It is with mixed emotions that I am writing this being that it is my last year as President of the The Home and School Association and my daughter Marissa will be graduating in less than three months and will be going on to major in music theater in college next year. For the past 12 years I have participated in the Home and School Boards of my children’s schools, but nothing prepared me for what was in store at CAPA. Marissa entered CAPA the year after the school was unable to stage a musical. The thought of no musical at the City’s premiere performing arts school was unfathomable. Within a few weeks I was a newly minted board member.
As many of you know, The Home and School Association is asked to produce the school's musical. The daunting task of raising $50,000 to $60,000 dollars each year was placed in the Association's hands. Somehow, for the past 4 years, the goal has been achieved! I am so thankful to all of the parents who played a role in our fundraising efforts.
There are many people we wish to thank for their hard work and dedication in helping to insure that RENT was brought to CAPA's Main Stage! Our biggest thanks goes to Boni Wolf who is not only responsible for the sale of numerous ads, securing many donations, and putting together the raffle sales, but she most importantly has reached out to a large group of new parents who have now become active at CAPA! For all of her hard work and time, we are beyond grateful.
On behalf of The Home and School, we thank CAPA's leader, Joanne Beaver, who has been willing to do so much to help us get this show off the ground, even stepping up to sell tickets for us. We thank her for everything she does for CAPA and our kids! We extend our thanks to Marlene Goebig, Dorina Morrow, Brian Ewing, Dara Stevens-Meredith, Laura Wentz, and Jen Kramny for all of their time and dedication to making certain the production is the best it can be! A special thanks to CAPA's school security officer, Michael Pilla, who, without compensation, volunteered to help design and build sets, be the official school photographer and photographer of the head shots and back cover of this Playbill. Thanks to teacher Steven Nau for the cover art!
Thanks also to all of the teachers at CAPA, both in the arts and academics for being supportive of our kids and the time taken from their classes in order to produce a first-rate show! Special thanks to the CAPA support staff for everything they do to help support The Home and School!
Once again, we thank CAPA alums, The Roots, who have generously pledged a donation of $10,000 a year towards the production of the musical. We thank Suzanne Roberts and her family for a generous donation of $10,000 last year and an additional $2500 this year. Thanks also to those families who provided donations in excess of the ads they purchased including the families of Marissa Garcia (Adam Kaliner), Zami Buggs-King and India Simpson!
I would also like to thank the members of the Home and School Board past and present for all of the time they have spent throughout the years supporting CAPA and our fundraising efforts. Thanks to Susan Feenan, Linda DiMeo, Tracey Applin, Josh Yarden, Gail Kotel, Boni Wolf, Terrilyn McCormick, Melody Damis, Theresa Franchetti and Pat Fiorella.
Lastly, thanks to the extremely talented and dedicated students both participating in RENT and those who are not, for bringing such a unique energy and spirit to their school! They are what make CAPA thrive!
Given the challenging environment with regard to the arts in the country, it is my hope that the current CAPA students, whether they go on to a career in the arts or not, give back to the school that gave them so much!
Break a leg to the cast, crew and band of RENT!
Wendy Kaliner-Garcia
President of CAPA Home and School Association
