Mrs. Krage
By, Spencer Stern
What is your favorite subject to teach?
The light bulb moment is my favorite part of teaching. This is when the student understands what were are teaching.
3.How many years have you been teaching for?
I have been teaching for 30 years. 14 years at Stratford Road and 16 years at POBMS.
4.Have you always wanted to teach? If not, what inspired you?
Yes. I have always wanted to teach. Although it was not my first job I love teaching.
5.Was teaching your first job? If not, what was it?
No. I have been with kids for a long time, I was once a camp counselor, and then a teacher at Stratford Road.
6. What year did you decide to teach?
I first decided to teach in 1990.
7. Is POB the only school you ever taught in? If not, what was your favorite school?
I have only taught in this district at POBMS and Stratford Road
Joey LaVarco
By, Gavin Lichenthal
Joey LaVarco was a normal kid when he got a speaking role on broadway. And this show was 13: The Musical. 13 was a show on Broadway that had only kids. No adults were in the production. That made it special because it was for kids, by kids. You may also know Ariana Grande and Elizabeth Gillies, two famous actresses and performers. Joey LaVarco starred as Simon on Broadway. I got to meet Joey LaVarco when I did a production of 13: The Musical. I got the great experience of having Joey direct my production, and while I was there I realized: I should get an interview! So I devised some questions and had Joey answer them. Now enjoy reading about the person who made our show great.
Q-Are there any funny stories that you want to talk about during 13?
A-The one that always comes to mind is the one where I embarrassed myself in front of my entire hometown. On a Sunday matinee, they took multiple charter buses in to see me perform in 13. There was one part of the show where I had a football thrown to me across the stage and I would catch it and run off. Except during this show, I missed the football, it rolled all over the stage and then fell into somebody’s lap in the front row. I had to awkwardly run up to the front of the stage, break character and ask them to give me the ball back. Then sheepishly ran off as the next scene was starting.
Q- What specifically do you like about 13, besides the fact that you were in it?
A-I love how revolutionary it is for young people in musical theater. There aren’t many shows for young people that are as complex and challenging as 13. It’s also very relatable to what they’re going through and pretty universal to what even adults have gone through when they were that age. I love the following that it has grown and how many people are affected by this story. The music is also pretty incredible.
Q-Is there anything that you think you could have done differently when you were in 13?
A-I wish I had tried more in the rehearsal room. Whether it was a vocal choice or an acting choice. Realizing now in 2025 how big of a moment 13 was in 2008, I would’ve loved to have made more nuanced choices in the few vocal moments I had — just to make more of a staple on it.
Q-What is your favorite musical you have watched?
A-Probably the original Jersey Boys. Or Next to Normal.
Q-What inspired you to act?
A-My mom wanted to be an actor when she was growing up. So she would always take me, my brother and my sister to see Broadway shows when we were young. We were watching the Tony awards in 2002 when the musical Urinetown performed and after seeing it live, I knew I wanted to be an actor.
Q-What are some of your hobbies outside of theater?
A-I love playing video games (Fortnite especially). I play guitar and piano in my free time as well. I have been trying to travel more as well!
Q-How did it feel revisiting 13?
A-It was such a full circle and fun moment. It brought back a lot of great memories and it was also nice to see what this new generation had to bring to this story. Definitely full of surprises!
Q- What are some challenges you did not expect directing?
A-Time goes by very fast! Especially with multiple casts. Figuring out how to monopolize your time so that you can get a lot of the show done but also give the actors enough chances to retain it and work on their characters is a challenge.
Q-What was it like doing professional theater at such a young age?
A-It gave me a resilience and hard work ethic at a very young age that you can’t learn anywhere else. I had to learn how to be as professional as the adults I was working with. You also audition against a lot of other people to get these jobs, so you have to feel super grateful to be there.
Q- If you had to pick one show to be in, on or off broadway, what would it be? -
A-This answer changes every day. Right now, The Outsiders.