RCSA presents
Featuring Songs by (in alphabetical order):
Lynn Ahrens • Kristen Anderson-Lopez • Howard Ashman • Chad Beguelin • Leslie Bricusse • Morris “Moose” Charlap • Martin Charnin • Anthony Drewe • Stephen Flaherty • Zina Goldrich • Marcy Heisler • Carolyn Leigh • David Lindsay-Abaire • Robert Lopez • Alan Menken • Tim Minchin • Anthony Newley • Tim Rice •Richard M. Sherman • Robert B. Sherman • Matthew Sklar • George Stiles • Charles Strouse • Jeanine Tesori • Deborah Wicks La Puma • Mo Willems
performed by RCSA Students ages 7 – 15
directed by Christina Giorgi
music direction by James Mablin
choreography by Jacqueline Galliano
Pure Imagination is a brand-new and captivating musical revue that evokes all those cherished childhood memories! This collection of songs is pulled directly from Music Theatre International’s Broadway Junior® collection and features 14 beloved musical numbers from shows like Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka and Annie Jr., along with fan-favorite adored titles from Seussical and Shrek The Musical to Disney favorites like Beauty and the Beast and Frozen.
Audiences will enjoy a delightful mix of popular Broadway tunes, fun facts about the songs provided by our students in the show, and so much more! This RCSA production is sure to enchant viewers of all ages and make you want to sing and dance in your seat.
Approximate Running Time: 60-minutes | No Intermission
MTI’s Broadway Junior Revue: Pure Imagination Piano/Vocal Score © 2022 MTI Enterprises, Inc. Complete copyright and author billing information is listed in the back of this book. Actor’s Script Front Matter © 2022 MTI Enterprises, Inc., created by iTheatrics under the supervision of Timothy Allen McDonald. Broadway Junior and ShowKit are registered trademarks and Family Matters is a trademark of Music Theatre International. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited by law.
A special thank you to the following:
Thank You, Parents!
We couldn’t do this without you! Thank you for helping spread the word about the show. Your support behind the scenes makes a world of difference, and we’re so grateful to have you as part of the Raue family!
Reiley Duffy
Metropolis Performing Arts Center
Elizabeth Wepprecht
Maomi Unverzagt
Mariya Tzuryk
Cheryl Sturtevant
Leslie Gonnella
Jennifer Welsh
Leanna Sheahan
Tracy Soos-Walker
Lindsay Bogacz
Selina Ducksworth
Cheryl Ramirez
Bryan Bailey
Amanda Bailey
Dan Walker
Adrian Ramirez
DIRECTOR’S NOTE
Welcome to the colorful world of Pure Imagination! It has been a joy collaborating with such a talented cast and crew to make this script come to life! Pure Imagination is unique in that it is a musical revue; it doesn’t follow a single narrative, instead it is a collection of songs. Each one showcases a different aspect of our imaginations. With no storyline, each number is a snapshot of its own story, whether that be love, humor, or sadness; they are all imaginative experiences that connect us all. This cast has worked very hard in a very short time to bring energy and life to these songs. This revue is a reminder for kids and grown-ups alike of the power of imagination, to go somewhere and tell stories that words alone cannot. Thank you for being here with us tonight. I have had a blast these past few weeks with your kiddos and am looking forward to their bright futures in the theatre!
