playbill vip

The Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) Department would like to acknowledge the fine efforts of the cast and crew of Puffs. These dedicated students worked long hours to create the outstanding performance that you experienced here today. We would also like to recognize the Director, Dana Grenell, and Assistant Director, Michael Seidel, whose undying commitment to teaching the artistic process of theatre, enriches the lives of students and helped create a successful Puffs performance. In addition, there are many dedicated teacher-advisors, who contributed to the various parts of this production including Amanda Ressler, Production Manager; Tammy Baldwin, OHS Stage Crew Advisor, Technical Director and Set Builder; Britt Keshner, Costumes and Make-Up Advisor; Ken Gold, OPA Stage Crew Advisor; and Monica Chavarria, Set Designer.

The VPA Department would like to give a special heartfelt thank you to Dr. Gerald Fitzhugh, II, Superintendent and Dr. Tina Powell, Assistant Superintendent of Innovation and Systems, for their love and support of the arts. The Department would like to give a big shout out to Ms. Karen Harris, who oversees the VPA Department under the umbrella of the Office of Humanities. Ms. Harris has endless enthusiasm for the arts, encouraging student interest and promoting student-awareness of artistic career paths. The VPA Department would also like to acknowledge our School Business Administrator, Mr. Jason Ballard, for his continued backing of this creative discipline, and we would be remiss if we did  not give a huge thank you to the members of Orange Board of Education, whose unwavering support of the arts makes all of this possible. Furthermore, a thank you goes to Mayor Dwayne Warren and the public servants of Orange, NJ, who show a great interest in all of our successes. Finally, we would like to thank the parents for lending us your children for the endless hours of rehearsal time and supporting your child in their interest in the fine art of theater. 

Orange Public Schools VPA’s vision is to develop and hone students’ talents to become responsible contributors to society and masters or lifelong patrons of the arts. The VPAs' mission is to provide opportunities for students to discover inherent abilities and improve student achievement as they progress through proficiency, accomplishment, and advancement levels of the Arts. The VPA program seeks to increase self-esteem and thereby build confidence that translates into self-efficacy in the Arts as well as other subjects. The program includes rigorous assignments that teach technical proficiencies along with English, math, history, culture, and technology to prepare students to be successful global citizens of the 21st Century. In addition, the program fosters community involvement through partnerships with local art organizations that encourages participation in student art exhibits, performances, and enrichment programs, enabling the district to bring student talents to the forefront.

Donna Sinisgalli, Ed.D. Supervisor of Visual and Performing Arts

Thank you to the Orange Community of Students and Families: You are the BEST!