Through musical theater performances and community service events with the Peter Pan Foundation (PPF), a Jefferson Award-winning non-profit organization, students are using their creative talent to support the Oakland Children’s Hospital.
Established in 2007 by director Leslie Noel, the foundation aims to provide kids “with a safe and nurturing environment” and “teach them important lessons about their responsibility to take care of themselves and help others in need,” according to the foundation’s website.
“We put on 2 to 3 shows a year that all the proceeds go to the hospital and then we also put on shows for the kids at the hospital,” said sophomore member Maria Sanderson. “One of my favorites was In the Heights because its a really fun show, and the music is really good, and I met a lot of people and made a lot of friends.”
Sanderson has performed in 2 shows at the hospital, a shortened version of Seussical the Musical and a dress-up event to support the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. “I dressed up as Belle and it was so fun,” she said.
The foundation performed their 3rd annual Wish Upon a Star show at DVC over Memorial Day weekend. “I love the spring show. It’s always the same show, although they change it a little every year. It’s very funny and it has a lot of history,” said junior member Uma Gaffney.
Gaffney explained the plot: “Peter Pan and Tinkerbell take John, Wendy, and Michael on an adventure, and they all have to rescue the Disney princesses, who have been captured by Captain Hook and the other Disney villains.”
Sanderson performed as Wendy, the lead, and said that her voice lessons with Noel helped her get the role. “She has been helping me with confidence and stuff. Because when I first joined I died every time I went onstage, and it was really scary so she was helping me and she was like ‘well, we’re going to call you back for all these different things to see what part you fit best’ and then I guess I just did really well,” Sanderson said.
Having been interested in choir throughout middle school, Sanderson joined the foundation in 8th grade. “I actually joined because my brother did it when he was younger, and then he stopped. But then our pianist in choir that year was the director of the foundation, and she was like ‘we’re having auditions, everybody audition,’” she said.
Sophomore Danielle Dusauzay was encouraged by Sanderson to join the foundation. “PPF was my first sight of acting,” she said. “It was somewhat difficult at first but after a few rehearsals it became easier,” Dusauzay said.
Like Sanderson, Dusauzay believes that acting has helped her break out of her shell. “I’d say that it helped me become more talkative and open towards more people. I’m still a bit shy but I’m getting there,” she said.
“I think it’s just being able to transform into a different person. Because I’m a really shy person, so being onstage I can have a personality, and since I’m playing something so different from myself it’s easier to turn into that. And I don’t have to be like, ‘this is so scary,’ I have to just be like ‘nope, you have to do it,’” said Sanderson.
Dusauzay has also learned to adjust to her Wish Upon a Star character, Disney princess Tiana. “Tiana’s personality is sassy and when she sings you can hear the soul in her voice. It’s fun to portray a different personality and see the results of all the hard work put into it,” said Dusauzay.
Gaffney joined PPF because she was interested in both singing and acting. “I didn’t have a very big role for my first 2 shows but after that I got bigger acting roles. I’ve always done more group singing than solo singing; there are plenty of group numbers,” she said.
The “community” feel of the foundation also appealed to Gaffney. “Lots of great people are involved,” she said.
“I’ve known some of the people for a long time, but some of them I just met. I’ve created really strong friendships with most of the people in the foundation, which is really cool,” Sanderson agreed.
Acting has also given Sanderson a way to connect to her family. “They’re gonna come watch and they always donate and stuff. They’re always like, ’you should practice, let’s listen and make sure that it’s all good.’ They remind me,” she said. “I’ve made most of my friends run lines with me and listen to me so I can practice.”
“Maria is really dedicated to learning her lines so sometimes at lunch she’ll practice them and we’ll listen to her or help her practice,” confirmed sophomore friend Amalia Riegelhuth.
Though students get volunteer hours for participating in the foundation, Dusauzay said that the most rewarding part is “knowing that it is for an extremely good cause.”
“I think the most rewarding part is knowing that you’re doing something to help other people and that you’re making a difference in the world,” said Sanderson. “It’s shown me that my problems aren’t as big as other people’s, and I should want to help other people instead of just wanting to help myself.”
