-
Apr 1 – Apr 2, 2025
- Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater
- Purchase Tickets
- Jump to Program
The spotlight is on the graduating musical theatre students as they take the stage for an evening of cabaret style performances. Enjoy songs from contemporary musical theatre, popular music and even a few surprises!
-
Apr 1 – Apr 2, 2025
- Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater
- Purchase Tickets
- Jump to Program
The spotlight is on the graduating musical theatre students as they take the stage for an evening of cabaret style performances. This show will include songs from contemporary musical theatre, popular music and even a few surprises! Witness Broadway’s next stars in your hometown today!
Contains mature content; suggested age is 13+.
Student tickets: $15 with code ILOVEUCF2025, valid UCF or student ID required.
Performance Schedule
- Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, April 2, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
Knight to Shine 2025
A Musical Theatre Showcase
Directors
Tara D. Deady and the BFA Musical Theatre Class of 2025
John Olearchick
Chris Queenan
John Iafrate
Jarvis Brown
Paul Parker
Directors’ Notes
This program represents a culmination of the entire BFA Musical Theatre curriculum. Each number you see represents a dream role that these students would like to play professionally, and each number is directed by the student whose name appears first in the list of personnel of each song. It is our hope that be you family, friend, patron or industry professional, that you will sit back and enjoy our Knights shining one last time as a class before they graduate!
“All’s Fair in Love & War (Pop/Rock vs. Musicals)”
The Senior Class of 2025
Directed & Arranged by Tara D. Deady
UCF Vignette #1
Manuella Guerra Canal
“The Drive-In” — Nunsense
Emilee Fruscella as Sister Leo, Manuella Guerra Canal as Sister Robert Anne, and Jillian Cossetta as Sister Mary Amnesia
Choreography by Jillian Cossetta, Emilee Fruscella, Manuella Guerra Canal
“What You Don’t Know About Women” — City of Angels
Maisy Surman as Gabby and Natalie Werba as Oolie
“I Know What You Want (The Witch)” — Big Fish
Sienna Weir as The Witch and Joseph Trewin as Edward Bloom
UCF Vignette #2
Sienna Weir
“Come out of the Dumpster” — The Wedding Singer
Ally Duffy as Julia Sullivan and Edgar Sanchez as Robbie Hart
“Let Me Be Your Star” — Smash
Emilee Fruscella as Karen Cartwright/Norma Jean and Manuella Guerra Canal as Ivy Lynn/Marilyn Monroe
“I’m Not a Loser” — Spongebob Squarepants: The Broadway Musical
Edgar Sanchez as Squidward J. Tentacles with Jillian Cosetta, Ally Duffy, Alyssa Renèe, Maisy Surman, Sienna Weir, and Natalie Werba as the Sea Anemones
“If I Didn’t Believe in You” — The Last Five Years
Joseph Trewin as Jamie
UCF Vignette #3
Joseph Trewin
“What About Love?” — The Color Purple
Alyssa Reneè as Celie and Sienna Weir as Shug Avery
“Sonya Alone” — Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812
Emilee Fruscella as Sonya
“For the First Time in Forever” — Frozen
Jillian Cossetta as Anna
UCF Vignette #4 & #5
Jillian Cossetta and Maisy Surman
“If You Ever See Me Talking to a Sailor” — The Last Ship
Manuella Guerra-Canal as Meg Dawson, with Jillian Cossetta, Ally Duffy, Emilee Fruscella, Alyssa Renèe, Maisy Surman, Joseph Trewin, Sienna Weir, and Natalie Werba as Ensemble
Choreography by Jillian Cossetta
“Bare” — Bare: A Pop Opera
Joseph Trewin as Jason and Edgar Sanchez as Peter
“The Negative” — Waitress
Ally Duffy as Dawn, Alyssa Renèe as Becky, Natalie Werba as Jenna
UCF Vignette #6
Ally Duffy
“Apex Predator” — Mean Girls
Maisy Surman as Cady Heron and Manuella Guerra Canal as Janis Sarkisian
“Almost Paradise” — Footloose
Jillian Cossetta as Ariel Moore and Joseph Trewin as Ren McCormack
“Colored Woman” — Memphis
Alyssa Renèe as Felicia
UCF Vignette #7
Alyssa Renèe
“I Want a Hotdog for My Roll” — Bullets Over Broadway
Ally Duffy as Olive, with Manuella Guerra Canal, Edgar Sanchez, Maisy Surman and Joseph Trewin as Ensemble
“Pretty/Funny” — Dogfight
Natalie Werba as Rose Fenny
UCF Vignette #8
Natalie Werba
“We Do Not Belong Together” — Sunday in the Park with George
Manuella Guerra Canal as Dot and Edgar Sanchez as George Seurat
UCF Vignette #9
Edgar Sanchez
“Hit Me with a Hot Note and Watch Me Bounce” — Sophisticated Ladies
Sienna Weir
“Spoiled” — by Joss Stone
Maisy Surman
“I Want It All” — High School Musical 3
Edgar Sanchez as Ryan Evans and Emilee Fruscella as Sharpay Evans, with Jillian Cossetta, Ally Duffy, Manuella Guerra Canal, Alyssa Renèe, Maisy Surman, Joseph Trewin, Sienna Weir and Natalie Werba as Ensemble
Choreography by Edgar Sanchez
UCF Vignette #10
Emilee Fruscella
“I Got You” — Bring It On!
The BFA Musical Theatre Class of 2025
Choreography by Ally Duffy
Thank You to Our Supporters
Sponsored in part by the State of Florida through the Division of Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts.
- The Judith and David Albertson Endowment in the Arts
- Cartwright Family Humanities & Arts Endowment
- Phil and Jane Easterling
- LIFE at UCF
- Orlando Downtown Development Board
- OUC – The Reliable One
- Women’s Club at UCF, Inc.
Thank You to Our Festival Partners
- Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
- National Young Composers Challenge
- Orlando Family Stage
- Orlando Shakes
- Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra
- UCF College of Health Professions and Sciences
- UCF School of Modeling, Simulation and Training