DeKeyser Elementary hosts musical that celebrates differences

Who ever heard of eating spaghetti in a hot dog bun? Or wearing rainbow-colored suspenders every day?

Just because people appear different on the outside, on the inside we’re much the same. Such is the message of acceptance intended by local children’s author Maria Dismondy in her award-winning book “Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun.”

The tale came to life recently when professional actors from the New York-based “Stars within Reach” production company brought it to the stage at DeKeyser Elementary in musical form to the delight of more than 500 students.

The book’s gentle anti-bullying theme rang true amid the actors’ singing and dancing and the audience’s laughter.

The students were not the only ones captivated. Seated among them as guests of honor were the author, her husband and three young children – all of whom were enjoying the play for the very first time.

“I loved it! The message is more powerful than the book,” declared Dismondy, who shared that two of the characters in the story were named after members of her family. She admitted being teary-eyed at the “best part” when the character Lucy rescues her nemesis Ralph and realizes she is special indeed.

“Kids need to hear that it’s okay to be different and our differences make us special,” said Dismondy, a former elementary teacher who has written six books for children and approved the “Spaghetti” musical script for school presentations.

Dismondy said she began writing for children as a way to reach students who struggle with bullying and worry what others think about them. “I try to base my books on real issues and real kids they can relate to,” she said.

In addition to DeKeyser, “Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun” has been presented at Beacon Tree, Beck, Browning, Crissman, Duncan, Roberts, West Utica and Wiley Elementary schools in the UCS district. The author was invited to the DeKeyser presentation by teacher Marie Smith.