Celebrating Our Young Performers: A Milestone for Nantucket Dreamland

To the editor: As Executive Director of the Nantucket Dreamland, I am thrilled to share a recent milestone that highlights the transformative power of the arts in our island community. The Dreamland Stage Company, a cornerstone of our educational programming, recently took its production of Newsies Jr. on the road to Atlanta, Georgia, to participate in the prestigious Junior Theater Festival (JTF), a global event celebrating youth musical theater.

Seventeen talented young actors, ranging in age from 9 to 15, proudly represented Nantucket’s year-round community on this remarkable journey. These students—Norah Watson, Hadley Cook, Declan Gagnon, Emmett Graziadei, Santiago Ovideo, Tomas Young, Cassidy O'Brien, Sully Seip, Maddy Kuzspa, Julia Nogueira, Cathy Dimitrova, Neely Gammill, Luke Graham, Ronan Murray, Milo Rayport, Robert Graves IV, and Savannah Pascarella—showcased their dedication and teamwork, earning the Excellence in Ensemble Work award. We couldn’t be prouder of their hard work and the joy they brought to the stage.

This achievement is even more meaningful because it represents the realization of a long-held ambition. For many years, the Dreamland Stage Company has aspired to participate in this renowned festival, and this was the first time we were accepted as a participant. We owe immense gratitude to Laura Gallagher-Byrne, our Director of Theater and Education, whose vision and unwavering commitment made this dream a reality for our young performers.

This milestone is particularly significant given the unique challenges faced by our island community. While Nantucket is often associated with affluence, the reality for many year-round residents reflects a more diverse and complex community. Nearly half of our public-school students come from households facing financial challenges, making opportunities like this—performing on a national stage, connecting with peers from around the world, and building confidence—rare and invaluable. For many of our students, this was not just a performance; it was a life-changing experience, made possible entirely through the generosity of our donors.

At Dreamland, we envision a community where every child, regardless of their background, has access to the arts. This trip to Atlanta, fully funded by Dreamland to cover registration costs for all participants, is a shining example of how vital these programs are in fostering creativity, connection, and a sense of belonging. The generosity of our donors and the Nantucket community makes it possible to continue offering these transformative opportunities.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Wendy Schmidt, whose visionary support during our annual DreamBIG fundraiser last July—along with the contributions of generous matching donors—catalyzed our ambitious new model of tuition-free enrollment for the Dreamland Stage Company. Thanks to her inspiring gift, nearly half of all participants in our programs this year were able to take part without financial barriers, including our first-ever tuition-free winter production, Anastasia the Musical, which opens on February 6. Featuring more than 70 of Nantucket’s young performers across two casts, this production is a testament to the incredible possibilities that arise when philanthropy and a passion for the arts come together.

Looking ahead, we are excited to build on this success with future productions and programs that empower and inspire the next generation of artists and leaders. I encourage everyone to learn more about our work by visiting www.nantucketdreamland.org or calling 508.332.4822. Together, we can continue to make the arts accessible to all and nurture the incredible talent within our island community.

With gratitude and pride,

Alicia Carney
Executive Director, Nantucket Dreamland