WPCNR STAGE DOOR. By John F. Bailey. May 20, 2008: White Plains Susan Katz, the indomitable impresario and a pioneer of children’s theatre in Westchester County was honored with a 2008 Cab Calloway Lifetime Achievement  Monday evening at the annual Cab Calloway Awards Extravaganza at Westchester Broadway Theatre.

White Plains Susan Katz was honored with her late father, Seymour “Sonny” Katz, entertainer, raconteur and humanitarian, Monday evening, receiving the crystal Calloways with  Alan Bramson founder of the Bramson School of Music, John B. Coppolla  New Rochelle Community Theatre Founder, the late Sir Mort Clark Professor of Speech & Theatre at Westchester Community College, Phil Gaberman, music teacher and musical director; Barry Liebman, founder of Yorktown Stage; Joan Morenstein, music teacher, Port Chester Middle School, and Jo Robbins, dance instructor at Westchester Community College.

The evening honored those visionaries devoted to nurturing and sustaining the magic and need for theatre for future generations. Ample testimony that youth theatre mentors and teachers like Ms. Katz are keeping the magic of performing living into the future was demonstrated by two enthusiastic, Broadway hoofers and performers-to-be, The Dreamcoats  (shown above doing Take The A Train) and the Lighthouse Youth Theatre, two local Westchester youth groups who held their own in performances with the genial Broadway host,  "Mr. Producers" John Treacy Egan.

 John Treacy Egan (center, shown with Executive Producer and Presenter of the Calloways, George Puello and Daniel Carlino) madcap, clever adlibs and satiric takes on his roles in The Producers kept the show rolling and the audience of theatre insiders entertained.

I say dump the unfunny tired old comedian hosts of the Academy Awards that feature the world’s most awful award show patter and give the job to Mr. Egan who is more engaging and sincere than any politician. Great job Mr. Egan. And, thank you from Westchester County! Mr. Egan did not attend a promotional engagement Monday evening so he could host the Calloways -- where he first performed with of all companies, Susan Katz's Westco Productions.

Mr. Egan himself began his theatre career as a youth with Ms. Katz’s own Westco Productions many years ago, participated in theatre at Westchester Community College and now he is on Broadway in The Little Mermaid, after an extensive stint playing Max  in The Producers.  He is living proof that youth theatre sparks dreams, awakens talent and drives people to reach for the stars.

Ms. Katz, in accepting her Calloway, talked about what life achievement means. She reflected on the thousands of children she has worked with over the 29 years since she founded Westco. She credited her father, Sonny Katz, recently passed away, for helping her begin Westco. Ms. Katz’s presenter who introduced her recalled those first Westco rehearsals in Mr. Katz’s home. Ms. Katz also noted that lifetime achievement was what you did in all areas of life surviving illness, keeping focused on goals, staying true to yourself, and doing what you thought was right. She encouraged all to stay true to their dreams.

Futures in the Footlights: The Lighthouse Youth Theatre impresses the packed house of theatre devotees with a number from the Westchester Group's latest production of Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. 

Another issue of youth and community theatre was touched upon by “Cab” Recipient, John B Coppola, leading light of the New Rochelle Community Theatre for decades. Mr. Coppola revealed that the NRCT folded four years ago because they were no longer able to use the New Rochelle Library for rehearsal space. Coppola pleaded with the communities to make room for amateur theatre, otherwise it would not flourish in the future.

The recipients of the Calloways of 2008 all have personally affected thousands and thousands of young lives with the life skills that theatre instills, in addition to developing talent. Those skills are:  sense of responsibility, confidence, ability to handle pressure, work ethic, and the ability to bounce back from setbacks, and of course, to dream and make dreams come true.

You never forget those mentors and leaders whom you looked up to as a kid whether they be in youth theatre, high school theatre, or any endeavor where you enjoyed your first confirmation that you could be good at a skill.

Perhaps the importance of these “Calloway” honorees Monday evening was how the experiences they created for the thousands they touch will always live on.

This “angel effect” was touchingly portrayed by a highlight of the evening: the debut of a song written by the Executive Producer of the Calloways, George Puello.

Performed hauntingly by Karen Beals, who brought thoughtful rich compelling emotion of a colorata  to this perfect song by Mr. Puello, the performance was in memory of Sir Mort Clark, the drama professor at Westchester Community College. It was particularly meaningful in remembering those others honored tonight who have passed away and the void in our lives now that they are no longer here: Sonny Katz, Judy Gaberman, Berenice Bramson – but the inspiration they gave to others lives in memory. Here are the lyrics of Mr. Puello’s compelling composition:

IN MY DREAM  

Words And Music By George Puello

 ©2008, George Puello. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.

Sung by Karen Beals

(Verse)

In My Dream

There's an old time movie playing

Black and white with graying shades of sorrow

Sepia

Frozen in each frame

Is the image of the pain

I cry for you

Tears of Silence

(Refrain)

Oh to touch you one more time
Gently hold you

Gaze upon your tender smile

Cradle softly for a while

In my Dream

(Verse)

In my dream

I feel your presence there

In the morning glare and evening shadows

Night falls

And the vision fades to black

Empty reels winding back on loneliness

Solitude