The DiLoreto Bandwagon
Archive from January 2006 to December 2008
August 23, 2008 – Opening night for TheatreWorks' production of Tony-Award-winning Grey Gardens in its West Coast premier was a champagne-filled celebration. The cast made a grand entrance after the show, descending the curved, glass-walled stairway at the at the Mt. View Center for the Performing Arts. Carolyn is cast as the young Lee Bouvier surrounded by adult equity actors mostly from New York. Jackie Bouvier is played by Kathryn Foley, who was Paul's double in Seussical at Sunnyvale three years ago and has gone on to play professional theatre, as well.
August 15, 2008 – Paul enjoyed playing the young and naive Jack in Stephen Sondheim's Into The Woods, performed by CMT in May, shown at right with his cow, Milky White. His most recent production with CMT was West Side Story, in which he played the role of Chino, who shoots Maria's lover, Tony, played in his cast by Tiffany Tanquary and Shawn Platzker, respectively. Tonight, these same performers were invited to sing songs from the show as a twilight prelude to an outdoor screening of the original movie in St. James Park. Several cast members were present and sang along.
June 27, 2008 - We missed bringing you details of Carolyn's featured role in Pandemonium (April/May) and her softball season that ended in June. However, Marie Stinnett's biennial Dance at the Gym was very special in that it was her 50th anniversary of teachingdance in Campbell. Carolyn was featured in seven of 31 numbers in the hour-and-a-half program. Each had a special costume, two of which are shown here.
December 15, 2007 - It was closing night for Tabard's world premier production of Stop Time!, which featured Carolyn as a tapper among a great cast that included dancer Dean Scott and singer Diane Milo. As the only child in the cast, Carolyn surprised us by keeping up with the many intricate dance routines performed by dancers among the best in the South Bay, having started tap lessons only a year and a half ago. The show was a song and dance revue of rhythms and styles of the 20th century, including ragtime, jazz and rock from popular and Broadway songs. Here Carolyn is singing a solo in the number "Good Morning, Baltimore" from Hairspray. She also had a solo dance routine in "Calendar Girl." Dad enjoyed playing in the on-stage orchestra on keyboard.
August 5, 2007 - It was another CMT summer for both Paul and Carolyn. Tonight was the closing night performance of Leader of the Pack in which Paul was one of the dance ensemble. The show progressed into another impressive Kevin Hauge production by the end of its two-week run at the San Jose Rep Theater. A couple weeks before, High School Musical closed its two-week run at the Montgomery with Carolyn as one of the six cheerleaders. We are still waiting for Children's Musical Theatre San Jose to make photos available from the show.
May 26, 2007 - Having made the 10 & under Campbell Crush fastpitch softball team as its smallest member, Carolyn travelled with coach Dad to Hollister for the first tournament of the summer season. Against an especially intimidating A Division team of large girls from Santa Cruz, Carolyn, lead off and had a couple hits, including a grounder to third that went for a home run after an errant throw to first. Scatting around second on the play, Carolyn not only beat the throw to third but raced home without slowing down as coach Jennifer gave her the 'go' sign. She crossed the plate standing up with arms raised over her head, as the bench emptied to greet her with cheers. Although Crush lost the game, the umpire gave Carolyn the game ball with an inscription congratulating her for her "home run." Crush went on to win the tournament's C Division the next day.
May 6, 2007 - This was a big weekend for Carolyn, who turned 11 on Thursday. Saturday night was her closing performance of Tabard's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in which she played one of 10 Oompa-Loompas, shown here in one of their dance numbers. On Sunday she had a birthday party at a rollerskating rink shared with friends from her cast, her classmates from school and from dance.
March 3, 2007 - Tonight was opening night for HONK! Carolyn played the role of Duckling Billie in this musical story of the ugly duckling, preformed at the Saratoge Civic Theater. Carolyn had fun onstage as one of four ducklings, theonly kids among a cast of 20 adults. Dad played keyboard in the orchestra, shown here with the obligatory opening night tux. The show plays for 13 performances ending March 31.
December 16, 2006 - Carolyn performed at de Anza College in her annual Christmas piano recital among 10 students of Mrs. Anna Poklewski. As the second (and second smallest) performer, Carolyn played a Kuhlau Sonatina (1st movement), Schumann's St. Nicholas, and March and Russian Dance from Tchaikowski's Nutcracker Suite. It was a treat to play on (and hear) the 9-ft. Steinway D Concert Grand piano. The other 9 students gave excellent to downright otherworldly amazing performances of Debussy, Chopin, Liszt, Shostakowitch, and of course, Bach and Mozart. A highlight of the recital was a duet of Haydn Concerto in D (3rd movement) by a sister and brother. We thank Mrs. Poklewski, a professor of piano at de Anza for her dedication to these young students.
December 9, 2006 - The Montgomery Theater was filled with actors, parents and friends for Honors Night for Children's Musical Theatre San Jose. The evening was a beautiful showcase of the year's CMT productions and individual performances, remembered in creative video montages, prepared by Josh Miyaji. Among the awards was the Joshua Grant Brawn Award, given to the Rising Stars (14 and under) performer, who best represented the ideals of CMT on and off stage, for which Paul was honored to be nominated among six performers. The award went to Michelle Martinelli, pictured here with Paul.
