Shadowbox Live Academy to Host 'STEM Rocks the Box' Tonight

The Shadowbox Live Academy, now in its 8th year, is making final preparations for its flagship program: STEM Rocks the 'Box. This year, 36 students will take the stage alongside Shadowbox Live metaperformers in a one-night-only performance: Monday, May 2nd at 7 PM at the Shadowbox Live building, 503 S. Front Street.

After only 8 days of intensive rehearsal led by seasoned Shadowbox Live professionals, students are thrust out of the nest and onto the stage alongside their teachers.

"The goal is to give the students a field experience of what it's like to be a professional artist," says Shadowbox Live Community Relations and Education Director Stacie Boord.

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Students will be featured in acting, singing, and dancing roles, as well as performing in the band. Additionally, several students are participating in "behind the scenes" roles by being a part of the backstage or technical crew, or by assisting with costume and makeup design. "Every sketch and song in the show includes at least one student either on stage or behind the scenes," said Boord.

Within the last two years, the program has been expanded beyond STEM-only high schools. "The program has been incredibly impactful and transformative to the STEM students," continued Boord, "This year we wanted to introduce that effectiveness to students who may not be as exposed to the STEM approach. It's the idea of 'mastery'. If your efforts don't succeed, analyze the effort, let it inform you, take a different approach and try again."

This year's STEM Rocks the 'Box includes 38 students from 16 area high schools. Cast and crew include:

Arts and College Preparatory Academy

Jaycee McElravey - 15 yrs old, Sophomore at Arts and College Prep Academy. For Jaycee's first year in the program, she'll be joining the Tech team behind the scenes for Stage Management. She is very involved in Thespians as well as classes at Little Theatre Off Broadway. She plans to attend Otterbein for stage management or lighting design.

Dante Montoto - 16 yrs old, Sophomore at Arts and College Preparatory Academy. A second year participant, Dante will be playing the character of Toby in Campfire Boys as well as lending his bass to Heartbreaker by Pat Benetar. In his off time he enjoys playing bass and reading with plans to go to college for either mechanical or electrical engineering or physics.

Columbus Alternative High School

Ahmad Anderson - 15 yrs old, Freshman at Columbus Alternative High School. A first year participant, Ahmad will be part of the sketch comedy team in The Phone. He also enjoys visual arts and writing and has even won a poetry award. Outside of school, he participates in the Law and Leadership Institute at Capital. He hopes to someday attend Stanford University to pursue psychiatry and creative writing.

Centennial High School

Anna Haught - 15 yrs old, Centennial High School. Anna is in her second year of STEM Rocks the 'Box and will be singing lead vocals on Oh Darlin' by the Beatles as well as playing Shannon in Shannon's Movie Reviews- Titanic. She is a published poet as well as involved in many college programs. She plans to attend Ohio State University and major in environmental science, music, or creative writing.

Central Crossing High School

Kira Heydt - 16 yrs old, Sophomore at Central Crossing High School. This is Kira's first year performing in STEM Rocks the 'Box and she will be singing lead vocal to Black Velvet by Alannah Myles. She holds many talent show victories and has performed in the Blues Youth Showcase in Memphis, TN. She plans to attend college to major in either music or art.

ECOT

Nashea Williams - 16 yrs old, Senior, ECOT (Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow). This is Nashea's second year in the program and she is an ensemble member and lends her dancing to Come Together by the Beatles. She participates in both dance and modeling and plans to attend Ohio State.

The Graham School

Rhys Washington - 17 yrs old, Senior, The Graham School. Rhys has performed in several STEM Rocks the 'Box programs and graces the stage this year as Tom in Secret Society of Spazoids as well as playing drums on Love Rears by Living Color. He is involved in band and Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra. He intends to attend either Xavier or Capital University for music/jazz studies.

Grandview Heights High School

Claire Fishpaw - 17 yrs old, Junior at Grandview Heights High School. Claire is joining STEM Rocks the 'Box for her first year. Claire will be an ensemble member of the Come Together dance corp. Claire is a member of the Grandview Singers, involved in theatrical productions, OMEA solo competitions, football cheerleading, and has an internship at Riverside Hospital. She is attending college but as of yet undecided in discipline.

