playbill vip

Director's Notes

Welcome and thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for coming and sharing this wonderful show with us.  Annie is a musical that I have seen often but have never had the chance to direct.  It has not only been an honor but also a privilege to work with this year’s outstanding group of young people.

Since this program began many years ago, no matter how talented the group of students we have on stage, we could not begin to produce a show without the help and tireless energy of many amazing parents and the community of West Warwick.  Dear parents, thank you for all your efforts to make this production a successful and fulfilling experience for your children.  West Warwick community, thank you for your support year after year.  We could not do this without you.  Mrs. Rafferty-Smith, yet again you have dressed, coordinated and worked magic to create the wonderful costumes that appear on our stage tonight.  Mrs. Spencer, you really did manage to get everything we requested…and more.  Mrs. D’Amico, your organizational skills rival military units. Really. Thank you for your ability to “get the job done.”  Ladies, we all appreciate everything you have done for us. 

Every year we are very lucky to have some of our high school students come back and help us. This year Delicia D’Amico, Samantha Dick, Ivan Goretoy, Vincent Lancellotta and, all the way from Prout, Emily Rafferty Smith have assisted.   Thank you for giving up your time to come back and work with us.  Kara McIntosh, you truly are the best daughter any mother could have.  Taylor Santoro, no words can express how much you have contributed to the drama program both here and at the high school.  I know that you are going to be greatly missed, but I also know that you can look forward to an exciting career.  As your future enfolds before you, please recall us often for we will always remember you.

None of this could be accomplished without the dedication of a group of very special people I call my family.  Joe Lancellotta, Jill Fisher and Concetta Piekos, we eat, sleep and breathe this experience from the planning stages to show time.  I am so proud to call you my friends.  Lolly Wardle, I know you wish you could have spent more time with us but each minute you were with us was spectacular.  Kenneth Townsend and crew, yet again you have created the amazing set that transports us back to 1930’s Depression Era.  Richard Marchetti, Maestro Extraordinaire, what can I say? You rock!!! 

Finally, this whole experience would not have come to fruition without the hard work of the young people you see before you.  The talent and enthusiasm of this cast has impressed me beyond words.  In all the years of DMS Player history, we have never witnessed such an outstanding record of attendance, willingness to rehearse and sheer commitment to this whole process.  It has been my pleasure to get to know you all.  For the eighth-graders transitioning to  WWHS, I look forward to seeing you shine in the high school productions.

Oprah Winfrey best expresses how I feel at this special moment: “Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more.”  I am so very grateful for the “so very much more” that you, my wonderful, crazy and superb cast, have given me.

Fiona J. McIntosh