September 22, 2006 - At Saratoga Drama Group, the night before the show opens is Preview Night, a free performance for family and friends, after which awards are given out to various cast and crew. We were surpised ans excited to see Carolyn awarded the Gypsy Robe for Bye Bye Birdie. This award is normally given to an experienced ensemble member, who shows exemplary spirit and dedication. The robe dragged two feet on the ground as she crossed the stage to hug producer Roberta Savage. Carolyn is shown here in the dressing room with Mom, who pinned it up so she can wear it before each performance at director's call. Each Gypsy Robe recipient creates a commemorative patch to add to the robe for the next show. Carolyn's is a record with a song label of "One Last Kiss" recorded by Conrad Birdie fixed to a swath of her material from her "Sad Girl"costume.
August 23, 2006 - It's Paul's first day at Bellarmine! Hard to believe. Paul's taking Mandarin and World Cultures, among four other courses, and is also taking a Speech and Debate class after school, with Cross Country and Robotics Club as other activities. To our surprise, Paul says it seems less like school and more like summer camp...but with homework.
July 22, 2006 - With some relief, the two-week run of Godspell has concluded with a strong and energetic performance on Saturday night. Paul enjoyed his Judas-as-businessman role in the updated treatment, performing his song "All For The Best" with a cellphone. And Carolyn seemed fine with her ensemble role. It was also a special treat to have their vocal teacher Linda Middlebusher as music director for the production. Paul is shown here in his Judas as businessman's attire with director, Josh Miyaji and Myha'la Herrold, who was featured as the Student. It's been a busy summer with rehearsals, lessons and conservatory classes. Rehearsals for Bye Bye Birdie start next week.
June 25, 2006 - It's been a big weekend for performances. Last night we attended the last of three shows of Dance At The Gym 2006, Marie Stinnett's elaborate bi-annual production at the Campbell Community Center. Paul and Carolyn were in several numbers, especially Carolyn who substituted for a student in her former class who dropped out. Choreography, lighting and costumes were all amazing in this two-hour, two-act show that featured over 150 Junior and Senior Company dancers in a range of styles that included jazz, hip-hop, tap and Latin. Many parents and staff members of CMT were in the audience of nearly 700 that packed the gym.
This same afternoon, Carolyn played piano at de Anza College with nine other students in Anna Poklewski's piano recital. All of the young pianists, ranging in age from 7 to 15, performed quite impressively. An ambitious classical repertoire included the Mozart Sonata in C, played flawlessly by a 7-year-old girl, and a Mendelsson Piano Concerto played by a 14-year-old boy, accompanied by Mrs. Poklewski on an adjacent matching Seinway C concert grand. The students' dedication was obvious. Carolyn, the only student who wasn't Asian or Russian, played a Kulau Sonatina and a modern piece called "Spiel auf dem Tamburin" (Play on the Tambourine).
June 3, 2006 - Closing Ceremonies were held for West Valley Slammers softball league. It was a doubly special event, since Opening Ceremonies, as well as many practices and games were rained out this season. Carolyn was honored to sing the national anthem before the crowd of 600 players, coaches and parents.
June 2, 2006 - Tonight was Paul's graduation from St. Lucy Parish School. The ceremony was held in the church for his intimate class of 36, many of whom had been together since kindergarten. Paul is looking forward to entering Bellarmine College Prep. in the fall.
April 30, 2006 - Disney's Aladdin Jr. with CMT played this weekend at the Montomery theater in downtown San Jose with Paul in the title role, with Caroline Citelli as Jasmine, shown here on opening night. His friend, Madi Tindall was outrageously funny as the Genie. Two ninety-member casts shared 11 performances from Thursday through Sunday, including four weekday school shows. In the second school show for the other cast, Paul's double fell ill, and they called for Paul to substitute with one hour's notice. Aladdin turned out to be a wonderful production with ornate costumes and fabulous choreography and direction by Shannon Self. This afternoon's closing performance played to a raucous packed house of friends, family and members of the other cast. Many parents can now look forward to some rest after many, many tireless volunteer hours helping to make this elaborate production a reality in a mere seven weeks.
April 3, 2006 - Today was the closing performance of The Magician's Nephew, in which Carolyn played the Jackdaw, shown here with Tabard Theatre Company artistic director Cathy Spielberger Cassetta. The three-week run was performed at the intimate Historic Hoover Theatre in Santa Clara. Carolyn enjoyed her first non-musical theater role that depicted one of the talking animals from the first book in the C.S. Lewis famed series, The Tales of Narnia.
March 12, 2006 - CMT's cast list for Disney's Aladdin Jr. was posted on their website showing that Paul will play the lead role in its upcoming production. Auditioning over the previous five days were 183 performers, aged 8-13 grouped into two casts, including Kyle Bajtos, who played Oliver opposite Paul's Artful Dodger recently. After seven CMT productions, this will be his first lead role since in Pinocchio, his first show with CMT five years ago. Paul is gratified that his hard work and experience has been recognized by show director Shannon Self and her staff.
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