Anything Goes Cast

Avani Agrawal (Form VI) is thrilled to be a member of the cast for Anything Goes as a reporter and ensemble member. This is her second show with Shady Side Academy, and she has loved being a part of musical theater during high school. In past, she has been in musicals such as Chicago (Ensemble), Seussical, and more! Outside of theater, you can catch her hanging out with friends and singing. She is very grateful for this opportunity and hopes you enjoy show!

Kristen Appleman (Form V) is excited to participate in her 3rd year of the SSA Senior School musical.

Lindey Jane Brody (Form IV) is looking forward to showing off this wonderful production to everyone! Lindey joined SSA and its musical program in eigth grade, but has been dancing since she was eight years old. She loves all styles of dance (except, if you can believe it, tap). After the musical is over, you can likely find Lindey at work, dancing, or complaining about all the dancing that she voluntarily signs herself up to do.

Torben Clark (Form V) is grateful for the opportunity to participate in his first high school theatre production. He has performed on stage for concerts and one musical prior to this production, (that musical being “Newsies” in his eighth grade year), and he is excited to make his return to the theatre in his third year at SSA.

Monique Fosung (Form IV) is so excited to get to be a part of the ensemble in this year’s production of Anything Goes. After a few years of attending SSA, she made the decision to join the musical her sophomore year and has not regretted it one bit. Monique has always been extremely fond of singing and dancing from a young age, whether on a stage or in her room. She has been interested in the theatre community for a while and is beyond grateful to get the opportunity to put these skills to use and help create such a beautiful show. She has had so much fun getting to know her castmates throughout the process, creating and strengthening so many unbreakable bonds. Aside from singing and dancing, Monique can often be found reading a book, writing poetry, drawing, cheering on the sidelines, playing softball, or spending time with friends and family. Getting to spend her free time rehearsing with the cast has been such a unique experience for her and she has thoroughly enjoyed every part of it. Everyone in the company has put in an absurd amount of hard work and she can’t wait until they all get to show off their dedication to the show on opening night!

Hazel Freemann (Form III) participated in her first musical at the high school this year and she has loved being a part of the SSA drama community! She very much enjoyed getting to participate in Anything Goes, since the show is incredibly engaging, upbeat, and fun. She especially liked the creativity that was given to the ensemble, and experimented with "creating a character" as Mr. Ingraham suggested throughout the production of the show. It was a great way to spend time with friends, especially those who she doesn't get to see very often, and a joyful introduction to drama at the senior school. Hazel also enjoys her English and history classes at SSA and likes to compete in quiz bowl, write for the school newspaper, and participate in speech and debate.

Zoe Freyberg (Form IV) is so excited to take part in this year's musical, Anything Goes! Theater has always been one of Zoe's passions, and she is so thrilled to take part in theater experiences at the Senior School. In the past, she has been in seventeen productions. Some of her favorite roles were (but not limited to!) one of the weird sisters in Macbeth, from last year's musical Buddy, and most recently, Thyona from this year's fall play. Some of her other interests include baking, STEM, reading, and spending time with her cat, Cookie. She is so excited for all of the wonderful theatrical opportunities to come here at the Senior School!

May (Form III) is excited to be a part of this year’s musical. This is her first year at shady side academy. She has been a part of the gold ensemble for four months, singing, dancing, and helping bring the show to life onstage. She would like to thank all the teachers and staff who have helped this happen. And all the students part of musical. And lastly her family and friends for always being there

Lauren Grand is a form IV student who has been involved in musical theater for as long as she can remember. Since transferring to Shady Side Academy in seventh grade, she's loved continuing her journey on stage and being part of numerous school productions. Lauren has danced since she was young and is especially excited to perform as a dancer in 'Anything Goes'. Her favorite style is tap and she is thrilled to perform it with such a talented cast.

Alexandra J. Hoe (Form IV) is very excited for her first time as a part of musical cast in high school! As a lifer since pre-K, Alexandra has been a part of performances at SSA her entire life. At the Senior School, she played Dr. Hallmeier in Rossum’s Universal Robots and Giuliano in this year’s Big Love. Alexandra really likes sparkling water for some reason, along with painting miniatures, plastic modeling, playing piano, writing, Latin, writing Latin, reading, and history. Alexandra is also the head of the SSA Dungeons and Dragons club, treasurer of the Givology Club, and Editor of Entertainment for our school newspaper, the Bulldog Bugle. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Mikayla Hornezes (Form III) is ecstatic to be performing as a dancing passenger in the show Anything Goes. She is thrilled to be part of such an energetic and classic musical, and she looks forward to bringing enthusiasm, movement, and stage presence to every performance. This production has been an exciting opportunity for her to grow as a performer and to work alongside a talented cast and crew.

