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Schools

Live Theater at Los Gatos Schools!

Kids get to experience the fun of live performance in two spirited spring musicals thanks to parent volunteers.

In 2006, when the new and elementary schools were under construction, the campuses decided to produce one musical play.

The first production was Aladdin and it was a huge success, according to parents.

Blossom Hill fifth-grade teacher Brian Houg was the director of the joint effort. Since then, Houg has directed sensational musicals for the two schools every spring including Aladdin, Flapper, Wonderland, Wipe Out, Wrangler Ranch and the latest production, Gone With the Breeze.

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“Brian devotes a tremendous amount of energy to the endeavor and you can see it in the results,” said volunteer parent producer Penny Doy, who's joined by co-producers Carol Marshall, Lisa Marselli and Kelly Blough. 

This year 135 children have roles in Gone With the Breeze and there are 11 crew members. Rehearsals started in November and have increased in length and number as opening night approaches. 

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Nine performances will be held at the Blossom Hill multipurpose room for friends and families of the budding actors beginning tonight, Friday, Feb. 3 through Sunday, Feb. 12.

The producers organize more than 200 parents who work as volunteer rehearsal supervisors, vocal directors, set designers, construction workers, painters, costume designers, publicists, webmasters, ticket organizers, stage managers, photographers and hair and makeup artists, among other things, explained Doy.

The parents also sign a contract agreeing to volunteer 25 hours of service, Doy added. 

Vocal director Linda Swenberg said that “live theater provides a unique experience for the kids with immediate feedback from the audience. The kids respond to the laughter and applause and light up with energy and excitement.”

Students have roles as nutty tour guides, frantic studio personnel, aspiring actors, busy agents, newspaper people and crazy lawyers. 

has a total of 87 students in its spring musical cast entitled Pinocchio, A Bohemian Rhapsody, written by Janine Chadwick. Eleven crew members help with the set and props. Chadwick is executive director and Mandy Khoshnevian is director.

"The performance includes "rock 'n' roll, puppet people and Lady Gaga all rolled into one," according to parent producer Deborah Ross, who's co-producing the show with Darla Booth.

The audience will also love cast portrayals of Hannah Montana, Justin Beiber, Elton John, George Thorogood, Sonny and Cher and more, they said.

Exciting musical numbers and lots of action will tell the story of Pinocchio and Monstro the whale, according to Ross.

The show opens on Feb. 10 and will run for three nights for friends and families.

Tickets to both shows aren't being sold to the general public as the performances are aimed at families of the young actors and will probably sell out, organizers said.

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