June 2019 / / Preview Issue PAGE 1 The Explorer There’s No Place Like Home for SSJ Stage Performers By Ciara McCloskey The last weekend of April welcomed SS. Simon and Jude’s 3rd annual school play, The Wizard of Oz. After months of preparation, students from grades 4 through 8 performed four sold out shows plus a sneak preview for students on Thursday afternoon. From the acting and singing to the sets and costumes, audience members raved about the performance! SSJ’s annual spring play has solidified itself as “the must see event” of the school year. The Wizard of Oz, an 80-year old musical classic filled with heartwarming solos and energetic group dance numbers, was directed by Mrs. Clapham and produced by Mr. Kinka. Mrs. Stringham was the music director and Mrs. Volpe was the choreographer. The play starred Anna Angelozzi ‘19 as Dorothy, Paul Clapham ‘19 as The Scarecrow, Tyler Kinka ‘19 as The Tin Man, and Gabe Galiffa ‘19 as The Cowardly Lion. The full cast included nearly 100 students who prepared for months and were instrumental in supporting roles and as ensemble cast members. SSJ actors and actresses did an amazing job of bringing this story back to life. As one among the sea of audience members enjoying the play, I wondered how a show like this comes together, how much work goes on behind the scenes to put on such a performance, and what it’s like for those involved. Who decides what play to perform? [Mrs. Clapham] The directors each come up with five plays and then we discuss them to narrow the list down before making a final decision. It’s important to pick a play that you can cast. Fortunately, SSJ has many talented students to fit the roles. What is the casting process like? [Mrs. Stringham] Our cast consists of main leads, minor roles, and ensemble members. Students in 4th and 5th grades may join the musical ensemble by simply signing up and they are assigned a role. Students in grades 6-8 are invited to join the ensemble or audition for a role. During the audition, students sing about a minute of a song from the musical and act out some lines from the script. After all auditions are completed, we spend 2-3 hours discussing and deciding our cast. It’s a difficult task because all of the students at SSJ are talented and we wish that everyone gets the role that they want. How does the choreography come together? [Mrs. Volpe] Choreography is about telling a story through movement. I listen to the music for months in advance and try to envision the formations and transitions. After listening to cast members singing, I get a better sense for the music and accents. Then I put myself in a room and choreograph the number, listening to the music in pieces and writing down all the steps in my notebook. What’s it like to play a leading role? [Anna Angelozzi] It was dream come true! The Wizard of Oz has always been a favorite movie of mine and I’ve always dreamed of playing such an iconic role as Dorothy Gale. Taking on such an iconic role was definitely a challenge, plus this was my first show with a live animal! My favorite part was getting to sing Over The Rainbow, which is such a beautiful song. Before performing I always get slightly nervous, but mainly excited. I love acting, being around people, and sharing the gifts God gave me. The final performance was a bittersweet moment for a lot of us. We were all so proud of what we accomplished but, as graduating students, it was especially emotional to have to say goodbye.
Transcript
June 2019 / / Preview Issue
PAGE 1
The Explorer There’s No Place Like Home for SSJ Stage Performers
By Ciara McCloskey
The last weekend of April welcomed SS.
Simon and Jude’s 3rd annual school play,
The Wizard of Oz. After months of
preparation, students from grades 4 through
8 performed four sold out shows plus a sneak
preview for students on Thursday afternoon.
From the acting and singing to the sets and
costumes, audience members raved about the
performance! SSJ’s annual spring play has
solidified itself as “the must see event” of the
school year.
The Wizard of Oz, an 80-year old musical
classic filled with heartwarming solos and
energetic group dance numbers, was directed
by Mrs. Clapham and produced by Mr.
Kinka. Mrs. Stringham was the music
director and Mrs. Volpe was the
choreographer. The play starred Anna
Angelozzi ‘19 as Dorothy, Paul Clapham ‘19
as The Scarecrow, Tyler Kinka ‘19 as The
Tin Man, and Gabe Galiffa ‘19 as The
Cowardly Lion. The full cast included nearly
100 students who prepared for months and
were instrumental in supporting roles and as
ensemble cast members.
SSJ actors and actresses did an amazing job
of bringing this story back to life. As one
among the sea of audience members
enjoying the play, I wondered how a show
like this comes together, how much work
goes on behind the scenes to put on such a
performance, and what it’s like for those
involved.
Who decides what play to perform? [Mrs. Clapham] The directors each come up
with five plays and then we discuss them to
narrow the list down before making a final
decision.
It’s important to pick a play that you can
cast. Fortunately, SSJ has many talented
students to fit the roles.
What is the casting process like? [Mrs. Stringham] Our cast consists of
main leads, minor roles, and ensemble
members. Students in 4th and 5th grades
may join the musical ensemble by simply
signing up and they are assigned a role.