—–Christina Giorgi, director
Sponsored by
SONG LIST
“Pure Imagination”
from Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka JR., Music and Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, Adapted for the stage by Leslie Bricusse and Timothy Allen McDonald
“Oh, The Thinks You Can Think”
from Seussical JR., Music by Stephen Flaherty, Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, Book by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty
“Beauty and the Beast”
from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR., Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, Book by Linda Woolverton
“Different”
from Honk JR., Music by George Stiles, Book and Lyrics by Anthony Drewe (TRANSITION)
“Hola, Lola”
from Dear Edwina JR., Music by Zina Goldrich, Book and Lyrics by Marcy Heisler
“In Summer”
from Disney’s Frozen JR., Music and Lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, Book by Jennifer Lee
“Sparklejollytwinklejingley”
from Elf The Musical JR., Music by Matthew Sklar, Lyrics by Chad Beguelin, Book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin
“I Won’t Grow Up”
from Peter Pan JR., Music by Morris “Moose” Charlap, Lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, Additional Music by Jule Styne, Additional Lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green
“Maybe”
from Annie JR., Music by Charles Strouse, Lyrics by Martin Charnin, Book by Thomas Meehan
“The Tummy Song”
from Disney’s Winnie the Pooh KIDS, Music and Lyrics by Richard M. Sherman, Robert B. Sherman, Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Music Adapted & Arranged and Additional Music & Lyrics by Will Van Dyke, Book and Additional Lyrics by Cheryl Davis
“We’re in a Play”
from Elephant and Piggie’s “We Are in a Play!” JR., Music by Deborah Wicks La Puma, Book and Lyrics by Mo Willems
“Revolting Children”
from Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical JR., Music and Lyrics by Tim Minchin, Book by Dennis Kelly
“Writing Down the Story of My Life”
from Junie B. Jones, The Musical JR., Music by Zina Goldrich, Book and Lyrics by Marcy Heisler
“Freak Flag”
from Shrek JR., Music by Jeanine Tesori, Book and Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire
MTI’s Broadway Junior Revue: Pure Imagination Piano/Vocal Score © 2022 MTI Enterprises, Inc.
Complete copyright and author billing information is listed in the back of this book.
Actor’s Script Front Matter © 2022 MTI Enterprises, Inc., created by iTheatrics under the supervision of Timothy Allen McDonald. Broadway Junior and ShowKit are registered trademarks and Family Matters is a trademark of Music Theatre International. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited by law.
CAST
(In Alphabetical Order)
Norah Bailey
Ross Bogacz
Lucia Gonnella
London Peschke
Ava Ramirez
Adley Sheahan
Ava Sturtevant
Gabriella Tsuryk
Julia Unverzagt
Scarlett Ivy Walker
Ireland Welsh
Kennedy Wepprecht
Each of our cast members is a featured soloist in a specific song along with other amazing aspects of Pure Imagination. Please enjoy our performance this evening.
CREATIVE TEAM
Rob Scharlow
RCSA Director of Education
Christina Giorgi
Director
James Mablin
Music Director/Raue Center Resident Music Director
Jacqueline Galliano
Choreographer
Abby L. Austin
Production Stage Manager/Props Designer
Katie Witt
Teaching Assistant
Tyler Hartz
Teaching Assistant
Amy Cole
Costume Designer
Ryan Meadow
Lighting & Projections Designer / Raue Production Manager/
Lighting Board Op
Chris Tumblin
Sound Designer / Director of Production/
Audio Engineer & Board Op
Lisa Giebler
Scenic Designer / Technical Director
Cast Bios
Norah Bailey – began taking theater classes with Raue Center School For The Arts just days after turning 7 and has worked with several wonderful members of the RCSA staff over the past year to develop her skills. She has performed as Pua in Moana Jr. and Young Fiona in Shrek Jr. Norah has a passion for theater and particularly loves to sing. As a baby, you knew Norah was awake when you could hear her singing on the monitor! In addition to performing, Norah loves writing stories, making people laugh, and getting into mischief with her younger brothers and sister. Norah would like to thank the RCSA staff for the amazing opportunities and for helping her grow as a performer. She also wants to thank her family and friends for their endless love and support.
Ross Bogacz – is a fifth-grade student and an aspiring performer. His previous stage credits include Lionel James in Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical and Maui in Moana Jr. He recently filmed scenes for the movie Antiques and has been cast in an upcoming horror film. He thanks actors Chevy Chase, Matthew Lillard, Ross Marquand, and Felissa Rose for their inspiring conversations and encouragement to follow his dreams. He would like to give a personal shout out to Darcy the Mail Girl.
Lucia Gonnella – is 10 and in the fourth grade. She is excited for her debut performance with Raue Center School For The Arts and is grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow. Previously she was in The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan, Beauty and the Beast, The Music Man Jr., and starred as Jojo in Seussical Kids. When she’s not at the theater you’ll find her with her nose in a book, digging up worms, or splashing in a pool. Lucia’s happy place is on the stage, and she wants to thank all her family and friends for supporting what she loves!