Ryan Huang (Form VI) likes to go against conventional societal norms, and will therefore write this in first person. I joined the musical because nothing says “serious academic reflection” like people spontaneously breaking into song over their deepest emotional conflicts. When faced with problems, normal people talk. I, however, prefer a key change and aggressive jazz hands on the side. If life is going to be chaotic, it might as well be choreographed. The musical follows me navigating the horrors of modern existence while also allowing the audience to truly understand my struggles in addition to wondering why there is a tap-dancing metaphor for procrastination. In conclusion, this musical is not just a musical. It is a bold artistic statement, a cry for help, and possibly an excuse to rhyme “existential dread” with “should’ve gone to bed.” If life gives you lemon, give it a musical.

Peter Huang (Form VI) is here for his last theatrical production with this memorable musical before heading to college. He joins the SSA community after spending many years in China, from elementary school through middle school. From singing to Spotify songs to joining the concert/chamber choir and participating in SSA Idol, this will be his second time working with the musical. Being part of this production has allowed him to reflect on how far he has come not only as a performer but also as a collaborator and member of a creative community. He is especially grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such a talented cast, crew, pit, and directing team, whose dedication and energy have made the rehearsal process both meaningful and memorable. Peter hopes audiences enjoy Anything Goes as much as he has enjoyed being part of bringing it to life.

Vivienne Jablonski (Form III) Is excited to be a part of her first ever musical “ Anything Goes”! She is grateful for the opportunity to be involved in this high energy show. Being part of this production has been an amazing learning experience, allowing her to explore acting, singing, and dancing while working with a talented and supportive cast. Outside of the theater Vivienne has a wide range of interests including soccer and lacrosse, both of which have taught her teamwork, discipline, and perseverance- skills she has loved bringing into rehearsals. When she is not on the field Vivienne enjoys reading and drawing, which allows her to express creativity in different ways. Participating in “Anything Goes” has helped Vivienne step outside of her comfort zone and discovering a new passion for the performing arts. She is thankful to the directors, crew, and fellow cast for making her first musical such a positive and memorable experience. Vivienne hopes you enjoy the show and thanks you for coming to support the cast and crew!

Maryn Lang(Form lll) is exited to be in the cast as a passenger! Maryn has previously enjoyed being in musicals in the middle Shcool such as Suessical and Frozen! In her free time, Maryn likes to learn French, DJ and listen to music! This is her year in the Senior School Musical and cannot wait for everyone to see the show!

Cassie Li (Form V) is thrilled to be in the winter musical for her fourth year! She joined the SSA Theater in her Freshman year and has not missed any fall play or musical. This year, she is playing as photographer and ensemble member in the play. She will do her best to present the amazing world of Anything Goes to the audience. Enjoy the shows!

Anna Litster (Form V) is very excited to be in her sixth SSA production and third SSA musical. Anna is the president of gargoyle society (the SSA theatre society) and a cast deputy. Her favorite production so far was Big Love from this fall, where she played Lydia. In her free time she enjoys reading, going to the movies, and painting. She would like to acknowledge her co-vice presidents of gargoyle society, Noah and Zoe, for being strong supports, helping her put ideas into action, as well as being great friends. She would like to thank Dek, DH, and everyone else who made this year's musical such a positive environment.

Andrew Little (Form V) is so excited to be in this year’s Anything Goes! He joined SSA in 6th grade and has been a part of the musical since freshman year. He spent his first year on crew, and then switched to cast the following year. Drew has thoroughly enjoyed his role as the captain and has learned a lot being the main’s understudy. In his spare time, he enjoys playing video games, hanging out with friends, playing racket sports, and being a captain of SSA’s competitive ultimate frisbee team. He loves puzzles, food, moral dilemmas, mocktails, friendly debates, dessert, singing, balsamic vinaigrette, poker, fresh bread, skiing, and Japanese food. Drew can’t wait for the show to finally be put together and performed for an audience.

Violet McGuigan [Form IV] is a member of the ensemble. She joined the musical because she likes singing and spending time with her friends. In her free time, she reads long books, goes hiking and kayaking, gardens, and bakes food (and desserts!) for her family and friends. Someday, she aspires to bake cookies flavored with her namesake flower. Her favorite New York Times puzzle game is Strands. She also enjoys spending time with her cat, Sugar, and playing board games with her three siblings. She is thrilled to be a part of this show and hopes that everyone appreciates the hard work that everyone involved has put in.

