tvc.dsj.org | March 5, 2019 CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
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Bellarmine Theatre Arts Presents Disney’s Newsies
Bellarmine College Preparatory
Theatre Arts presents Disney’s News-
ies, the hit Broadway musical about
the Newsboys Strike of 1899, when
child labor unionized to demand fairer
treatment from the likes of publisher
Joseph Pulitzer. Based on the Disney
film, the production features songs by
eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken
(Beauty & the Beast) and Tony-winner
Jack Feldman.
Disney’s Newsies is the 30th show
directed by Peter Canavese, 23 of which
have been Bellarmine productions.
An alumnus of Bellarmine and Santa
Clara University, Canavese is now in
his 22nd year of directing at Bellarm-
ine. “I see Newsies as the heir to West
Side Story because it’s a very athletic,
dance-intensive show and because New
York City is so deeply imprinted on its
DNA as the show’s proud setting and
birthplace,” noted Canavese. “We have
a terrific choreographer in Pauline
Locsin-Kanter (whose impressive dance
credits include Promises, Promises, A
Chorus Line, and work on the Disney
animated feature Mulan) and a great
vocal director in Gina Adams (whose
previous vocal direction of Bellarmine
productions include The Who’s Tommy,
Shrek The Musical, and Spamalot). All
three of us have had designs on this
particular show for years. The rights
just became available, so we were ready
at our earliest opportunity to ‘seize the
day’ and ‘carry the banner,’” added
Canavese, referencing two songs from
Disney’s Newsies.
In addition to Bellarmine students,
featuring junior JP Micallef in the lead
male role of Jack Kelly, the cast of 32
performers includes several female stu-
dents from Presentation, Notre Dame,
and Los Gatos high schools; a home
school student; and sixth grader Dono-
van Cozort from St. Lucy School. The de-
sign team and crew of 40 includes Gregg
Carlson, technical director; Maren Ales-
sandri Lane, lighting director/designer;
Ryan Stohs, orchestra director; Kathleen
O’Brien, costume designer; and Tristan
Foster, stage manager.
Disney’s Newsies is presented March
6, 7, 8, and 9 at 7:30 p.m. All performanc-
es occur in the Main Stage Theatre of
the Sobrato Center for Humanities and
the Arts on the Bellarmine campus, 960
West Hedding Street, San Jose. Attend-
ees are asked to please park on campus
and to bring a can of food, which will
be donated to Second Harvest Food
Bank. Tickets are available online at:
www.bcp.org.
Saint Lucy School “Walks” Provide a Unique Perspective to Studying the Past
During February all fourth, fifth
and sixth grade students at Saint Lucy
School stepped back in time and im-
mersed themselves in history...but not
with books. Under the guidance of
their teachers as well as talented facili-
tators from California Weekly Explorer,
SLS students experienced interactive
“walk-through” presentations about
various eras that not only focused on
history, geography, and culture, but
also offered opportunities in drama,
public speaking, and teamwork.
The fourth grade class experienced
a “Walk Through California History.”
Dressed as Native Americans, miners,
missionaries, cowboys, the costumed
students arrived as “experts” on a
historical figure or term related to
California’s history or topography.
Divided into four teams, the students
earned points for their respective teams
as they participated in a wide variety
of fun activities.
In addition, the fifth grade class
jumped back to the latter half of the
1700’s and focused on the American
Revolution. This time, the class was
divided into three teams: the Blue
Rebels, the Red Coats, and the White
Tories. Mock battles were staged, short
speeches were given, and important
American history was shared by and
imparted upon the students. Parents
in the audience seemed especially
impressed by the class’s public speak-
ing abilities, accurate costumes, and
dramatic finesse during the historical
presentations.”
Donning the garb of pharaohs,
slaves, senators, plebeians, mythical
heroes or those of war, the 6th graders
focused on the ancient world. They
focused on how the Egyptian, Greek
and Roman societies evolved through
time. Whenever students become active
participants in the learning process,
not only do they have fun but they also
retain the content on a far deeper level.
Grades K-5
Holy Family School Second Graders Visit History
We take for granted the hidden
gems we have around us.
Mrs. Bowers & Mrs. McRoberts’
second grade class took a trip back to
history at the Campbell History Mu-
seum. Their excitement throughout
the field trip was never lacking, as they
learned that in 1903 President Theodore
Roosevelt participated in a parade right
where they could have been standing.
Yet today, we continue to celebrate
some of the greatest parades and fes-
tivals that once began in those same
streets years and years ago.
One amazing realization they had
is that dishwashers did not exist. So,
when they had to wash their own
cups the “old fashion” way, it certainly
showed off the skills they DO have that
can be useful in their homes TODAY.
From how the homes were run
to how the local grocery stores or
“general stores,” as they once called
them, looked, the second graders were
intrigued by the differences of how
the streets of Campbell use to look
and what it looks like today. Learning
how time can change a simple look or
task, our students were astounded by
knowing that one day our lives today
may undoubtedly be seen in a museum
years from now.
• Academics • Swimming
• STEM activities • Cooking
• Weekly themes • Hands-on Crafts
• Field Trips • Mad Science Classes
Single-Day Drop-In: $60 $50 registration
Weekly rate: $250
June 10 - August 2 7:30am - 5:30pm