School News: A 'Golden' Performance, Wall of Fame Nominations, Transportation Applications Due

“Finian’s Rainbow” Production was Golden

Even though inclement weather forced the cancellation of four key rehearsals, the cast and crew of the Long Beach High School Theater Department still managed, with a little luck of the Irish and a lot of hard work, to pull off a stellar performance of “Finian’s Rainbow.”

On three evening performances and a free matinee for senior citizens, the actors delighted young and old alike with their singing and dancing, with memorable renditions of “How Are Things in Glocca Morra,”  “When I’m Not Near the Girl I Love” and “Old Devil Moon.”

In this whimsical, magical, fable-with-a social-conscience, Finian McLonergan, (played by Joseph Keiserman) and his daughter Sharon (Eileen Kelly) are followed by a leprechaun named Og (Russell Goetz) as they travel from Glocca Morra, Ireland, to Rainbow Valley in America.

Finian has "borrowed" Og's crock of gold to plant in the soil near Fort Knox so it will grow and make him rich. But Og wants it back, for without it the leprechauns will lose their magic powers and the crock of gold will turn to dross. The McLonergans arrive as Buzz Collins (Gavin Enright), a stooge for racist Senator Billboard Rawkins (Adam Goldenberg), is trying to take land away from Woody Mahoney (Matthew Pisciotta) and his mute sister Susan (Ruby Beckwith), who "talks" by dancing.

Woody and Sharon fall in love, as Finian secretly buries the crock. Meanwhile, the sheriff is about to throw all the citizens of Rainbow Valley off their land for violating the "law of the south,” which prohibits whites and blacks from fraternizing. Sharon is outraged and wishes that the senator could be black and feel the terrible pain of racism.

And because she is standing over the buried crock, it happens! The sSenator turns black and the crowd is stunned. The senator (now played by Dalvin Goodridge) is horrified, and runs off into the forest to hide. Although all seems lost, this crazy mix of love, greed, racism and magic somehow results in a happy ending.

Sarah Ben-Moussa played Dottie, Ethan Edrich was the sheriff, and Hanna Piazza played his deputy. Other speaking roles were played by Angela Ruis, David Henry, Mary Deniston, Saira Ramessar, Jennifer Zarate, Aditi Gupta, Tatiana Summers, Fernanda Armijo, Lisy Lima, Michelle Asarch, Toni Lee-Jones and Jaysha Teemer.

The show was directed by Vanessa Krywe. Marino Bragino III directed the pit orchestra and Bruce Kaplan was the vocal director. Marcus Quiroga was in charge of choreography and Eric Krywe handled technical direction.

LBHS Wall of Fame Nominations Open

Nominations for induction into the 2011-2012 Long Beach High School Wall of Fame will be accepted through April 1. To nominate a candidate, pick up a nomination form, at any Long Beach Public School, the administration office, the athletic office at LBHS, or download a form at www.lbeach.org.

The LBHS Wall of Fame was conceived to honor present and former members of the Long Beach community who have made substantial contributions either locally, or to the world at large, including contributors in the area of athletics.

In 1996, the Wall of Fame was dedicated by the Long Beach Booster Club in cooperation with the Long Beach Public Schools to serve as an inspiration for the youth of Long Beach. Qualified candidates must have either attended LBHS for at least two full years, or in lieu of such attendance, must have been associated with the Long Beach community for a period of no less than 10 years.

Please detail specific achievements, dates worth noting, and any and all other supporting information, documentation, photographs, newspaper articles, testimonials, and the like. Completed forms and all other supporting information should be sent to the Office of the Superintendent, 235 Lido Boulevard, Lido Beach, NY 11561-5093.

Any resident of the Long Beach Schools, or district staff member who has been employed in the district for no less than five continuous years, may nominate a candidate for inclusion into the Wall of Fame.

Transportation Applications Must Be Submitted by May 1

To parents of students attending out-of-district programs in the 2011-2012 school year: Applications for transportation to out-of-district programs must be submitted to the Long Beach Public Schools Transportation Department at 659 Lido Blvd., prior to May 1.

K-12 students are eligible for out-of-district transportation if the out-of-district program is within a 15-mile radius of the student’s residence. Pre-kindergarten students attending out-of-district programs are not eligible for transportation. The transportation department has mailed transportation applications for the 2011-2012 school year to parents of students currently attending out-of-district programs.

The transportation department is open weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information, call 897-2132.

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