Makayla Miller (Form V) is really thrilled to be dancing for everyone in this year’s Anything Goes. Makayla joined both the SSA school community and the SSA theater community her freshman year and has been so glad that she can spend her time with such incredible people. Growing up, Makayla always loved theater and dance: performing in several recitals, musicals, and plays ever since she was five. She is so excited to combine two of her favorite things once more this year in a dance ensemble. She is looking forward to showcasing this year’s newfound tap dancing skill and is truly grateful to spend her winter months with such an incredible cast.

Lena Patel (Form III) has had so much fun with Anything Goes, and can't wait for opening night. She is in the concert choir this year. She has played violin for most of her life, and is in the PYCO chamber choir. She played on the JV field hockey team, and is in spring lacrosse. Her happy place is the beach, and she would like to learn how to sew her own clothes. She likes to draw and paint, and can talk about US history, books, online culture, and feminism for hours. She also loves to read, write, and listen to music. Her secret talent is that she can impersonate the voice of Stitch from Disney’s Lilo and Stitch. If she wasn’t an actor, she would love to be on tech crew, especially on costume. She is grateful for her family, trusted adults, friends, and of course her cat, Tomato. She was a student at The Ellis School since pre-kindergarten. This is her first year at Shady Side Academy.

Eira Pathe (Form III) is an active and driven student deeply involved in the arts and community work. She plays both the piano and cello, balancing musical study with creative expression. Eira is a co-host of Off the Record, a youth-centered radio show produced by SLB Radio from 5-6 P.M. every Thursday, where she helps lead conversations on issues that matter to young people. She has been in a few productions before, and additionally enjoys storytelling and visual arts.

Isabelle Pitt (Form IV) is a proud member of the cast, and although she has a small part as the ensemble she is happy to be apart of Anything Goes. This is Isabelle's second year of theater at the high school, and she hopes that you thoroughly enjoy the show.

Pilar Placci (Form IV) is excited to perform in this year's musical Anything Goes. This is her fifth musical performance since middle-school in sixth-grade. Pilar is acting as one of the nine Angels that dance beside Reno on the boat. She's learned tap dancing because of this show and can't wait to show off some of the skills she's acquired since November. In her free time, she enjoys tennis, drawing, bothering her two best friends, and asking Allison to make cookies for the 100th time in chem class. With her friends in the musical and the fun she’s had, Pilar hopes to continue her passion for theater. She can’t wait to see the people in the crowd, and hopes you enjoy the show!

Stella Platt (Form Ⅲ) is excited to participate in her first musical at SSA. She has been doing theatre for 4 years and has had fun bring Anything Goes to stage with the SSA community.

Harika Reddy (Form III) is very happy to be participating in this musical of "Anything Goes". With limited and somewhat patchy acting skills, she joined the musical with hope to gain experience and an enjoyable time as part of the cast.

Lily Salmond (Form IV) is a member of the cast and is really excited to perform as a dancer this year. Because she had fun in the musical last year, We Will Rock You, she really looked forward to the start of the show this year. She started dancing in the summer before Freshman year and danced in the musical last year, as well as taking classes out of school. This was her first experience tap dancing, so it was challenging at first. However, with a lot of practice, she improved and started to really enjoy it. During the musical, she discovered that she really enjoys 1930s music, even though she'd never really listened to it before. She thought that the songs were enjoyable and really fun to sing, which made the whole show even more fun. She has always enjoyed singing for fun and joined Chamber Choir in her Freshman year. She also started taking lessons last year because she wants to improve her technical skill even more. Her experience this year was a lot of fun; she enjoyed talking to new people and putting a lot of effort into dancing. She aims to improve even more and really looks forward to doing the musical again next year. She hopes everyone enjoys the show!

Corinne Sample (Form IV) is so excited to be a part of Anything Goes! Before this show, Corinne has performed in Narnia, High School Musical, Annie, Frozen, and We Will Rock You. Corinne loves singing, both in the musical, in chorus class, and with the Bulldog Bellas. When she is not participating in musical, Corinne enjoys playing tennis, running, and playing the guitar. She also likes to read and hang out with friends and family. She would like to thank her garage for letting her sing in preparation for the musical (admittedly rather loudly) without bothering her family. She is very grateful to her family for their support and for her voice teacher Mrs. Fire. She wants to thank Dek, Mr. DH, Mr. Gross, Dr. O, Mr. Hughes, the cast, and the crew for all of their hard work putting together this awesome show!

