'School House' Rocks Boys & Girls Club

Two electrifying performances of "School House Rock Live!" in the Salah M. Hassanein Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens' Broccoli Theatre on December 20 and 21 were presented by a cast and crew, every member of which was under the age of 12. "School House Rock Live!" was the first full production under Blair (Mr. B.) Trunzo, new club artistic director, and Activities Coordinator Tanya Perry. "This production laid the perfect foundation for the club's Performing Arts Department to build upon," Trunzo said.

Joseph Washington, Raquasia Smith, Destiny Watson, Alex Alvarez, Jaqueline Martin, Maria Tamay, Stephanie Cortez, Mariam Issouff, Diego Tamay, Tashana Jeffery, Ayanna Clark, and Elijah Price, who operated the light board, spent months rehearsing. "I have never worked so hard in my life, but it was worth it," six-year-old Ayanna Clark, the youngest member of the cast, declared.

The club Performing Arts Department has undergone something of a renaissance in the past year, with the development of its Youth Dance/Music Workshop Series, including classes in hip-hop, organic movement, dance technique, flute, and a popular African drumming/dance course, coordinated by Perry. The club Board of Directors and new Executive Director Rodney M. Fuller have made an outstanding effort to support the growth and development of the Performing Arts Department.

For more information about the club and its programs, call 718-728-0946 or visit www.vbgcq.org. The Salah M. Hassanein Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens is located at 21-12 30th Rd., Long Island City.