Hilliard Bradley High School

Megan Woodruff - 16 yrs old, Sophomore at Hilliard Bradley High School. Megan is performing in the STEM Rocks the 'Box for the first time, and she'll be performing in two disciplines. She'll be acting in the role of Cinderella in the sketch The Fairy Springer Show, and singing lead vocals in the song Lonely is the Night by Billy Squires. Megan is undecided on her college but wants to major in performance, music education, or choral direction.

Homeschool

Emerson Kay - 14 yrs old, Homeschool Freshman. Emerson is new this year to STEM Rocks the 'Box, and will be working alongside our technical crew in the sound department. He is very active within his home-school's co-op where he leads a song-writing club. In addition to many on and off stage activities, he plans to attend school for music production though there is room for change.

Metro Early College High School

Hannah Benson - 17 yrs old, Junior at Metro Early College High School. This is Hannah's first year as a cast member, and she will be participating in our light design and operation department. At school, Hannah is involved in Key Club and robotics, while outside of school she volunteers at COSI and is active in 4-H. Someday she'd like to attend college for Mechanical Engineering or Environmental Studies.

Sydney Bernthold - 15 yrs old, Sophomore at Metro Early College High School. Sydney is joining the program for the first time, and will be assisting our makeup and costuming departments. She is involved in the chess and board game club at school as well as interning at a genetics lab. Sydney is also interested in drawing, painting, and sewing, and is considering majoring in molecular genetics.

Caleb Buaful - 15 yrs old, Sophomore at Metro Early College High School. Caleb is returning for his second year as a member of the STEM Rocks the 'Box band. This year he will be taking drums on Sour Times by Portishead. In his spare time, Caleb plays soccer and basketball with Beechcroft High School. He plans to major in computer engineering and minor in audio engineering.

Jacob Buaful - 17 yrs old, Junior at Metro Early College High School. Jacob will be joining the band on keys on Virtual Insanity by Jamiroquai for his third STEM Rocks the 'Box. He is also hoping to expand on his audio engineering knowledge. He has earned more than 40 medals and trophies from athletics and chess club and plans to go to Ohio State for computer science or engineering.

Carolyn Dailey - 16 yrs old, Sophomore at Metro Early College High School. This is Carolyn's first year joining the STEM Rocks the 'Box program at Shadowbox Live, and she will be assisting the costume department in accessories. She enjoys reading and playing video games and is looking forward to attending college for writing.

Kelly Haubert - 17 yrs old, Senior at Metro Early College High School. This is Kelly's second year participating in the program. This year she is playing keys for Whipping Post by the Allman Brothers. Outside of school, Kelly is actively involved in her piano lessons, Bible study, and "Design Outreach" water pump charity. She plans to attend Columbus State Community College and OSU.

Aaron Joseph - 18 yrs old, Senior at Metro High School. Aaron is a true veteran of STEM Rocks the 'Box, returning for his fourth year in the program! He can be seen playing guitar during Whipping Post by The Allman Brothers. He hopes to attend Columbus State for Art and enjoys biking as well as guitar.

Sammy (Soumitra) Lahiri - 16 yrs old, Sophomore at Metro Early College High School. Sammy is with us for his first year and will be deeply involved with video production with our tech team. He is in his 8th year of Taekwondo and has many Youth Mentorship awards. He is planning on attending NYU to study film.

Saya Mieth - 16 yrs old, Junior at Metro High School. Another returning member, Saya can be seen in the dance corps performing Come Together by The Beatles. She is the president of ZONTA club as well as a member of the girl scouts. She is hoping to attend Northwestern for Psychology.

Andrew Nahhas - 17 yrs old, Junior at Metro High School. Andrew is a new member of STEM Rocks the 'Box and will be performing the role of Tito in the sketch Gone Camping and as a supporting vocalist in Come Together by The Beatles. He is a member of swim team and is immersed in guitar and voice lessons. Andrew is thinking of attending Baldwin Wallace University and studying International Affairs or Music Therapy.

Gwen White - 16 yrs old, Sophomore at Metro Early College High School. This is Gwen's first year in the program, and she will be performing in the dance for Come Together by the Beatles. Gwen has a wide scope of interests and hobbies including dance, graphic design, and medicine. Gwen is planning to attend OSU and then CCAD to get a degree in graphic design.

Kayla Wright - 15 yrs old, Freshman at Metro Early College High School. Kayla is joining the STEM Rocks the 'Box cast for her first year. She'll portray the character Maureen in a classic Maureen and Buffy sketch. She is involved in female empowerment organizations and loves watching sports. She hopes to attend Ohio University and major in journalism and sports management.

