(Photo property of Rudy Gray Photography)
(Photo property of Rudy Gray Photography)
(Photo property of Rudy Gray Photography)
(Photo property of Rudy Gray Photography)
(Photo property of Rudy Gray Photography)
(Photo property of Rudy Gray Photography
And All That Jazz
And All That Jazz
By Olivia Vecchio
On February 28th and March 1st, the Comsewogue drama club put on their production of Chicago. From the cast, to the crew, to even the pit orchestra, all of them worked together as a team to put on a show with so much Razzle Dazzle that would leave the audience wanting more.
Senior Angelica Paulson has been a part of the shows here at Comsewogue ever since she was a freshman. She was thrilled when Chicago was announced to be the main stage show this year.Roxie Hart was one of her dream roles, so safe to say that she was really excited to find out that she was casted as her.
When I asked her what the highlight of her drama club shows were she said “I'd say probably just the feeling of the whole community coming together as a whole throughout the course of the show and then just really the bond you get after you know doing all this work together and making everything work together to pull this really honestly impressive thing”.
Senior Emma Samghabadi has also been a part of all of the drama shows since freshman year. She was thrilled to have Chicago as her final show.
“I would say just like all the big dance numbers it’s really fun being in them and also seeing them and it all comes together really great”. She responded when I asked her about her favorite part of the whole show.
Jillian Queller, another senior who was originally casted as Mama Morton, was a part of many of the drama shows. From mainstage to student drama, to even the performing arts class, she was frequently a part of the shows here and was a part of the cast and played some iconic roles. Her understudy Annmarie Kosak played the role of Mama Morton for the two shows.
When asked about her favorite part of the rehearsal process she said “My favorite part is once we finally got our set we were able to walk on it and it was really cool, the stairs and everything and getting painted just just brought the whole thing to life”.
But of course, we could not have been able to pull off the show without the crew. Led by Senior Sam Bruno, Sam led the whole team of stage crew members, and with their help and job in stage crew, they managed to pull off a stunning set and iconic props from the “all I care about” feathers to “the cell block” tango scarves.
Sam’s job in the stage crew has a lot of responsibility. They stated that the rehearsal process for the stage crew is as follows, “So in the beginning of the show when it was first getting started we had to put the set together and then paint it. There was a lot of painting but after everything was done and being painted we found the props and organized them and then once that's all said and done we started running the show with you guys”.
Mark Peck, who is a freshman, has been doing pit orchestra ever since he was in JFK where he would play the trumpet for all of the performances.
When I asked him what his favorite part about watching and or being a part of the whole show process in the pit orchestra was, he said, “I think seeing it come together is kind of cool”.
But of course, no drama program would be complete without its director, Ms. Stephens, who just came up last year from the middle school, and helped make this show be the best show that Comsewogue has ever done. With her help, Chicago became the show with Razzle Dazzle and All That Jazz. We really couldn’t have done it without her.
When I asked her if she had any advice for incoming freshmen or people who want to join the program next year she said, “Drama club is awesome because it's a place for everyone to come together as a family and put on an amazing production whether you are the one who is leading the show or the person who is moving the props in the back or the person in the lighting booth making all the cues everyone’s role is important so something that is really exciting to look forward to is to just be ready to encourage your team and make some friends.”
(Photos property of Comsewogue High School)
(Video Produced by Donovan Hunt)
(Photo property of Rudy Gray Photography)
(Photo property of Rudy Gray Photography)
(Photo property of Rudy Gray Photography)
(Photo property of Rudy Gray Photography)
(Photo property of Rudy Gray Photography)
(Photo property of Rudy Gray Photography)
(Photo property of Rudy Gray Photography)
Pie-ing it forward
Pie-ing it forward
By: Emma Simon
Pi Day, celebrated on March 14th, is not just about the mathematical symbolism, but also about fun, community, and supporting a good cause. Each year, the Math Honor Society hosts this unique Pi Day fundraiser, where students and faculty members buy tickets for a chance to pie an administrator in the face, all for the benefit of senior scholarships. The event has become a cherished tradition within the school, bringing together students, faculty, and staff for a good laugh with a meaningful purpose.
“The Pi Day fundraiser is an opportunity for the Math Honor Society to fundraise some money,” said Mrs. Amante, an advisor for the honor society. “During this process, students are going to be selling tickets so that students and faculty members can choose which administrator they hope wins to get pied in the face.” The fun doesn’t end with the pieing, though, it’s all for a good cause.
“The money that the students fundraise goes towards senior scholarships,” added Ms. Danisi, another organizer of the event. The fundraiser is a great way for students to support the seniors while enjoying the humor of the day as well.
Math Honor Society member, Maddy Serxner, shared her appreciation for the event’s ability to bring the school community together. “It’s such a great tradition to bring everyone together,” she said. Similarly, Juliana Pimentel described the experience, saying, “I like that it really brings everyone together because everyone stays after school to go watch someone be pied in the face.”
