In the Spotlight: Seniors Plus and College Announcements

Earlier this year, we posted about Evelyn's journey to SCSU next Fall as she declared early decision for the local university.

Today, we are proud to announce what the rest of the mentor team is doing next Fall to further their educations!

TOREY ROBINSON (Director/Head Choreographer) Current Graduate of Gateway Community College Matriculating in Fall 2016 to SCSU Major:  Math Education
CHRISTOPHER MADDOX (Stage Crew) Currently attending UCONN Waterbury Major:  Pharmacy/Nursing
BENJAMIN CROLL (Technical Director) Transferring in Fall 2016 to SCSU Member of National Guard Major:  Computer Science
EVELYN VARGAS (Administrative Assistant) Matriculating to SCSU in Fall 2016 Major:  Social Work
KEVIN KELLY (Director/Head Choreographer) Matriculating to Gateway Community College Fall 2016 Major:  Liberal Arts/Business
DEANDRE WARD (Head Choreographer) Matriculating to Gateway Community College Fall 2016 Major:  Business
KASANDRA BURGOS (Student Captain, Costumes) Matriculating to Drew University, Fall 2016 Major:  Pre-Med
KHALEIGHA JONES (Costume Crew) Matriculating to Gateway Community College Fall 2016 Major:  Early Childhood Education
LUIS TIRADO (Mentor, Student Safety Coordinator) Matriculating to Gateway Community College, Fall 2016 Major:  Liberal Arts
KENDALL GRIFFITHS (Stage Crew) Matriculating to UCONN Storrs Fall 2016 Major:  Engineering
MARLON HARRIS (Mentor, Choreographer) Matriculating to Gateway Community College fall 2016 Major:  Culinary/Entrepreneurism

Daedream COUNTDOWN!! 15 Days Left!

Our first Junior Mentors, 2016 (Coree, Autumn, Des'Tahnee, Tiyana)

Torey, breakdance shot

Coree

Elsa, Mariah, Chyna, Aaliyah

Siniyah, Snigtha

Torey with one of his students, Nelly and Mom Wanda sharing a moment.

Amazing choreographers and performers, Des'Tahnee and Aissatou

Work Session, Horror:  Torey, Tamia and Tiyana

Post-rehearsal chill

Luis, Horror!  One, two, Freddy's coming for you . . .

Horror Rehearsal (Shayna, Tiyana, Deandre)

Horror, Shayna, Deandre, Tiyana, Luis

New Lift on Life - Aicha and Deandre

CALENDAR of EVENTS - week of May 16

PARENTS – please bear with us if we run over.  We’re trying to have our tech and costume rehearsals as often as possible and working around all out teams’ schedules.  You may also check the calendar tab on the blog!
TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2016 WHOLE CAST	MAURO SHERIDAN ALL CAST UNTIL 6:30 PM WORK:  Finale building statue
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2016 KENDALL JORDAN JASON	Students will be transported by bus to CAREER. WHOLE CAST PICK UP 6:30 PM WORK:  Run through first half HORROR SOLOISTS/DUETS 7:00 PM
THURSDAY, MAY 19, 2016 KENDALL JORDAN BEN JASON	Students will be transported by bus to CAREER. RED SHIRT PICK UP 6:30 PM BLUE SHIRTS and MENTORS 7:00 PM WORK:  Run through second half with technology. SOLOISTS:  anyone who needs practice can stay until 7:30.
FRIDAY, MAY 20, 2016	TBA if NEEDED – we will let you know.
SATURDAY, MAY 21, 2016 – MANDATORY NOAH ON BOOTH KENDALL until 12 CHRIS JASON JORDAN	11:00 am – 6:00 PM  (Arrive ten minutes before) COSTUMES and ATTENDANCE REQUIRED.  PLEASE BRING the STARRED COSTUME items OFF YOUR COSTUME LIST, plus ANY ADDITIONAL ITEMS you have offered to bring for your scenes, including shoes.  BRING A LIGHT LUNCH and WATER.  SNACKS and water will also be SOLD. PICK-Up - RED and BLUE 6:00 PM MENTORS - 6:30

Here We Go

A very successful day . . .