Talia Schwartz (Form IV) is excited to be performing in this year's production of Anything Goes She has had a lot of fun working on this musical and especially loves the songs and dances. She has also been a part of We Will Rock You, Frozen Jr, and Oliver Jr. Talia has lived in Pittsburgh for almost four years, and this is her second year at Shady Side Academy. In addition to theater, Talia is also a member of the school's chamber choir and a cappella group, where she enjoys singing with her friends. She loves challenging herself and trying new things. When she is not singing or playing the piano, Talia enjoys reading, playing tennis, and trying to train her two dogs (and her younger brother). Talia would like to thank her family for their patience during long nights and late pickups, and Anastasia Robinson for her support. She is also grateful to the cast, crew, pit, and directors for their hard work in making this musical come to life.

Hanna Singhi (Form V) joined Shady Side Academy in 6th grade and is excited to be in her third musical production at the Senior School. Beginning her formal dance training at the age of three, Hanna has always had a passion for movement. Over the years, she has received training from Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, Allegro Ballet Academy, and Yanlai Dance Academy. She was also accepted into and completed Boston Ballet School’s Summer Dance Program and Point Park University’s International Summer Dance program, receiving an artistic merit scholarship to the latter. Outside of dance, Hanna plays the piano and violin. In addition, she is a member of the Pittsburgh Northstars Rhythmic Program and won the 2024 National Advanced Group Championship as well as placed third overall at the 2025 National Championships with her team. She was also recognized by the Pennsylvania Senate for her achievement in rhythmic gymnastics. When she’s not dancing or at gymnastics, Hanna likes to coach and teach both sports, read, learn new things, hang out with friends, be creative, sleep, and have fun.

Amelia Sun (Form III) is excited to be participating in her first senior school production of the Winter Musical! Amelia likes drawing, Tetris, dancing, doing muay thai, and musical theatre! She also loves being around her friends and making them laugh. She has a 2 year old kitten named Lizzie, and loves animal factoids!

Britney Sun (Form IV) is glad to become part of the gold ensemble this year. She is new to SSA community and this is her second musical. She loves moments spent in rehearsals so far. Outside of theatre, she enjoys spending time with friends and family. She would like to thank the supportive peers for a wonderful production this year.

Juliet Sykes (Form IV) is thrilled to be playing Reno Sweeney in the SSA production of Anything Goes! This is her second year at Shady Side Academy, and she is having an amazing time. Juliet has performed in many musicals, such as Shady Side Academy's production of We Will Rock You (Oz), Young Frankenstein, Hello, Dolly!, Matilda, Once Upon a Mattress, 42nd Street, and Shrek. In her free time, she enjoys singing, spending time with her friends and family (+ her 2 golden retrievers), baking, listening to music, watching movies, and participating in dance classes at CLO academy. She would like to thank her fabulous friends and family for always supporting her. She would additionally like to thank Thom McLaughlin for being such a meaningful acting mentor, Pam Gregg for all of her theater guidance, her dance teachers for all their hard work, Molly Stater for being a great voice teacher, as well as Mr. Gross, Dr. O, and Dek for helping her grow into the performer she is. Without all of these influences, she would not be the same person. Whether it's acting, singing, or dancing, Juliet loves sharing her passion for performing. Juliet has thoroughly enjoyed being a part of Anything Goes and is very excited to show off everyone's hard work. It's a-boat time, anchors aweigh!

Iyla Tadikamalla is so happy to be participating in her first SSA musical, "Anything Goes". She has been in previous musicals like Matilda, Legally Blonde, and Beauty and the Beast but this is her first musical as a freshman here at SSA. She has enjoyed her experience of being part of the cast and she hopes to participate in more musicals to come. She got to enjoy the same first experience of a high school musical with many other of her freshman peers. She is excited to sing and dance on the stage and for all to see her. She hopes you have a great show experience.