(Video Produced by Emma Simon)
(Photo Property of Emma Simon)
(Photo Property of Emma Simon)
Parading Into Greatness
By: Abigail DiLieto
One of the largest celebrations of Irish culture is held annually in New York City on St. Patrick’s Day. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a way for people to come together and celebrate one of the biggest national holidays. New Yorkers crowd the sidewalks of Manhattan as various groups walk down some of the busiest streets in the nation. Irish step dancers, high school bands, and cultural associations are just a few of the groups that are a part of this bash. This year, the Comsewogue High School band has been invited back again to perform among these amazing performers.
Band instructor Christian Roder was one of the first to know of the band’s invitation back to the Big Apple. This experience is something that Comsewogue band students will always remember.
“The band was asked by the Green Emerald Society of Suffolk County if we could accompany them for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade of which we said definitely and this is our third year now of doing it,” teacher Christian Roder stated.
The process of picking songs for the city performance is a meticulous task that requires knowledge of crowd work, Irish culture, popular songs, and more. Band teacher Fred Wilbur has been versed in this process and his experience as a band teacher for over 20 years has been helpful.
“Two of the three songs we’ve done at the first two parades are the ‘Notre Dame Fight Song’ and ‘I’m Shipping Up to Boston’ by the Dropkick Murphys, which are two obviously very strong Irish songs,” stated teacher Fred Wilbur.
Although song choice is very important, student involvement is a vital part of the Comsewogue High School band being invited back to the parade. Student Elliot Jaklitsch, one of Comsewogue’s strongest band students, gave insight into her experience and the impact of being in the parade band.
“I joined the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Band for the first time in 10th grade and it was really fun marching in the city and I’m excited that the whole band is coming back this year,” stated student Elliot Jaklitsch.
The experience of walking down the streets of New York City is already exciting enough for the band students. Additionally, the connections made and friendships that have come from being a part of the band are important to the success of the performance. Students who work well together will ultimately perform well together.
“Being a part of the band has allowed me to connect with other musicians and have a really good time with people who share the same common interests as me,” stated student Elliot Jaklitsch.
As a way to enhance the parade band, the Color Guard has become a new addition to the team. Color Guard consists of Comsewogue students who perform with flags and time their dances to the band performance. Although the coordination can be difficult, advisors Elaine Holmes and Alyssa Stephens work together to make it happen!
“We wanted to add the Color Guard to enhance our marching band and to add a visual aspect to the performance,” stated advisor Alyssa Stephens.
To incorporate a student aspect into the dance, the advisors have added student choreographers to engage members more and create a team atmosphere.
“We have student captains that choreograph based on the songs that the marching band is doing and we practice it together,” stated advisor Alyssa Stephens.
The hard work and dedication demonstrated by the marching band and the Color Guard are sure to make this year’s performance one that will be remembered forever.
“It’s a lot to take in and it’s an experience that our kids are hopefully never going to forget,” stated band teacher Fred Wilbur.
(Photo property of Abigail DiLieto)
(Photo property of Christian Roder)
(Photo property of Christian Roder)
(Video produced by Abigail DiLieto)
A Celebration of Culture: International Night at Comsewogue High School
By William Swierupski
The cafeteria of Comsewogue High School was transformed into a vibrant tapestry of color, culture, and cuisine during this year’s International Night. Flags from around the world hung proudly above tables adorned with traditional dishes, handmade crafts, and cultural artifacts. The event, hosted by the World Language Department and various student clubs, served as a beautiful reminder of the diversity and richness that exists within our school community.
To capture the spirit of the evening, I interviewed four attendees who each had a unique perspective on what International Night means to them.
Nico Davis, who participated by representing his heritage at one of the tables, spoke with passion about the importance of cultural pride. "I am proud of my country and proud to have it represented here today," he said, standing beside a colorful display filled with photos, artifacts, and traditional foods.
Mrs. Antelo, a Spanish teacher and one of the night’s organizers, echoed that sense of pride. “I feel pride that I can freely express myself,” she shared. “Events like these remind us how important it is to stay connected to our roots and to celebrate the differences that make us unique.”
The celebration wasn’t just about visuals—it was a feast for the senses, especially the taste buds. Anthony Soares, another student participant, was thrilled to see traditional foods from his culture enjoyed by so many. “I am pleased that my country’s cuisine is represented here today,” he said, smiling as a line formed in front of his table.
Kevin Neilson, who attended with friends and sampled food from nearly every table, summed it up simply: “I love International Night.” His sentiment was shared by many students who described the event as one of their favorite traditions at the school.
International Night is more than just an evening of food and fun—it’s a powerful celebration of identity, acceptance, and global awareness. In a world that sometimes feels divided, nights like this remind us that through food, stories, and shared experiences, we can build a stronger, more understanding community.
(Video produced by Ellie Judd)
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