I must admit that I have bittersweet feelings about our 2021 Spring Musicals this year. The Covid-19 Pandemic has changed almost everything we know Theatre to be. Not being able to be interactive and perform their talents on stage has been very challenging for our Princeton Unified Middle School students. I deliberately chose to produce not one but two musicals this year, engaging four casts with different principal performers every night to give more students the opportunity to perform. The new online/remote approach to Theatre has changed our views of theatre on many levels and this altered form of theatre was a labor of love, hard work and determination while simultaneously meeting the challenge of creating excellence in an ever-changing world.
However, we have an innovative, resilient, and talented group of students, teachers, administrators and staff who simply have chosen to not allow any obstacles, physical or mental, to stop us from moving forward. I am so proud of the TEAM for stepping up to the occasion and staying open minded enough to collaboratively decide to reimagine how to bring not one but two scripts to life using remote/online alternative methods of creativity. They have gone above and beyond to create the magic you will witness and did not hesitate to be on board with a two-musical request from me this year when they were only required to do one musical. I applaud their successful efforts.
The creative collaboration that has been necessary to make this presentation possible, in these tumultuous times, has been fueled by the positive attitudes and mindsets of our wonderful students. They have brought us joy and laughs during our distancing rehearsals. They have been relentless in their dedication to this project. They have been unwavering in their enthusiasm for learning their lines and meeting video recording deadlines. I am so proud of their efforts and am truly excited about the level of flexibility and commitment that has been an integral part of this new process of performance.
I want to give a humongous THANK YOU to the TEAM for putting on their thinking caps and not ever giving less than their BEST, as usual. Mr. Thomas Foley, Assistant Director, who never says no to me and is always open to new experiences. Who is my solution-oriented guru. I love your vision, theatrical eye and YOU! Ms. Allison Fay, Vocal Director, who was responsible for putting together the music you hear in the show and working on/ supporting the editing of student posters. You are Wonderful. Mr. Matthew Halfacre, Set Designer/Videographer/Editing, for learning new software, editing our shows, and creating virtual backgrounds while simultaneously working online with a group of students as the set crew. I so appreciate all of your efforts and how you always choose to go above and beyond to achieve excellence in the wake of all the challenges. You are Amazing. Mrs. Monica Kapoor, Choreographer/Videographer/Editing/Set Design, who created the musical numbers and put them together by learning new software, editing, and creating virtual backgrounds. You are phenomenal.
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