London Peschke – is 9 years old and in fourth grade. She loves the color pink, and her favorite food is rigatoni pasta. London has a dog named Charlie, a cat named Prince, and three goldfish. She has studied ballet and gymnastics and is quite passionate about swimming! She wants to be an actress when she grows up. One thing that London thoroughly enjoys is creating content: whether it’s singing and acting, makeup tutorials, or just being silly! When her family joins in, it makes for priceless memories. One thing that she loves about theater is the diversity. Coming from a multi-racial background, she can appreciate the variety of artists from all different genders, backgrounds, and cultures. “I believe I’ve found my sense of community at the RCSA Program.”
Ava Ramirez – is an 11-year-old who loves performing! She has appeared in Moana Jr. here at for Raue Center School For The Arts and Dot and the Kangaroo Jr. at her elementary school. Ava enjoys acting, singing, and dancing, and her favorite musicals are Hamilton and Les Misérables. She loves Hamilton so much; she even named her cat Schuyler — after the Schuyler Sisters! When she’s not on stage, you might find her playing the oboe for her 5th grade band.
Adley Sheahan – is making her third appearance on the Raue Center stage with Raue Center School For The Arts. She first appeared in Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical, followed by her role as Gramma Tala in last summer’s production of Moana Jr. Adley has had a passionate love for theatre since a young age and couldn’t wait to take the stage! She has also enjoyed RCSA classes such as Fundamentals of Acting, Basic Improv and Musical Theatre Dance. She is excited to grow in her skills that Pure Imagination provides with its wide variety of fun Broadway musical performances! Off stage Adley enjoys reading and writing, art, biking, rollerblading, playing with her dogs and watching movies with her family on movie night. She also participates in her school’s dual language program, chorus and art club. She would like to thank her family, friends, teachers and members of the RCSA team for all their support.
Ava Sturtevant – is appearing in her 2nd show with Raue Center School For The Arts and her 11th show overall. Ava is thrilled to be in this cast. Her most recent performances include Marley in The Midnight “Holiday” Circle (RCSA), Blind Mouse and Mom in Shrek Jr. (Woodstock Children’s summer Theatre), and Glinda in The Wizard of Oz in her eighth-grade year at Creekside Middle School. Ava is currently a Freshman at Woodstock High School and a part of Treble Choir. “I hope you enjoy the show!”
Gabriella Tsuryk – is 10 years old and loves musicals, choir, playing saxophone, exploring nature, and creating art inspired by her outdoor adventures. She would like to thank her friends and family. She hopes that you all enjoy the show!
Julia Unverzagt – is over the moon to be appearing on the Raue stage again. She has previously appeared in Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical (Patty), Moana Jr. (Te Ka/Te Fiti) and The Midnight “Holiday” Circle (Summer) all with Raue Center School For The Arts. Julia would like to give a special thanks to her vocal coach Ms. Hackman, her parents and her two cats Bowie and Ziggy.
Scarlett Ivy Walker – is an enthusiastic 11-year-old performer with a passion for the arts. Since the first grade, she has excelled in competitive cheer and dance, showcasing her talent and dedication. In addition to her dance skills, Scarlett plays the cello and is an aspiring alternative rock guitarist, exploring the world of music with curiosity by dabbling in piano as well. Her love for theatre shines through her performances in productions such as Aladdin Jr., Peter Pan Jr., and The Little Mermaid Jr. She contributed her choreography skills to Mamma Mia! at the CLPD, and she recently debuted as Tomatoa in the Raue Center School For The Arts summer production of Moana Jr. When not on stage, Scarlett enjoys tumbling, singing, listening to music, acting, dancing, and expressing her creativity through digital art. She looks forward to embracing new roles and continuing her artistic journey!
Ireland Welsh – is a creative and active student at Johnsburg Elementary who loves hockey, swimming, acting, singing, and art. She enjoys expressing herself on stage and sharpened her improvisation skills in a class with Raue Center School For The Arts. When she’s not performing or playing sports, she loves spending time with her pets – two cats and two rats. Ireland’s passion for the arts and athletics keeps her busy, and she’s always eager to try new things and have fun.
