CK Campus W h e r e t h e c o m m u n i t y c o m e s t o g e t h e r MPUS MPUS CK CAC CK CAChrist the King Campus enriches student experience with theater arts program The students at Christ the King High School (CTK) and Middle Village Preparatory Charter School (MVP) are more than just avid students and athletes; they have a knack for the arts as well. And the Campus continues to grow their theater program each year to help their students’ love of the arts flourish. Over the last 12 years, CTK’s Musical Theater program — run by Heather Arzberger (Class of 2000), John Bellington (Class of ’78), and Frank DeBiase — has become one of the most highly anticipated events of the school year. Some of the past performances put on by the CTK Theater program include: “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Into the Woods,” “Grease,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Phantom of the Opera,” “Pippin,” “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” “Guys and Dolls,” “Wizard of Oz,” “Annie,” and most recently “Hairspray.” The CK Musical Theatre program has unveiled several very talented students who graduated to attend various arts programs, such as the ADMA College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts and others who have appeared on television on shows such as “Gotham,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “Nurse Jackie,” “The Slap,” and “Law and Order SVU.” One person who came from the CTK Musical Theater program and has been instrumental in helping it to grow is Jacquie Caruana, a Middle Village native. Ms. Caruana started her foray into the arts as a freshman at CTK when she auditioned for a part in the school’s rendition of “Little Shop of committee was a bit surprised and pleased, so much that they cast me as one of the Dynamites,” Ms. Caruana remembers of her first show. “From there I had a major role in all the main stage productions.” In her senior year at CTK, she was named the assistant musical director under the CTK musical director, Heather Arzberger. “In Jacquie’s senior year, she received the honor of time and for years after her graduation from CK has led it to be no surprise to me that she is the amazing music educator she is today. I am so proud of her work with MVP. She is truly a fantastic addition to the profession.” After graduating CTK in 2010, Ms. Caruana continued her education at Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, but remained connected also worked at her local family-owned business. Since finishing her undergraduate degree, Ms. Caruana took the opportunity to apply for the chorus and musical theater teacher position at MVP, and has enjoyed watching the charter school’s theater program grow. Under Caruana’s guidance, the Christ the King Campus finished their spring theater production season with MVP’s rendition of “Into the Woods” this past week. “This year’s production has been a challenge ... Stephen Sondheim writes some of the most difficult music on Broadway, but these kids accepted the challenge and continue to impress me,” Caruana said of the MVP students performing “Into the Woods.” Earlier in the season, Christ the King High School performed “Hairspray,” and some of the MVP students had the opportunity to participate in that production as well. CTK opens up their productions to local public and private schools for special run performances. The performances have grown in popularity that the school now assigns two days for the school trip performances. The 1,400 seat auditorium on the CTK Campus, where the students perform their productions, provides the perfect venue for all CTK and MVP students to develop a strong love for the arts. The CK Kids program will host their 7th annual dance recital there next weekend, and over 200 kids will participate in the program’s dance and drama summer camp this year. Photos courtesy of Christ the King High School Jacquie Caruana The cast of “Into the Woods” The cast of “Hairspray” Horrors.” “I think the being the assistant musical director of to the CTK community by being the casting her senior year production of ‘Sweeney assistant musical director of all 14 Christ Todd,’” Arzberger said. “Watching her the King theater productions since 2011. excel in this capacity at this During that time, Jacquie T o g e t h e r n c e �� e m a �� e a d i f f e r e ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
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