performing arts - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Miracles Santa Cruz Transforms Lives and Builds Community Through Theater

growingupsc — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 06:04:21 +0000

In Santa Cruz, a uniquely joyful and heartfelt theater troupe has taken root, transforming lives through performance and community: Miracles Santa Cruz. This ensemble of performers with special needs shares more than a stage—they share a passion for storytelling, song, and self-expression. Founded on the belief that everyone deserves the spotlight, Miracles Santa Cruz brings creativity and inclusion to life. Roots in Innovation: The Hope Services Connection The troupe’s origins date back to a visionary program launched in 2009 by Mike Nichols at Hope Services: the Community Membership and Media Program. At its core, the program emphasized media and performing arts, offering creative writing and arts classes from the beginning. Inspiration for what would become Miracles Santa Cruz sparked one evening as Mike and a Hope Media crew filmed an interview at a book launch for Elaine Hall—founder of The Miracle Project and star of the Emmy-winning HBO documentary Autism: The Musical. Elaine shared news of an upcoming statewide initiative to teach Miracle Project methods in community programs. Mike, already deeply moved by the documentary, applied to join—and was accepted into—a three-day intensive workshop with Hall and her team. That experience became a catalyst. He began immediately implementing the approach at Hope, where it was so beloved that he envisioned something bigger: a theater troupe that would extend beyond Hope participants to include youth with disabilities from the wider community. With Hope’s blessing, Mike used their downtown space in the evenings, and began marketing through the Regional Center and his network. Although licensing prevented the use of the name “Miracle Project Santa Cruz,” they received permission to use the name Miracles Santa Cruz and acknowledge that they used The Miracle Project’s methods. When Partnerships Spark Miracles Around this time, Lizz Hodgin Weihrauch reached out to Mike—she was preparing to start a theater group for individuals with disabilities. They instantly recognized their shared vision. Working together, Miracles Santa Cruz was born. The early days were filled with community generosity. Jenny Hasselman became a volunteer director after reading about the project in Good Times. UCSC students Katie and Jaclyn signed on to help. Mike even met Rick, their props master and a UCSC set designer, while book hunting at the Bargain Barn. Longtime theater supporters Sylvia from Hope, and Steve, Mary, and Sandi Jo from the Senior Follies joined in too. A team formed organically, grounded in love for performance and inclusion. And at the heart of it all? The actors. Their joy lit up every rehearsal. They played games, sang, danced, and even ended each rehearsal with talent shows for friends and family. A favorite memory: during the second season, 12-year-old Tyler dashed down the hall in fear at his first talent show. But after months of growth and practice, he proudly took center stage as the Tin Man, singing his heart out. Each year, the troupe evolved. Jenny adapted Oh, the Places You’ll Go for their first season. Their second season offered a reimagined The Wizard of Oz with lots of changes and inspiration from the performers. Eventually, the performers were writing their own stories, a testament to how much the group grew creatively together. Pandemic Pause and a Powerful Return Like so many programs, COVID brought things to a halt. Rehearsals ceased, performances paused, and their beloved Hope Services space was lost. Mike moved away—though he continues theater work in Minnesota, where next week he’ll stage an original play, ARRGH!, with a cast of 40 actors with disabilities and a sold-out 500-seat audience! Back in Santa Cruz, Lizz held onto the dream. A new opportunity arose with All About Theater and Lindsey Chester, who welcomed Miracles Santa Cruz into the Colligan Theater at the Tannery Arts Center. This beautiful venue is now the troupe’s permanent home—and the magic has returned. A Joyful Comeback: June 2 Performance On June 2, Miracles Santa Cruz roared back to life with a spectacular show. Ten passionate performers took the stage performing a self-written “This is Me!” for an audience of over 90, radiating joy, heart, and talent. The applause said it all: Miracles are real. What’s Next? Rehearsals, Community, and New Performers Rehearsals will begin again in September, and the group is welcoming new performers age 14 and up. Volunteers are also needed—for directing, backstage, costumes, set design and more. This season’s team includes: Lizz Hodgin Weihrauch (Organizer) Brad Roades (Director) Isabella Steigman, Steve Ferro, Harvey & Kathleen Newman, Sierra Lebovitz (Volunteers) Together, they make the magic happen. Miracles Santa Cruz is not just theater—it’s empowerment, inclusion, creativity, and joy. And everyone is welcome to be part of the miracle. If you or someone you know is interested in performing or volunteering, please contact Lizz at director@musicalme.com