Kennedy Wepprecht – is in third grade. She loves art, science, and architecture. Kennedy has played the violin for two years, but her passion is theater. This is her first production; however, she’s done theater and showcases for the last two and a half years. She has also performed the violin in recitals and participated in school talent shows. She loves the stage! In her free time, she’s reading, building Legos, or playing outside. Kennedy wants to thank ALL her family and friends for always cheering her on, and for being here today!
Production Bios
Christina Giorgi (Director) is a recent graduate from Illinois Wesleyan University, where she obtained her BFA in acting with a minor in Hispanic studies. When not acting, Christina has a passion for teaching and directing. For the past two summers, she has worked as a teaching artist and director for young performers at the New London Barn Playhouse and Wagon Wheel Conservatory for the Arts.
Most recently, Christina has directed Huntley High School’s production of Little Women and RCSA’s summer production of Moana in 2024. A Crystal Lake native, Christina is thrilled to be working with young performers and providing them a safe space to expand on their dreams of becoming a performer just like she had at their age.
James Mablin (Music Director) hails from London, England. He has musically directed and/or played Keyboards in over a hundred shows. Favorites include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat (UK Tour), Whistle Down the Wind (UK Tour), High School Musical (World Premiere – Stagedoor Manor, NY), Caroline or Change (Cyrano’s Theatre Company, AK), Little Shop of Horrors (Thin Air Theatre Company, CO), The Toxic Avenger (Thin Air Theatre Company, CO) and Into the Woods (Slow Burn Theatre Company, FL).
As an educator, James ran the musical theatre program at a large college in London, was a professor & musical theatre specialist at The Yale School of Drama, and most recently on the Musical Theatre faculty at Auburn University as their resident Music Director. James was also the Associate Artistic Director and head of the music department at Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Training Center, named one of the top summer theatre programs in the world.
James has written the vocal arrangements and musically directed opening and closing numbers for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade including the Emmy award-winning song “Join Our Parade”. In January of 2024, James stepped into the role of Resident Music Director for Williams Street Rep and Raue Center for the Arts. He is thrilled to be a part of this thriving community.
Jacqueline Galliano (Choreographer) – is excited to be making her debut at Raue Center School For Arts! Recent Credits: Much Ado About Nothing (Mcpherson Theatre/T. Quinn), Lex’s Revenge (Gorilla Films/K. Weston) & Promises (Gorilla FIlms/M. Iannone). She is a 2023 graduate of Illinois Wesleyan University in Theatre Arts and Dance. Galliano teaches dance classes at Evolution Dance Experience in Elmhurst. She is a member of Views Dance Company and will be traveling to LA to compete in World of Dance! Thank you to my familia and friends for all your support!
Abby L. Austin (Stage Manager & Props Master) – is thrilled to make her debut with Raue Center School For The Arts! She is new to the Chicago area, having recently moved from Nashville! Recent Stage Management credits include Spamalot (Thin Air Theatre Company) and Finding Nemo, The Gingerbread Kid, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Strong Inside (Nashville Children’s Theatre). She has spent the last five summers as a Production Stage Manager at Stagedoor Manor where she Stage Manages the “Our Time” Cabaret and co-supervises the stage management department. In her free time, you can find Abby cooking something yummy or making sure her Roomba, SuzieBot, stays out of trouble. Much love to her parents, Reiley, Siubhan, Nino, and Benny.
Tyler Hartz (Teaching Assistant) – is excited to be a part of Raue Center School For The arts! He was in SAGE Studio from the age of 7 and worked on many musicals, such as Seussical, School House Rock, and A Christmas Story. Now after a few years, he is finally back in the swing of RCSA’s musical adventure with Pure Imagination! He hopes you have a great time watching the show!