Reynoldsburg Summit

Ivory Boggs - 17 yrs old, Senior at Reynoldsburg Summit. This will be Ivory's first year in the STEM Rocks the 'Box program. She will be working closely with the backstage staff. Ivory participates in an internship with an online crowd funding company and will be running a 5k in May. She is looking to major in international affairs or perhaps linguistics.

Reynoldsburg High School

Gabriella Caroselli - 16 yrs old Junior at eSTEM Reynoldsberg High School. This is Gabriella's second year in the program and she is joining our backstage team for costuming and makeup. She plays soccer and is on the swim team at her school. She plans to attend either Antioch or Otterbein for zoology or Marine archeology.

Josh Pugh - Sophomore at eSTEM Reynoldsburg High School. Josh, a new participant will be joining our technical crew with a focus on sound operation. He participates in Glee Club and recreational basketball. He plans to attend school for dental assisting.

Deborah Tadesse - 17 yrs old, Senior at eSTEM Reynoldsburg High School. For her first year in the program, Deborah will be joining in the ensemble for Come Together by the Beatles. She dances in glee club and helps her church plan community events. She plans to attend either OSU or University of Cincinnati for architecture.

Victoria Washington - 16 yrs old, Sophomore at Reynoldsburg eSTEM. Victoria is back for her second year of the program performing in both the dance to Come Together and lead vocals on Sour times by Portishead. In addition to playing soccer and being Glee Club President, Victoria also speaks Mandarin Chinese and loves to write. She would like to attend Stanford or study abroad in China.

Upper Arlington High School

Connor Balderaz - 13 yrs old, Freshman at Upper Arlington High School. Connor, a first time participant, will be performing on our stage as a guitarist alongside our band for Your Little Secret by Melissa Ethridge. A guitar club and dance club member, he is also the front man for his band WUVAL. He intends to pursue college down the road.

Watkins Memorial High School

Ethan Cash - 18 yrs old, Junior at Watkins Memorial High School. A new member of the program, Ethan joins the comedy and dance teams for Come Together and Placement Services. He is involved in marching band, theatre, student council, and the Boy Scouts. He plans on attending Ohio State as a music major.

Kaleb Goad - 18 yrs old, Senior at Watkins Memorial High School. Kaleb is in his first year in the program. He will be performing the role of Joey in the sketch Camping Without a Net as well as dancing in Come Together. He is involved with football, rugby, school musicals, and baseball. He is hoping his work here will give him a deeper understanding of the industry.

Becky Horgan - 18 yrs old, Senior at Watkins Memorial High School. A new comer to the program, Becky is playing the role of Jenny in Playing House as well as singing supporting vocals in Oh Darlin' by the Beatles. Becky is involved in glee club as well as musicals in and out of school. She plans to attend Capital University to double major in journalism and communications with a focus in musical theatre.

West High School

Bailey Johnston- 18 yrs old, Senior at West High School. This is Bailey's second year participating in the STEM Rocks the 'Box program and she is singing lead vocals on Heartbreaker by Pat Benatar. She is on the drill team at her high school and has won awards for both academics and choir. She wants to seriously pursue a career in performance.

Westerville South High School

Ikpemsi Ogundare - 17 yrs old, Senior at Westerville South High School. Ikpemsi is a first year performer in the program and will be performing as a lead vocalist in Virtual Insanity by Jamiroquai and a dancer in Come Together. She also is a varsity thrower on her track and field team as very as taking a variety of dance and acting classes. She hopes to be on the pre-med track with a double major in both biochemistry and music.

Participating students not represented above: Sierra Bell, Gabriella Caroselli, and Shinna Williams.

Shadowbox Live Academy presents STEM Rocks the 'Box on Monday, May 2nd at 7 PM. VIP tables are available for parties of 6-8 for $225, or for parties up to 4 for $125. General Admission Tickets are $25 / $20 for students and seniors. For more information and reservations, call the Shadowbox Live Box Office at 614-416-7625 or go online at www.shadowboxlive.org

Shadowbox Live, a non-profit 501C3 performance ensemble, is the largest resident theater company in America, producing over 500 shows per year.

For over 20 years Shadowbox Live has produced world-class performances, spanning the artistic spectrum with sketch comedy, rock 'n 'roll, original rock operas, traditional musicals, drama, dance theater and new media; always putting emphasis on the unparalleled live experience.

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