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‘The Addams Family, A New Musical’ Takes the Stage

growingupsc — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 06:17:57 +0000

Hold on to your heartstrings! Love is the driving force in “The Addams Family, A New Musical,” a delightfully dark and comedic tale of two families: the straight-laced midwestern Beinekes and the graveyard-dwelling Addams, who despite stark differences in demeanor, personal style and preferences, have more in common than meets the eye. Based on characters created by Charles Addams, and the book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, “The Addams Family, A New Musical” – as embodied onstage by the Mount Madonna School (MMS) high school cast – dazzles with memorable characters, great physical energy, witty humor and poignant, lyric ballads. Performances are January 25 and 26 at 2:00pm at Mount Madonna School’s Hawks’ Nest Theater. Tickets on sale December 4 at mms-theaddamsfamily.brownpapertickets.com. Adult tickets are $20; seniors are $15 and $10 for 18 and under; all seats are reserved. In this delightfully dark celebration of the bonds that connect us, change-resistant parents Gomez and Morticia grapple with their daughter Wednesday’s emerging independence and revelation that she loves Lucas, a young man from a “normal family.” Uncle Fester “moons” in unrequited passion for the “unreachable” moon, and every family member – whether living, dead or undecided – is embraced! When Wednesday invites Lucas and his parents over to get better acquainted, Gomez, Morticia and the rest of the family are asked to act “normal.” That’s impossible, of course, as the evening quickly erupts into amusing chaos with unexpected confessions, relationships tested and the Addams family facing up to the one thing they’ve managed to avoid for generations: change. The story abounds with opportunities to examine questions that high school students face daily: how to be ‘themselves’? How much to conform? How to be open to other perspectives and identities? How to take risks and be vulnerable? Whom to trust? “I’m learning to be patient with myself as I step into a lead role for the first time,” said twelfth grader Emilia Lord, cast in the role of Wednesday Addams. “I’m figuring out how to make the character real for me and build from there. I used to be more down and reserved like Wednesday, but, like her in this story, I’ve changed, too. Freedom is a key part of it; the freedom to act however you want and give yourself permission to reveal another side of yourself.” Director Chelsea Otterness said choosing this play for the high school’s winter musical is a great fit. “Eccentric, terrifically talented, fun-loving family; we’re basically the Addams family already,” said Otterness. “Now we get to dress up, be extra dramatic and, in many ways, extra spooky and Victorian. Not only is the MMS cast a perfect match for the characters in this play, but the theme is one we can all get behind. Our show will feature a powerhouse of vocal talent and unique personalities that will light up the stage and leave you happily spellbound!” Filled with sharp one-liners, spirited songs and tight dance numbers, this Broadway musical also features beautiful music. “The Addams Family’s Tony Award-winning score is as memorable as that of the great traditional musicals such as ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ or ‘Into the Woods’,” said Music Director Holly Ota “The song ‘Happy Sad’ brings me tears every single time and ‘Move Toward the Darkness’ carries epic inspirational power.” Twelfth grade student Mordecai Coleman is cast as devoted husband and father Gomez Addams. “I relate to many of the feelings Gomez experiences in the play,” said Coleman. “It’s interesting to consider things from the perspective of the father, a viewpoint I hadn’t fully explored before. Having parents who are divorced, it’s made me think about what it must have been like for my dad. Reflecting on that perspective has helped me develop more empathy for his situation. Stepping into roles that are far from your own personality can really open the door to becoming a more empathetic person, offering a more open-minded view of others.” Twelfth grader Manumailagi Hunnicutt will portray matriarch Morticia Addams. “It’s important to remember that a lot of people struggle to accept others or look beyond their own perspectives,” said Hunnicutt. “Embracing others as they are is such a powerful message to share. There are a lot of quirky characters in this story, and each one represents an archetype taken to an extreme. All the couples in the story help one another rediscover love and openness.” “The Addams Family, A New Musical” is presented through special arrangement with, and all authorized performance materials are supplied by, Theatrical Rights Worldwide, 1180 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 640, New York, NY 10036. www.theatricalrights.com Mount Madonna School has a longstanding tradition of performing arts for students preschool through high school; and beyond outstanding performances, engaging in performing arts prepares students for life well beyond the stage. “Stretching ourselves to portray these characters is important for our generation,” commented Lord. “While we may be scared to act as people who are considered odd, doing so is a crucial way to grow. Our generation is often quick to judge, but by normalizing the ‘odd,’ we help create a space where authenticity can be embraced without fear.”

