playbill vip

Jack Paransky

as Edna Turnblad

Jack Paransky (12) is currently a 6th grade student at Desert Canyon Middle School.  Jack has had a long and storied career in the musical theater arts including impactful roles in Music Man Jr. (Sacramento), the Wizard of Oz (Sacramento) and the Wizard of Oz redux (Scottsdale).  Jack can be currently found performing the role of Edna in Hairspray Jr with the valley of the sun JCC theater company.

Layla Riskin

as Velma Von Tussle

I am very excited and appreciate the opportunity to be Velma Von Tussle in Hairspray Jr. I would like to thank everyone that us make this such a great production! I have been in 2 productions at my school, Pardes Jewish Day School. I also am in Ensemble Elite at the Conservitory Of Dance.

Xander Rogers

as Seaweed J Stubbs

Xander Rogers is an 8th-grader at Desert Shadows Middle School, where he is a member of the Melody Men singing group.  Xander relocated from Illinois to Arizona this past summer.  At his previous school, he participated in a boys and girls choir.  In his spare time, Xander enjoys hiking, baseball, swimming and building legos.  Thank you, Ms. Kahn, for introducing me to local theater

Aviva Schnitzer

Aviva is 11 years old and is in 5th grade at Pardes Jewish Day School . She is an all star for Pardes and Ramms Sports League in volleyball, basketball and softball. Aviva loves to read, write short stories and lyrics. When Aviva is not busy playing sports or performing in the arts, she is working in the family business either at Luci's or Splurge

Emma Schwarz

as Dynamite

Emma is in sixth grade at Pardes Jewish Day School and enjoys playing tennis and singing. She has performed in Butterflies Day at Desert Stages, Cinderella at JCC summer camp and a musical at her school. She loves Hairspray Jr. and hopes to do more shows in the future. Emma is very happy to have gotten the role of dynamite girl and her family loves her very much.