Producing Grease has been a truly meaningful experience, and it would not be possible without the incredible team and students who brought this production to life. I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to our directors, Sara Martinovich, Tiana Alvarez, John Brown, George Deur, and our assistant production manager, Alexis Slear, for their unwavering commitment to our students. We are extremely fortunate to have educators and artists who bring such talent, professionalism, and dedication to our program. Their guidance, creativity, and belief in our students make a lasting impact well beyond the stage.
I would also like to offer a very special thank you to Bob Marino, my mentor and an active professional in the industry, who continues to generously share his knowledge with us . Bob has taught me what it truly means to produce a show and how production is done in the professional world. His depth of experience is unmatched and his willingness to invest his time in our students and program is invaluable.
I could not be more proud of our students. They have been focused, dedicated, and committed throughout this entire process, taking their responsibilities seriously and demonstrating tremendous growth along the way. Watching their development this year has been incredibly rewarding.
The PAL Board has been nothing short of incredible over the past four years. Under the leadership of Emely Kamikawa, Erin Ackerson, and Jessie Norvell, they’ve held everything together with unwavering diligence, dedication, and heart. Through every high and low in theatre, their constant support has meant more to me than I can express. I’m truly grateful for all they’ve done, and I’m going to miss them—and the entire board—deeply.
I am passionate about teaching students to be responsible, respectful, and collaborative, while still finding joy in the work. My goal is to prepare them for the real world, and I truly believe that theatre does that better than anything else.
Finally, I’d like to dedicate our performance of Grease to my dear friend, Marcia Barryte. Even while taking a break from directing, her presence, passion, and spirit remain with us always. As the song goes, “We Go Together”! Marcia, we always will!! We all love you!!
“Grease is the word”….and so is gratitude!
Gale Kadota