Noah Jones is beyond excited to be appearing as Billy Crocker in Anything Goes. He has been involved in theatre for many years and has loved exploring a wide range of styles, stories, and characters along the way. His past performance credits include Mary Poppins Jr., Frozen Jr., Order Up, Zombie Prom, We Will Rock You, Macbeth, and R.U.R., each of which helped shape his growth as a performer both on and off the stage. Most recently, Noah appeared in Big Love, a performance that earned him a Prime Stage Awards nomination for Best Actor—an experience he is incredibly grateful for and proud of. From a very young age, Noah knew he wanted to perform, even if his earliest career goal was a bit unconventional. When asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, his answer was a Minion from Despicable Me, a dream fueled by a love of laughter, mischief, and bringing joy to others. While that particular role hasn’t happened yet, the spirit behind it continues to inspire his love for performance. Outside of theatre, Noah absolutely adores Honey Nut Cheerios and considers them a top-tier snack. He has loved every moment working with the cast and creative team of Anything Goes and wouldn’t trade this experience—or the friendships formed along the way—for the world.

Lily Toma (Form VI) is excited to be performing as Mrs. Evangeline Harcourt in Anything Goes. This marks her final SSA musical and a meaningful return to the stage after spending her sophomore and junior years working on crew. Lily first joined the SSA theatre community as a freshman cast member, where she discovered her love for theatre both onstage and behind the scenes. Being part of Anything Goes has been a full-circle experience, allowing her to combine her appreciation for performance with the teamwork and dedication she gained through crew work. Lily would like to thank the directors, cast, and crew for an unforgettable senior-year production, as well as her friends and family for their continued support. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Angela Tu (Form IV) is happy to join SSA's Winter Musical for the second year in a row as a member of the Blue Ensemble. The Blue Ensemble leans more heavily towards dance, something that Angela enjoys. Thanks to her experiences in Musical, she has experienced the joy of being onstage, being around friends, and the general cheerful camaraderie of her fellow cast members. She has also matured a lot and grown from these experiences, bettering herself from the musical's experiences. In her free time, she likes to draw, eat and bake pastries, watch videos, listen to music, read, dance, and hang out with friends. In addition to participating in the school musical, Angela is the president of Givology Club and one of the three leaders of Art Club here at SSA. She is grateful to be part of the SSA community and its supportive and caring teachers and staff. Previously, Angela was part of Ensemble for last year's musical, We Will Rock You. Angela encourages her peers to partake in Musical at least once throughout high school due to wealth of lessons and experiences you can take from this program. She believes that though this time of year is always hectic and stressful, there are always moments of joy everyday that can get someone through the winter and mountains of assignments, extracurriculars, and whatnot. Anything Goes is such a funny, clever musical, and with our company, we can really make it shine. She hopes that you relax and enjoy the show!

Özge Ada Uzman (Form V) is very excited to work with this wonderful group of people again! Harboring an interest for all things theatrical since her elementary years, she has taken voice, acting, and dance lessons at the Pittsburgh CLO, and continues to dance with Yanlai Dance Academy. Having joined the SSA community in seventh grade, her previous roles include Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins) and Bulda (Frozen). In Anything Goes, she is thrilled to be serving her third year as a part of the Dance Ensemble and her second year as a Dance Captain! Apart from musical theater, Özge enjoys writing, reading, drawing, and participating in FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition with her robotics team. She hopes the audience has as much fun with the show as she did!

Oliver Wang (Form VI) is returning for his second year in musical cast. After getting an alcoholic role in the fall play he is again getting an alcoholic role in Anything Goes. Perhaps people on sea are bound to drink rum. He is usually a neuroscience student and yet he has not found out a cure to sea sickness. Recently got into Emory, not to row on their varsity team. Coming from indoor China and spending high school in Shady Side, this will be probably the last musical he will do, nd is planning to make it as crisp and enjoyable as a bottle of good champagne.

David Wang (Form VI) is his name. He is an eminent and very enamored samurai-philosopher back in his hometown of Shenyang. He served as a great leader of the Japanese zhongguo hong weibing. When he's not tsujigiri'ing, he loves to read hong bao shu, write hong poems, and think about the hong dageming. After his samurai service, he became unemplyoed—that is, a philosopher—and retreated into the Way of the Jar, just as his master Diogenes had done. But when the Captain came knocking on his jar, he discovered that civilization advanced thousands of years in the future, and since no one can live in modern civilization without a college degree, he decided to finally become employed as a Purser so that he could put the experience on his college resume and finally go to college as any good citizen should do.

Sylvie Will (Form III) is an enthusiastic singer who enjoys performing as part of an ensemble. She discovered her liking for singing through participation in middle school musical productions, where she gained experience working collaboratively with cast members to bring stories to life on stage. Being part of musical theater helped her develop confidence, stage presence, and a strong appreciation for teamwork. Sylvie enjoys contributing her voice to group performances and continues to explore opportunities to grow as a performer. She values the energy of live performance and the sense of community that comes from making music with others.

