No Biz, Like Show Biz!!

Curtain up! Light the lights! You’ve got nothing to hit but the heights!

There is nothing like the excitement of putting together a show. Over the years, I have worked on hundreds of shows and worn many hats. I’ve been the musician, the director and/or the producer and no matter what hat I wear, I love it.

I’ve done quite a bit of work with musicals, including West Side Story, Hairspray, Sound of Music and The Music Man but I think my favorite type of show is the one that is created from scratch. There’s nothing like the feeling of coming up with a concept, writing a script, choosing the perfect music, developing the choreography and then watching as the performers use the costumes, the scenery, the make-up and the props to make the story come to life! It’s so satisfying.

The last 2 years have been a challenge for the arts and as a musician, it has been a challenge figuring out how to keep the music playing but we are making it happen!! I am currently the Music Director for the Ridgewood High School Jamboree and we are working on the 75^th Anniversary show. We are back, we are live and we will be on stage!!

We are all excited to come together and give our audience the show they have been craving. I absolutely love working with our amazing director, Rosie McCooe, our awesome assistant director Dana Feeney and our fantastic lead choreographer, Holly Cocuzzo and her fabulous team.

It has been a pleasure to work with the vocalists in person and not on a zoom call and don’t even get me started on how excited I am that I get to work with my band as we come together to provide live music for the cast!! This year’s theme is The Jambies and it’s going to be great! We have a fantastic script, awesome music and choreography that will make the audience want to get up and dance!

On a side note, this organization’s main goal is to raise scholarship money for high school seniors and can you believe that in the last 15 years, we have raised over $2 million dollars?! That’s amazing!! I am so proud to be part of an organization that supports our community. These scholarships have been life changing for the recipients.

The Jambies will be held on March 3, 4 & 5, 2022 at Benjamin Franklin Middle School. Show times are 7:30pm on Thursday and Friday and 7:00pm on Saturday. If you are in the area and would like to purchase tickets, or if you would like to make a donation, please visit rhsjamboree2022.ludus.com.