Students in grades 6-8 are invited to join
the ensemble or audition for a role. During
the audition, students sing about a minute
of a song from the musical and act out
some lines from the script. After all
auditions are completed, we spend 2-3
hours discussing and deciding our cast.
It’s a difficult task because all of the
students at SSJ are talented and we wish
that everyone gets the role that they want.
How does the choreography come
together? [Mrs. Volpe] Choreography is about
telling a story through movement. I listen
to the music for months in advance and try
to envision the formations and transitions.
After listening to cast members singing, I
get a better sense for the music and accents.
Then I put myself in a room and
choreograph the number, listening to the
music in pieces and writing down all the
steps in my notebook.
What’s it like to play a leading role? [Anna Angelozzi] It was dream come true!
The Wizard of Oz has always been a
favorite movie of mine and I’ve always
dreamed of playing such an iconic role as
Dorothy Gale. Taking on such an iconic
role was definitely a challenge, plus this
was my first show with a live animal! My
favorite part was getting to sing Over The
Rainbow, which is such a beautiful song.
Before performing I always get slightly
nervous, but mainly excited. I love acting,
being around people, and sharing the gifts
God gave me. The final performance was a
bittersweet moment for a lot of us. We were
all so proud of what we accomplished but,
as graduating students, it was especially
emotional to have to say goodbye.
PAGE 2
June 2019 / / Preview Issue
The Explorer
Roll Out the Red Carpet
Grandparents get the VIP Treatment
By Evan Gothie
On Monday, April 29, our school hosted
Grandparents/VIP Day. At 1:15, the
students and grandparents/VIPs met in the
gym. We started with a prayer service
consisting of a welcome from Sister
Regina, a few readings, and a blessing for
grandparents/VIPs from Father Gerlach.
Next, the preschoolers and kindergarteners
sang a few songs about their grandparents.
Then, the cast from the Wizard of Oz
performed the Munchkin Land scene.
Finally, the 8th graders finished the
program off with their The Greatest
Showman act from the talent show in
January during Catholic Schools Week.
After the program, the grandparents/VIPs
were invited to the classrooms. In the
classrooms, there were cookies, water, or
other snacks available provided by the
homeroom parents of every classroom.
The younger children invited their
grandparents/VIPs to make a craft with
them, while the older grades showed their
grandparents/VIPs their projects hung up
in or outside the classroom.
It is important to have this kind of event
here at SSJ. Not only is it fun for both
grandparents/VIPs and for students, but it
is important for the grandparents/VIPs to
see what the school is like and what the
students are learning. Grandparents/VIP
day can even inspire grandparents/VIPs to
send a child in their family to SSJ.
SSJ Newspaper Staff
Editors Darcy Campbell
Sydney Jordan
Michael Murphy
Rachel Williamson
Reporters Kiley DelFra
Louis DelFra
Cate Donohue
Amelia Foret
Evan Gothie
Ciara McCloskey
Mackenzie Melcher
Paige Reinecker
Photographers Gwyn Donohue
Maddie Hagman
Lauren Hillanbrand
Angelina Kerezsi
Aidan Quinn
Nina Wadyko
Art & Entertainment Lily Benek, Games/Puzzles
Ben Cline, Riddles
Isabella Paolino, Games/Puzzles
Ryan Quinn, Comic
Advisors Mrs. Jan Battista
Mrs. Kim Tobin
Riddles By: Ben Cline
1.) What is an ancient invention that allows you to see through walls?
2.) What kind of room has no doors or windows?
3.) How many of each animal did Moses take on his Ark with him?
4.) What 5 letter word becomes shorter when you add 2 letters?
1.)a window 2.) a mushroom 3.) None, Moses wasn’t on the Ark 4.) Short becomes Shorter
PAGE 3
June 2019 / / Preview Issue
The Explorer
WIZARD OF OZ WORD SEARCH
F P K W V M M U N C H K I N S I P
K Y L H I N O G B J O Y A P F P U
N Z T E L X L N K S E P D S J S D
T J C I V W K U G H U E N E N U B
X A A N C R A K U M O K I E T W D
U N P W Q D A W C M E N L T E O Q
N U N V S C L M A T J L G Q N R Z
C G A Y G E R A R U J M Y I T C E
L N M N S F H D R O A U N T Y E M
E S N K Q L O C T E S X O M D R S
H N I A F R O N T V M S Z V O A U
E V T Y O X V S T I H E E F C C E
N Z B T N W T F O B W G A F J S D
E P H A D W J Q T K F I V S O M N
R Y T X O E W L O P Z D Q Q X R R
Y S E E R T E L P P A Y R G N A P
J N E F L Y I N G M O N K E Y S Z
emeraldcity flyingmonkeys professormarvel
munchkins auntyem Dorothy
toto glinda witches unclehenery
scarecrow tinman angryappletrees
Unscramble Teacher Last Names YDOFSOR_________________________________________