This is Cecilia Chen’s (Form VI) fourth year performing in the SSA Musical. She is very excited to perform with the Orchestra as the Lead Piano this year; previously, she was a Featured Dancer (cast) for two years and Keyboard player (orchestra) for one year. Cecilia is a music composer and a pianist for ten years, and she has participated in many music opportunities offered by SSA. She is part of the Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo as a pianist. Additionally, she founded the SSA Composers Club in 2024 and is now in her second year leading the club, teaching music theory to SSA students and performing original compositions individually and in groups. Outside of performing arts, Cecilia is also the Writing Center Co-director and a Prefect at the dorms. In college, Cecilia wishes to pursue a minor in music and/or a concentration in music composition. She wishes the best of luck to everyone who is part of the Anything Goes cast, crew, and orchestra!

Jaidan ( form III ) is making his musical theater debut in Anything Goes, playing trombone in the Pit Orchestra. Jaidan is enjoying the opportunity to work with the orchestra on this exciting score. Currently Jaidan studies trombone with Morgan Wynn, principle trombone for River City Brass. Jaidan also plays trombone in the SSA senior school Jazz band. Jaidan tries to bring a bombastic sound and to play with swagger to one day be the tuffest trombone in town.

Samraj (Form VI) has played both trumpet and keyboards in prior Gene Kelly award nominated pit orchestras for Chicago, Zombie Prom, and We Will Rock You. He is thrilled to be playing trumpet again in this years’ pit and is also serving as Student Director of the pit orchestra. Samraj has played in SSA jazz bands for the past 7 years, played in multiple district jazz bands and was a member of the 2025 Pennsylvania All State Jazz Band on trumpet. Samraj has studied trumpet with David Gardner for the past 6 years. Following graduation Samraj plans to pursue engineering and audition for his collegiate jazz ensemble.

Benjamin Huang (Form VI) is proud to be a part of Anything Goes as a saxophonist and clarinetist in the Pit Orchestra. He dabbles in the visual arts and is the "daily inspirational quote guy." Having never been part of a large production before, he has always wanted to challenge himself and perform in a musical. He did not want to let that ship sail before graduating, so Ben finally decided to give it a shot in his senior year, joining his friends and peers in the SSA theater community. Upon receiving the music and having his first rehearsal, he realized, contrary to the show's name, that anything does not go. The music proved a big step up from jazz ensemble, and Ben had to learn it on two instruments, with the clarinet being unfamiliar to him. As expected, many hours were invested in practicing to make this show as great as possible. As a result, he has seen tremendous improvement in his musical skill, but it is up to you to determine if it was enough. Ultimately, he is ecstatic to be involved with such a talented and funny group and create alongside the cast and crew. He hopes you enjoy the culmination of all our efforts in this spectacular show.

Amanda Li (Form III) is excited to be participating in the musical for the first time as a one of the piano accompanists in the pit orchestra. She has been playing the piano since first grade and mainly focuses on classical music. In middle school, she was a part of the strings orchestra, which gave her experience in playing with an ensemble. Being apart the Anything Goes production has given Amanda a new musical setting and expanded her experience past her usual repertoire. She is extremely grateful for the opportunity to contribute her part in the musical and looks forward to continuing to grow as a musician.

Max Renock (form IV) is excited to be part of the musical. This is his second year at shady side, and first for the jazz ensemble and pit orchestra. He has worked on other musicals at his old school building the set and working the light, but never performing on the stage. He is intrigued by the chance to see more into the processes behind the performing and trying to keep everything running smoothly, as well as spending more time with his friends that are also in the pit and cast. He is also appreciative that this music is challenging and improving his bass playing, helping him be better.

Eliza Rizk (Form lll) has been at SSA since 4th grade. She has been playing cello since age 4 and piano since age 9 and loves studying and performing classical music. Currently a Co-Principal cellist of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra, she also enjoys competing in concerto competitions and working on her solo repertoire. Playing in the pit orchestra this winter has been fun for her as she has learned to play a different musical style on cello.

Jacob Smith-Tatham (Form IV) is entering his 2nd musical at Shady Side Academy. He is excited to continue his work in the pit on vibraphone, glockenspiel, and various other percussion instruments. With countless hours spent playing, practicing, and listening to jazz, Jacob is eager to accompany this jazz musical.