It’s always such a special time of year for us. Having the opportunity to look back and reflect on the season as it comes to a close provides us an opportunity to take stock in a way that seems impossible while amid classes, rehearsals, meetings, college auditions, workshops, and holiday performances… the list goes on! But here we are! And what a year it has been!
This season presented us with so many incredible new opportunities, soaring successes and, with that—major challenges! Putting this show on is challenging enough and our therapist (yes, we see the same one—it seems to save time) probably knows enough about the inner workings of PPC to do it for us.
The fact that our SENSATIONAL Pre-Professional Company members can put on a full, two-hour show in less time than the average Professional production, all while managing the requirements of being high-functioning students, juggling homework, school activities and family commitments, and especially this year with the success of The PROM on ZACH’s season, is truly a credit to their dedication to their craft and tenacity of will!
Unlike a traditional musical, which arrives with a set selection of songs and scenes that feature only a handful of lead and supporting actors with the rest of the cast in the ensemble; PPC Showcase provides an opportunity for everyone to have moments in each of these vital roles, with the cast of seniors as the principal characters. This usually means that while the traditional musical has 3-6 big production numbers, with large groups of cast members on stage singing and dancing - PPC Showcases usually feature 10 and up! Even further testament to the skill of these young performers!
STRONGER: WHO I AM continues the story we began to tell in last year’s show, INVINCIBLE: STORIES OF RESILIENCE. We asked, what happens once you’re “out of the dark” so to speak, and start to figure out who you are, and what you want in life a little bit more…what does it mean to be “unapologetically yourself,” and what would it mean to have the chance to miss the mark—start over and get it right, or at least closer!
That is the journey of all of our lives! Haven't we all had a time when the blunder of one moment rolls into the next; haven’t we all looked back and wished we could have said it differently, or not at all; Do you ever feel like your life is a game show and everyone is waiting to see what choice you’re going to make?
Two monologues in the second act ask the questions: “What if we just stopped playing games and were simply kind to each other?; What if we just told the truth, kindly and with compassion; What if we just remembered that who we are is enough, and what we are is strong!”
- Peace, Love, PPC, Jen and Josh
DAVE STEAKLEY, Producing Artistic Director
JAMIE HERLICH, Managing Director
STRONGER: WHO I AM
Direction by Josh Wechsler, Jennifer Young Mahlstedt
Choreography by Jen Young Mahlstedt
Music Direction by Josh Wechsler
Special Guest Music Direction by Jenn Goodner
Musical Arrangements by Josh Wechsler
*Guest Choreography by Karly Powell-Lewis, Cheryl Copeland, Sharon Marroquin, Monica Oliva, Amelia Paul, Cassie Abate
*Additional musical arrangements by Maggie Brown.
Austin Manning
Director of Production
Austin Brown
Lighting Designer
Jacob Zamarripa
Assistant Lighting Designer
Tim Riigs
Manager of Audio Visual and Sound Designer
Reid Tennis
Lighting Supervisor
Devon Muko
Resident Production Stage Manager
Harriet Butler
Stage Manager
Casey Boriskie
Assistant Stage Manager
Desiree Townes
Wardrobe and Wig Supervisor
Kristin Knipp
Costume Coordinator
Valerie Kelly
Costume Associate
Sabrina Entrekin
Lead Dresser
Channing Miller
Wardrobe Crew
Jerremy Woods
Light Board Operator/Programmer
Allison Purdue, Jacob Zamarripa
Spotlight Operators
Austin Biron
Audio Engineer
Miranda Devere
Audio Technician
Iasha Domanof
Technical Direction
Morgan Davis
Deck Crew
Corey Finzel
Stagehand
For a full listing of Zach Theatre Staff, visit www.zachtheatre.org/about
Special Thanks: To Carolyn and Marc Seriff: For your endless support! To the PPC Team/Faculty, Ian Bethany, Grace Morton, Karly Powell-Lewis, Benjie Dia, Monica Willis, Jenn Goodner and Amelia Paul. To Maggie Brown, Cheryl Copeland and Sharron Marroquin: PPC is so grateful for your work and collaboration! To Nat Miller, Austin Manning and ZACH’s Production Team and To the PPC families and parent volunteers. Thank you for your support!!!
Act 1
Follow the Sun - Elite Company
Music and Lyrics by Xavier Rudd
Shine Like the Sun - ALL
(from 9 to 5: The Musical) Music and Lyrics by Dolly Parton
New Shoes - Elite Company
Music and Lyrics by Paolo Nutini, Matty Benbrook, Jim Duguid
Walking on Broken Glass - Elite Company
Music and Lyrics by Annie Lennox
Chains of Love - Elite Company
Music and Lyrics by Vince Clarke, Andy Bel
Wings - B Company
Music and Lyrics by Little Mix, Iain James
Love Me Like You Do - Elite Company
(from & Juliet) Music and Lyrics by Max Martin, Savan Kotecha, Ilya Salmanzadeh,
Ali Payami, Tove Nilsson
Say Goodbye - Elite Company
(From Dreaming Wide Awake) Music and Lyrics by Scott Alan
Worries to the Wind: Maggie Brown, Rena DeJuna, Ben Gillham, Sky Gonzales,
Niko Ramos, Zane Sheih
Music and Lyrics by Nikko Ramos, Arrangements by Maggie Brown
Can't Stop the Feeling - A Company
Music and Lyrics by Justin Timberlake, Max Martin, Shellback
Selections from The Prom - Elite Company
Music by Matthew Sklar, Lyrics by Chad Beguelin, Book by Bob Martin
Just Breathe
You Happened
Alyssa Greene
Unruly Heart
Dance the Night - Elite Company
Music and Lyrics by Dua Lipa, Caroline Ailin, Andrew Wyatt, Mark Ronson
Act 2
Benediction and Dream/Burn It - Elite Company
(From Frida) Music and Lyrics by Elliot Goldenthaland Lila Downs
Where is Love? - Elite Company with Wiley Davis, Reagan Roaquin, Charlotte Storm, Emily Wolfman
Music and Lyrics by Lionel Bart, Arr. Kirby Shaw, Maggie Brown
Praying - Elite Company
Music and Lyrics by Kesha Sebert, Andrew Joslyn, Ben Abraham, Ryan Lewis
Tightrope - B Company
Music and Lyrics by Janelle Monáe Robinson
Everybody Hurts - Elite Company
Music and Lyrics by Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe
Monologue: King of the Hill with Ruth Waiwaiole and A Company
Adapted from The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo
Unbreakable - Elite Company
Music and Lyrics by Lennertz Slater, Kirkland, Keith Harrison, Laura Harrison
I'm a Star - Elite Company
(from Dreaming Wide Awake) ….. Music and Lyrics by Scott Alan
Monologue: How I Learned to Snap with Eric Judge
Adapted from How I Learned To Snap by Kirk Read
I Won't Give Up - Elite Company
Music and Lyrics by Jason Mraz, Michael Natter
Voice Over: My Body My Choice with Reid O'Connell
Stronger - Elite Company
Music and Lyrics by Max Martin, Rami, Arr. Power-Haus Creative
Finally - ALL
Music and Lyrics by James Arthur
BOWS: Dance the Night and Stronger Reprise - ALL
Scenes conceived and written by PPC Elite Company