A Message From The Director

Welcome to The Drama Space! We are thrilled that you are joining us this evening for our amazing students' performance of Winter Spectacular: The Musical.

The idea for this musical came about through a simple question, "What makes each holiday special to a certain culture and what makes them similar to our own celebration?" From this I began to think of how the shared characteristics in cultures can actually bring us together rather than tearing us apart. In a world filled with chaos, we make assumptions about people we have never met because of stereotypes we see in the media. We are a society that seems to get offended about the smallest thing and often we end up tearing each other apart.

This musical was made to demonstrate to our students that each of us comes from a different culture, but at the end of the day, no matter how different they seem in "society's eyes" we are more similar than different in how we deeply connect in unity, family, friendship and beliefs. These are really the key themes that you will experience tonight.

So this Holiday Season, no matter what we are celebrating, we come together as friends in peace with one another. Tonight you will witness a story of true friendship, as Sami, our lead character, takes us on a journey of self discovery as she uncovers the true meaning of the Holiday Season.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made this show possible, especially to our founder, Karen Mossman, who founded The Drama Space 10 years ago in the belief that drama has the power to build self-confidence in a child and give them a voice. As we continue over the next 10 years The Drama Space will continue with her vision. We are not a Star System company, we deeply care about our students and strive to give them a place where they feel both safe that they have a voice. A place where we encourage our students to break the mould, not allow others to define them and never stick to the status quo. Because of all their hard work, I have no doubt that this show will be a smash hit and cannot wait to work with our students again for Shrek The Musical Jr.

Ozzie Maltese

Dramatic Arts Director of The Drama Space

Winter Spectacular: The Musical

Dramatic Arts Director: Ozzie Maltese A new up and coming teacher, Ozzie recently graduated from the University of Windsor with two degrees in Education. His undergraduate studies were focused in "Drama and Education in the Community" which centered on using dramatic play cross-curricularly in the primary/junior setting. Graduating from the DRED program in 2011, Ozzie then went on to teach English using dramatic play in Italy. Graduating from the B.ED program in 2012, he and is now an emergency supply teacher with the GECDSB. From working with Mad Science of Windsor as a "Mad Scientist" to working on the Disney Dream Cruise Ship as a "Youth Entertainment Host", Ozzie has a variety of past experiences using dramatic play and combining it with education. His dream is to one day become a Junior/Senior Kindergarten teacher. He is thrilled to be a part of the "Drama Space" Team, "My dream in life is to inspire the young minds of today and allow them to have a voice. By using drama I believe I can give a voice to those who are in need of speaking out yet feel oppressed from doing so. Drama is a powerful tool!"(Ozzie Maltese).

Vocal Director: Kathy CostaKathy Costa is a well-established vocal instructor/coach in the Windsor area with many years of experience teaching pop, musical theatre and classical styles. She studied jazz at Humber College, classical at the University of Windsor, and has had numerous pop performance experiences. Many of her students have gone on to study theatre at Sheridan College and University of Toronto, perform professionally in theatre productions in TO and NYC, and signed to record labels. In fact one of her students is LaSalle's own Danielle Wade who played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz in Toronto. She takes advantage of every opportunity she can to provide performance and learning opportunities for her students. We are honoured to have Kathy join our teaching team.

Dance Director: Nina Fasullon Nina is so excited to be choreographing her first show with The Drama Space this winter. Nina has been dancing for over 20 years and is trained in many styles including Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Contemporary, Hip Hop and many more. She started her career both performing and teaching in Burlington, Ontario with Aspects of Dance competitive company and taught for 4 years before moving to Windsor to pursue her Musical Theatre education at St Clair College. Nina studied under some great Canadian talents including Melissa Williams (Judge and Choreographer for So You Think You Can Dance Canada) from whom she learned the art of choreographing large productions. Nina even joined her as assistant choreographer for Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris. She continued to teach through school and choreograph after graduation for various film and stage productions as well as performing in Les Misrables (Theatre Alive) and Shrek:The Musical (Theatre Ensemble) and six college productions since moving to Windsor. Nina is currently also choreographing Fiddler On The Roof with Theatre Ensemble that hits the stage in April! She is having an amazing time working with our young Drama Space performers and helping them hone their skills and is proud of how hard they are working and how excited they are to showcase their incredible talents in our wonderful Winter Spectacular!

Kathren Kanouna: Assistant Dramatic Arts Director A recent graduate of the of the University of Windsor's Faculty of Education program, Kathren's Bachelor of Education was focused in the area of Junior/Intermediate division with a Drama teachable. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Drama in Education and Community in August 2013. She is an ambitious, eager and outgoing teacher candidate and hopes to one day become an elementary schoolteacher. Thrilled to be a part of the Drama Space team, she is currently designing English as a Second Language programs that use dramatic play to help foster the growth of the individual student.

Special thanks goes out to: Karen Mossman (Executive Director of The Drama Space), Rosanna Desando (Co-Executive Director), Denise Dutkowski (Office Administrator), Barb Donaldson (Costumes), Maria Dutkowski (Costumes) Thank you Boston Pizza and the Haglund family for your generous donation of pizza to our amazing actors and also to our many volunteers and for the support from our parents! This show could not be put on without you!

Fame Monster: A New Musical!

Whos Who?

Perla Layman as KeiraSaige Vickers-Walsh as Jessica

Jay Newman as NateEthan Lehoux as Derek

Olivia D'Alfonso as The Narrator Brooke Haglund as Lisa

Devin Jacobs as The Principal Rylie Begeron as Popular Girl # 1

Corrine McMahon as Popular Girl # 2Athina Procyk as Popular Girl # 3

April Conely as Popular Girl # 4 Regan Begeron as Popular Girl # 5

Emelia Longmoore as Random Girl Zion Wright as The Bully

Ensemble

Max Crosby Aria LeGrandShawn GoroAngela ZhangWilliam ZhangEmma OselyTilly QuennevilleElla QuennevilleAaron ThwaitesMattie Leach Aidee Roberts Karena DengAdrienna DeMonte Caleigh DeMonteAngelena AuttersonRobyn ConleyMelody HearnZuri PalazziMax PalazziSilver Leach Tatum Duym