08/02/2026
Well… we did it.
The Lion King Jr. is officially in the books, and my heart is full. Watching these kids shine and seeing our community show up in such a big way reminded me exactly why we do this.
To our community… thank you.
More than 600 people came out to support these amazing young performers. You filled the theater, cheered them on, and reminded every child on that stage that what they created mattered.
To our First Stage families, thank you for trusting us with your children. Thank you for the rides, the rehearsing at home, the volunteer hours, the donations, and for embracing the beautiful chaos that comes with theater week.
To everyone who built sets, created costumes, worked backstage, and made the magic happen—you gave these kids an experience they’ll never forget.
Our tech and stage crew, made up primarily of high school volunteers, poured countless hours into every cue, every light, every scene change, and every magical moment. You are the unsung heroes of this production.
And to our cast…
Every performer was in 3rd through 9th grade. For some, this was their first show with First Stage. For others, it was their first show ever. Watching your confidence grow over these two weeks has been one of the greatest privileges of my career. You are talented, kind, supportive of one another, and your futures are incredibly bright—both on and off the stage.
A heartfelt thank you to Herkimer County Community College for once again being tremendous hosts and providing a wonderful home for our program.
To the MVCA Board of Directors, our staff, our volunteers, and everyone who continues to believe in community theater and the impact it has on young people—thank you.
And finally, to our “Mane” Management production team—
Kristin Smith, Director
Joey Carney, Music Director
David Salce, Choreographer
Your dedication is the engine behind this program. You don’t just teach kids how to perform—you teach confidence, discipline, teamwork, resilience, and how to be good humans. You push them to be their very best, on stage and off, and we are all better because of you. I admire each of you more than you know.
I’m truly grateful for the encouragement and recognition so many of you have shown me throughout this production. But First Stage has never been about one person. It takes an extraordinary team, and I’m lucky to work beside people who care as deeply about these kids as I do.
I am overwhelmed with gratitude.
Thank you for believing in these kids. Thank you for believing in First Stage. Thank you for believing in the arts.
Now… let’s see what’s NEXT.
— Caren