So much happened in a short amount of time at our FIRST PRE-DRESS REHEARSAL on Saturday.  What may seem like a LONG day was actually packed with tons of things that just had to get done.

We've never had one of THESE before.  But with 500 costumes and close to 80 participants...days like this are what we thrive on as opportunities to move forward toward our collective goal.

This is the penultimate definition of Community Theater.

Thanks to Stacy Wilkin for fixing up an amazing lunch fundraiser, Sheila Rivera, Julio Lopes, Jr., and Mentor Evelyn Vargas.  (And special thanks to Sebastian).

Costume Creations and unbelievable fittings and organizing session attended by Lori Brigham, Karina Burgos,  Nancy Aronsen, Wanda Reyes, Connie Nucolo (Ms. Francis' Mom), and student leaders Kasandra Burgos, Khaleigha Jones, Destiny Berrios, Tamia C. and Gillian D. (8th graders in training).
Parent Leader and Support Nicole Sweet spent the day parked next to Ms. Francis and assisted with everything needed.  Costumes also made by (not not in attendance) Wilhemena Christon, Tracey Foskey, and teacher Crystal Solano.

Tech Director Benjamin Croll (SCSU), Supervisor William Slusky, and Light Technologists Jordan Lewis and Jason Denny ran the first full tech run-through with precision and ease.  Tech in training, Gabriel Burgos, was also on hand to help.

Stage Crew Kendall Griffiths (UCONN) and Christopher Maddox (UCONN), both former mentors in the Daedream Program, returned this year to participate in the stage crew experience.  Stage Manager Noah Potasz was absent in his attendance to the ESUMS Expo - and he and his team WON FIRST PLACE!  (more on all three of these guys in upcoming articles).  Thanks to mentor Maria 

Cervantes (Class of 2017 from Career) to also making the rehearsal run smoothly both in the dressing room and the stage wings.

No rehearsal can be complete without the MENTOR STAFF!  Many thanks to our codirectors, Kevin and Torey, and our mentors/leaders Deandre, Shayna, Cheyenne, Marlon, Radcliffe, Maria and Ronald for all of their hard work, dedication and outstanding performances that set the bar for what we expect from our cast.

So . . .a little thought for all involved!

Saturday Schedule of Events

Schedule for Saturday, May 14, 2016 AT CAREER

NOTES:  Mandatory Rehearsal = REQUIRED.  Costume items that you are providing are to be brought in a bag labeled in two places with child’s name.  Participants should arrive in OPENING DANCE items with the rest in a bag.  NOTE:  We cannot be responsible for misplaced or lost costume items.  Please be sure to mark in two places with permanent marker. PLEASE Arrive 10 minutes before CALL TIMES PLEASE BRING:  A book to read or something to pass time quietly.  Water!!  We will be selling snacks as well. I will be there to do tickets if anyone has ticket money to exchange!
CALL TIME	What	WHO
9:30 am	SET UP	Techies and Stage
10:00 am	West Side and Juice	All Mentors and Blue Shirts
11:00 am	Opening and Scene 1	ALL CAST
11:30 am	Costume Run	ALL CAST
1:30 pm	Lunch Fundraiser/Lunch Break	ALL CAST
2:00 pm	Full Run-Through	ALL CAST
5:00 pm	Recap and Work Session	ALL CAST
6:00 pm	Blue and Red pick-up Mentor Meeting Tech Breakdown	Blue and Red Shirts Mentors Techies
6:30 pm	Mentor/Tech Pick-up	Mentors and Techs

LUNCH FUNDRAISER EVENT DETAILS

Congratulations, New Junior Mentor.....

Coree B.

Welcome to the mentor group!

The Countdown is On!

Come and support us!

EXCLUSIVE Rehearsal Photos!

Exclusive Photos from Saturday, April 30, 2016 Rehearsal