IN Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Summer 2018 | Page 78

Baldwin-Whitehall
SCHOOL
BUZZ
High School to Launch Student-run Café
Using Partners Special-education Model
Baldwin Stages World
High School Premiere of
Honeymoon in Vegas
In the school’s largest production yet, a cast and
crew of over 70 students came together to stage
the world high school premiere of Honeymoon in
Vegas on April 11–14th. Students brought a dynamic
energy to performances, bringing to life music and
lyrics by Jason Robert Brown and a book by Andrew
Bergman.
Director Jason Coll makes a habit of choosing
lesser-known musicals to stage. Honeymoon in Vegas
had a brief Broadway run but never toured the
country, so it was a fresh experience for the audience.
Coll prefers to select works that force his actors to
develop and embody their characters, rather than
just mimicking another production. He explains,
“No other high school has done this production yet.
That gives the kids a chance to create roles they
haven’t encountered. I like to challenge all of us to be
inventive and push ourselves to forge new ground by
staging something no one has seen before.”
The musical centers around a couple as they
navigate love against the backdrop of complicated
relationships. The play spans the country, following
the couple from their home in New York, on a
whirlwind trip to Las Vegas, and a weekend in Hawaii.
Full of fabulous music and unexpected plot twists,
Honeymoon in Vegas kept audiences guessing from
beginning to end. The cast featured Morgan Traud,
John Lima, and Robbie Miller, who received a Gene
Kelly nomination for Best Actor. The production also
earned Gene Kelly nominations for Best Lighting
Design and Best Scenic Design.
Honeymoon in Vegas received rave reviews from
audiences and critics alike. The hard work, passion,
and talent of the entire cast and crew was evident.
Congratulations on a sterling production, and we
look forward to seeing what you dream up for next
year!
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brentwood-baldwin-whitehall
Baldwin High School is thrilled to be
expanding its already-successful Partners model
to work in conjunction with the business, family/
consumer science, and gifted programs to
create a new student-run café. The café is now
in the planning stages and will be opening this
fall in the halls of Baldwin High School. The
Partners model pairs students with and without
disabilities to work together. It is an effective
approach that is meaningful for all students as
The Baldwin Bean logo was
they learn and grow.
designed by Noah Knerr, a
The entire Baldwin High School community
senior at BHS.
has been involved in the planning of this new
undertaking. Administration and staff are collaborating with a student planning
committee that provides input and ideas. The name and logo of the new café,
The Baldwin Bean, were chosen through school-wide contests.
Students from the student planning committee pictured from left to right: Julia Wodarek,
Alyssa Zirngibl, Abby Zuder, Lexi Kilburn, Emily Mongelluzzo, and Kaitlyn Anderson. Not
pictured: Emma Zuder and Kenzie Shandor
The Baldwin Bean will provide delicious drinks, snacks, and a welcoming
gathering place for all students at Baldwin High School. However, the merits of
the program extend far beyond a momentary mocha. Eric Jankoski, Transitions
Coordinator at BHS, shares the education value of the café: “For the students
working there, it offers a chance to not only get real-world job experience but
to also apply concepts from the classroom in a different and more hands-on
environment. By having students experience these activities now, they will be
better prepared to incorporate what they have learned in future endeavors.”
This