From Classroom To Center Stage: Nassau BOCES Students Star In Big Fish

SYOSSET, NY — With opening night a day away, Nassau BOCES students are fine-tuning their lines and readying their voices for their production of Big Fish.

Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts students will be performing the production of Big Fish on stage at Jerusalem Avenue School in North Bellmore on Wednesday and Thursday.

Students shared how the program has given them a feel for the industry and what to expect after graduating if they continue to pursue theatre.

East Meadow student Elizabeth Paulino said she will be performing as Little Lamb. She said she has become a better dancer through rehearsing for Big Fish, especially with the group numbers that have challenged her as a performer.

From long rehearsals and days spent dancing and singing together, she said LIHSA means so much to her.

"LIHSA really means family," she said. "Without LIHSA, I wouldn't be the performer or the person I am today. I am especially grateful for the bonds I have made with everyone here, especially my friends, because we are a family. We truly love each other. We not only have a great time but get to make beautiful art together, which is so profound to have at a young age."

She continued, adding that she will miss her time at LIHSA, but the memories and education will stay with her.

"There is no other feeling of community like we have had here at LIHSA," she said. "It has really prepared me for college auditions and set me up for the real world."

Student Brianna Pucci from Long Beach will be playing Dr. Bennett in the production, as well as part of the ensemble, a townsperson, and a circus person.

Pucci said her experience with LIHSA has helped her feel connected.

"This school has helped me find so many people from all over Long Island who have the same interests as me and are trying to find the same career as me," she said. "It has been so helpful to feel seen in this school with howeveryone is so connected. My teachers have helped me prepare for the real world and future if I were to go down this career path. I have always called LIHSA my second home."

She also said that she's receiving closure from the ending of the musical.

"When we say goodbye to Edward, it feels like saying goodbye to each other and high school as we graduate soon," Pucci said.

Bethpage student Anderson Maziero will be performing as Don Price on Wednesday and Thursday.

"This show is very imaginative and colorful in that the characters almost seem very cartoonish," he said. "Don is down to earth, but in a negative way, almost the opposite of the main character’s son, Will." It is very fun to act like this as Don Price, as I would never act like this as myself in real life."

He said his character is quite the opposite of who he is as a person, which makes acting as the character all the more fun.

"In every scene, I am either yelling at someone or pushing someone around," he said. "I’m happy to hear from people that they don’t think I am similar to this character. It is very fun to act like this in this scenario, as Don Price, as I would never act like this as myself in real life."

Massapequa student Luciana Diliberto said she has a mixture of learning lines and participating in the ensemble numbers.

Diliberto said she is excited for the show and believes it will be a success, especially because of her castmates.

"As a cast, we have really bonded while learning these scenes and numbers," she said. "Being a part of LIHSA means to me that I have a supportive community that will help me."

Half Hollow Hills West Student Paula Barrera will be performing as the mermaid and in the ensemble. She said the show's production was faster-paced than shows at her home school, with less time to rehearse, usually one or two hours a day for three days a week.

"I would not have had this training at another outside program," she said.

Tickets for Wednesday and Thursday's shows can be found online.