Earlier this month five Los Gatos High School seniors got together to write, cast, direct and perform an original musical based on a decade's collection of original song lyrics about algebra and geometry written by Fisher Middle School students—all with a 24-hour time frame.
The Math Musical in a Day, titled "Jan in Oz," took place Saturday, Jan. 12 and was a big success. The theatre was packed, quite amazing considering not only the frigid temperature outside but also the fact that the 49ers were playing at the same time.
The show, a spoof on The Wizard of Oz, chronicled mission to return home to her beloved alma mater Stanford. "Jan" played by LGHS senior Rodd Farhadi, follows "the decimal path" and encounters the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion who are encouraged to use math to solve their own problems. Along their journey they run into the Wicked Witch of Cal Berkeley, and discover they must chant the quadratic formula to enter the kingdom of the Wizard of Oz, who is none other than David Letterman. In the end, Jan finds herself on The Letterman Show, (Blasberg's personal lifetime goal!) who grants her wish to be reunited with Twin Teri.
To look out and see a packed auditorium of adoring friends, family, and former and present students was a dream come true for Blasberg, who has been teaching in Los Gatos for 40 years. "I feel like the luckiest and most blessed teacher in the world to be able to work with such a talented and creative cadre of students!" said Blasberg. "And I thought Rodd Farhadi was the best version of myself."
Even better than sharing the experience with family and friends as well as so many former and present Los Gatos students, says Blasberg, was raising more than $2,000 in donations.
The proceeds from Math Musical in a Day: Jan in Oz will be split between the LGHS music department and an intermediate school on Staten Island deeply affected by Hurricane Sandy.
"I called the Staten Island school today to let them know they will receive the check for $1000 soon. They are so very grateful and overwhelmed!" says Blasberg. "There is no place like home, and Los Gatos will always feel like home to me."
