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The Harvey School’s Middle School students brought energy, heart, and music to the stage with their production of the musical, "Wanda’s World." The performance took place Friday, Feb. 21, in Lasdon Theater at The Walker Center for the Arts.

"Wanda’s World" is a vibrant and uplifting musical that tells the story of Wanda Butternut, a bright and enthusiastic middle schooler passionate about hosting her own talk show. But there’s one thing that makes Wanda different — she has a birthmark on her face and worries about whether her new classmates will accept her. As she navigates the challenges of middle school, Wanda learns the power of self-acceptance, friendship, and staying true to who you are. With catchy songs and a heartwarming message, "Wanda’s World" is a story that speaks to audiences of all ages.

Eighth grader Jadyn Lurie played the lead role of Wanda and was joined by a very talented cast that captivated the audience. The cast was comprised of eighth graders Adam Desrocher, Karey Dey, O’Launi Ebanks, Scarlett Ledonne, Senna Lieber, Ben McIntosh, Drew Scarfone, and Matthew Schenck; seventh graders Nate Buckley, Ruby Cayer, Leah Djukic, Carmen Perez, and Alana Telford; and sixth graders Catalina Dragan and Sabine Weiss. English teacher Megan Taylor served as the voice of Wanda’s mother, Mrs. Butternut.

The production was under the expert direction of music director William Norman, with English teacher Megan Taylor serving as assistant director. Both directors also took on the role of choreographers, bringing movement and energy to the stage. Set design was created by Vinny Alexander, performing arts director, with assistance from Ms. Gavrielatos. Also thanks to costume design by Mr. Esposito, logo signs and poster by Ms. Gelfer, Tech and Special FX by Mr. Wahlers and Mr. Nate Alexander ‘13, and scenic art by Sam Alexander ‘22 and Ms. Merola.

Supporting the production behind the scenes is a talented team of Harvey Upper School students: Delilah Hickson-Bilotta ‘26 (Student Assistant), Kyler Warner ‘26 (Stage Manager), Jacob Harkins ‘26 (Stage Crew), Jesse Baron ‘26 (Lighting Design), and Lena Boyce ‘26 (Program Design).

The cast and crew have been hard at work preparing for this special performance, and we were thrilled to see their efforts come to life on stage!

The cast with Ms. Taylor, Mr. Norman, student assistant Delilah, and "Wanda's World" lyricist and composer Beth Falcone.