Katie Witt (Teaching Assistant) – is so excited to be teaching again at Raue Center School For The Arts for Pure Imagination! Katie has had the joy of previously teaching the Beginner Acting classes this past winter as well as for the Moana Jr. summer camp. On stage, you may have seen Katie in the Jedlicka’s The Bad Seed as Rhoda Penmark or in the RCSA’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Outside of theater, Katie loves to paint, rock climb, and eat good food! She hopes you enjoy the show!
Amy Cole (Costume Designer) – has a degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Michigan, but her creative flair has steered her path in a different direction. After getting involved with theater as a parent volunteer when her children were the performers, she has expanded her experience and talent to design costumes for Boeing Boeing (Three Brothers Theatre), Seussical (Standing Ovation Theatre), Xanadu (Metropolis Performing Arts Center), Die Fledermaus (The Northwestern University Opera), and many other schools, park districts, theater groups, and dance companies in the Chicago area. She has worked in various other offstage roles including Choreographer for Nunsense and Stage Management for Proof, as well as appearing onstage in such shows as Afghanistan/Wisconsin (Navy Chaplain) and Miracle on 34th Street (Foster Mother/Elf Q). She is the Touring Company Manager for Red Clay Dance Company, a theater technician at Harper College in Palatine, and a school bus driver. She is married with three children and lives in Gurnee. She has worked on over 90 shows in her career and feels that theater is a boon to the exhilaration she gets from trying something new. She’d like to thank her husband Adam and her three children Jackson, Ethan, and Gwendolyn for all their support.
Lisa Giebler (Scenic Designer / Technical Director) has worked in the Chicagoland area for over 15 years as a carpenter, painter, and mixed-material artist. She has worked in mostly educational theatre, but is happy to join the Raue team as the Technical Director for WSRep and RCSA.
Ryan Meadow (Production Manager/Lighting Designer) has over ten years of experience in the theater and corporate audio-visual industries with a background in Production Lighting and video. Ryan enjoys planning and executing different projects and helping to bring someone’s dream and imagination to life. He also enjoys working in the performing arts on all levels from people with a newfound interest in the arts all the way to experienced acts keeping their passion alive and helping to inspire the next generation of performers.
Chris Tumblin (Director of Production/Sound Designer) is excited to be back at Raue Center since his tenure from 2002-2012. After gaining additional experience at other venues, he returned in October 2022. Chris brings with him over 20 years of experience.
Rob Scharlow (RCSA Director of Education) – is an award-winning director, with over 35 years of experience in the performing arts, working nationwide as a director, actor, teacher, and more. For 17 years, he was part of the internationally acclaimed performing arts training center, Stagedoor Manor, in New York. There, he held various roles, including director, and teacher, spent 11 years as the Director of Education, and served as Associate Artistic Director.
He is thrilled to continue developing the education program here at Raue Center. It’s hard to believe he just completed his first year as Director of Education for Raue Center School For The Arts. During that time, not only did he oversee, develop, and manage all the educational programming, but also directed their production of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical and workshop of the new musical Static: Noise of a New Musical over the summer. He recently finished a 6-week run as Brian in WSRep’s production of Avenue Q, which is Raue Center’s professional theatre company.
RAUE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
STAFF LIST
Richard Kuranda
Raue Center CEO & Founding Artistic Director of Williams Street Repertory
Justin Wellington
Managing Director
Jenna Klaproth
Operations Manager
Meredith Schaefer-Flowers
Director of Marketing &
Institutional Advancement
Michele V. Knight
Marketing Manager
James Knight
Economic Development Manager
Rob Scharlow
Raue Center School for the Arts
Director of Education
Maribeth Ling
Front of House Manager
Chris Tumblin
Raue Center Director of Production
Lisa Giebler
Technical Director
Ryan Meadow
Raue Center Production Manager
James Mablin
Resident Music Director
Box Office Associates
Naomi Unverzagt
Max Powers
RAUE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tim Paul
Board President
John Jacobsen
Vice President
Jerry Trachsler
Treasurer
Luanne Flavin
Secretary
Mike H. Johnson
Richard Kuranda
Jack Minsley
Rich Naponelli
Michelle Nowland
Sandra Pierce
Regan Shepley
Chuck Stevens
Steven Szalaj
Stacey McInerney
Volunteer Liaison