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Community Rallies Around “The Little Mermaid JR”

growingupsc — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:28:44 +0000

Amid extreme wind, drenching rains – even a tornado touching down locally – and following months of preparations for its middle school production of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid JR,” the Mount Madonna School (MMS) community did what it does so well: come together to support one another in a time of need. Due to a downed tree and power line, access to the school was cut off Saturday morning, resulting in the cancellation of Saturday afternoon’s sold out show. Head of School Ann Goewert and Advancement Director Kevict Yen, meanwhile, were already on campus, having arranged for an early-morning delivery of an industrial, 70,000-watt generator to have on hand as back-up in the event of a storm-related power outage over the weekend. The MMS administration quickly communicated with the school community regarding the road closure and show cancellation. And then the brainstorming began. Director Chelsea Otterness voiced plans for adding a second, morning performance on Sunday to make up for the missed Saturday show, to provide the student cast with two performance opportunities, albeit back-to-back shows making for one long day! With the unequivocal support of the performing arts team and school administration, Otterness took to social media and email to get the word out about the additional Sunday morning show. “It is amazing to me how our lives bring us moments that we cannot control to see how we respond,” reflected Otterness. “We have opportunities to resist reality or embrace the opportunities that exist in the reality that is presented before us. Performing arts teach us far more than how to present on stage, such as how to persist and maintain joy regardless of external circumstances.” The Parents of Mount Madonna Students (POMMS) group took to WhatsApp to elicit the additional parent support needed – including feeding the whole cast during the long, 10-hour theater day that Sunday would become. “Initially it was feeling very heavy,” commented co-producer Jess Vargas. “The school administration led by Ann and Kevict – were amazing. And the POMMS group was amazing. It brought me to tears when parent Karis Gulizia told us, ‘whatever you need, we’ve got your backs 1,000 percent!’ It was just such an outpouring of positivity.” This outpouring of support was beautiful testament to the spirit that makes MMS so special. “The Mount Madonna School community truly shined as we came together to support the middle school production of ‘The Little Mermaid Jr’,” said Goewert. “From the students’ boundless resilience and positivity, to the parents, staff and friends who showed up and volunteered. This production was more than a show; it was a celebration of teamwork, resilience and the joy of creating something magical together. Thank you to everyone who made it possible; our community is stronger for having shared this journey together.” Otterness agreed. “This situation was a beautiful example of so many lessons,” she continued. “The outpouring of volunteerism and inspiration from our community is highly applaudable; our lesson detachment is a hard one, but we – students, parents, faculty and staff – are responding with a ‘solutionary’ mindset and creativity, and are all learning these lessons together, and I believe we have achieved an A+ from the universe.”

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