowa Winterfest! Each year, Ms. Warshaw loves fighting small children for control of the confetti throwers and “awwing” at the sight of our annual Partridge. She can’t wait to see the 8th grade banner, and loves the traditional dances at the end of every show. When she’s not in the classroom, Ms. Warshaw enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time with her family. EBBA WERRING (Amy Szalinski) Ebba Werring is ready to express themselves and impress the audience with their acting. They are looking forward to hanging out with friends and savoring their second Winterfest before they move on to high school. Last year, for their first production, they played Lucy Pevensie in Unquowa’s rendition of The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. During this time they were able to form new connections and improve their singing. This year they will be playing the role of Amy Salinski, a kindhearted girl with a special flower crown. Recently, they have picked up reading and drawing again and are working diligently to improve their skills. They also love hanging out with friends and talking about books.. As they are non-binary, they want to make it a big part of their last year at Unquowa to educate anybody who is curious about the LGBTQ community and mental health. JORDAN WILSON (Instrumentalist) This will be Jordan’s 5th Winterfest at Unquowa. Like last year, he is an instrumentalist, so that means he will be playing instruments during

the show. Jordan says one of the most enjoyable parts of Winterfest for him is watching the little kids perform dances. What he likes most about the celebration is watching the traditions we do each year. His favorite hobbies outside of school are playing basketball and reading. VIVIAN WINKELMANN (Susan/Instrumentalist) This is Vivian’s seventh appearance in Winterfest, and this year she will play the role of Susan. Vivian is most excited about the Hanukkah dance with the upper school and alumni, one of the things she enjoys about Winterfest is the amazing and cool outfits. Last year Vivian had the pleasure of being a stick dancer. Outside of school, Vivivan enjoys a wide range of activities. Some of the activities include, skiing, playing basketball, soccer, shopping, eating, sleeping, going on vacation, hiking, making sweets, listening to music, dancing, photography, modeling, acting, playing video games, cooking, and watching TV. A list like that, you know Vivian is always having fun! Vivian is looking forward to this year’s winterfest. JAX YEUNG (Walt, Instrumentalist) This is Jax’s second Winterfest and his role will be to act as Walt. Jax is excited for all the dancing that comes with this production. Jax enjoys all of the possibilities performing allows for, you get to be someone else for an hour or two. Last year, Jax was a stick dancer in last year’s production. Jax has an active life outside of school, amongst his many hobbies, he enjoys playing piano and rubik’s cubes. So whenever that unit comes up in Math, you know Jax is your guy! ELOISE YOUNG (Instrumentalist) Eloise Young is embarking on her 4th Winterfest this year and will be playing the ukulele! In her 3rd year as an instrumentalist, she is looking forward to playing amazing songs at the show. She loves the extra time allotted for Winterfest rehearsals, and loves watching all the grades’ performances. Outside of school, she likes to go for runs and complain. She also enjoys putting on fake tattoos and scaring her mother. You can’t miss her!

Aves, We are so proud of you! You are loyal, brave and honest. Never change. We love you tons! Love, Mom, Dad, and Tpop

HAPPY IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE 27

BRAVO, Di B BOYS!

HAVE A GREAT WINTERFEST! Love, Teri

Happy Holidays! from

Jeanne M. McCarron, MS, CCC-SLP Speech-Language Pathologist 311 Post Road East Westport, CT 06880 203-984-4110 email: speechpath@optonline.net

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Unafraid spirits... in a changing world!

Your Gift Makes a Difference

Congratulations to all the performers, crew members, musicians, artists, teachers, volunteers and generous donors that gave us Winterfest this year! Bravo! From your Fund for Unquowa 2022 Committee

Their Childhood.Their Future.Your Priority.

Give today at Unquowa.org/giving

Thank you to EVERYONE who came together to make this year’s show

... to our Director Megan Kirk for the wonderful script, music, and choreography ... to our Director David Coe for the instrumentals ... to all our actors, actresses, musicians, and tech crew ... to the students from PreK to grade 8 for all the practicing and rehearsing to make this event so spectacular ... to Lloyd Mitchell for tech guidance ... to Joe Saint and IMCD Lighting for their expertise and equipment … to Sharon Lauer for all her support … to our set scene painter Joel Werring for the incredible backdrops … to Missy Howe for all her work on costumes … to all the parent volunteers who helped during our crafting sessions and with costumes … to Krissy Ponden for creating the Winterfest Logo, Eighth Grade Banner & Candle Dance and helping with the traditional dances … to Debbie Leidlein, Tresor Kayumba, Ariel Warshaw, and Eric Snow for working with students in creating their bios for the Gatorbill … to all our Unquowa faculty who made this production possible with their support on the sidelines ... to African Percussion Instructor Henry Jones for working with our instrumental ensemble … to Sarah Pollex and Ryan Taylor for their flexibility with gym usage … to the UPA for the commemorative snowmen we look forward to each year … to all the Unquowa artists who created the artwork for our festival … to the UPA Hospitality Committee … to Tom DiCorpo for all that he does to make the show run smoothly ....to Ted Morton Photography for the student & staff portraits ... to Jacqui Mudre & Beatrice Degrand for Gatorbill ads, design & production … to all our sponsors who placed ads in our Gatorbill … to all our alumni who come back each year to join in the fun and excitement of our Winter Festival … finally, to all who donate so generously each year to Unquowa!

Thank you!