Meet David Lanza

David Lanza
Years at Kids Who Care:
1995 – 2003 (Student)
2003 – Present (Staff)

1. What are you doing now? I’m working as a freelance Audio Engineer and Sound Designer. That means that I work with various theaters and companies to design the sound for their productions, install sound systems, mix shows, and more. One of the companies that I get to work with is Kids Who Care!
2. What was your favorite role or show you were in at Kids Who Care?  Thats a really tough choice but the two that come to mind are getting to sing “Those Canaan Days” in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and playing a rival gang leader opposite Michael Simeroth in Choices (2003).

3. What is the strongest lesson you took away from your time at Kids Who Care and how has it made you who you are today?  Probably, “to be early is to be on time, to be on time is to be late, and to be late is to be history”. I’m still not always good at it, but for whatever it’s worth, I think of that and feel dread whenever I am late somewhere.

4. Which KidPower Point of Power do you most identify with and why?  While I wish I could say Efficiency, I’m going to go with Role Model. The role models that I had and still have at Kids Who Care have had such a huge impact in shaping who I am today. I would not be where I am without the work ethic, professionalism and drive that I learned from watching and working with my friends and role models at Kids Who Care. I often hope that I am able to provide that to others when I am given the chance.

5. Tell us how what you are doing today applies to what you wrote on your cloud card as a kid.  I wrote that I wanted to have my own recording studio. A few months ago, I recorded Deborah Jung leading the relaxation technique in my recording studio. Boom. Cloud cards work

6. Any favorite or funny story about your time at KWC that we may not know?  When I was probably about eight years old, I wasn’t in KWC yet but still went to California with them, tagging along with my mom and sister. I will always remember trying to woo an ill and bed-ridden Vanessa Rohrer by saving rolls from a restaurant to bring her at the hotel.

7. What is your dream for Kids Who Care? To see a presidential race between Riley Morrison and Alix Kiles.

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Alumni Profile: Kate Lovelady

Kate Lovelady
Years at Kids Who Care: 1989 – 2002 (Student)
2005 – Present (Staff)

1. What are you doing now? I’m the Company Manager and Resident Assistant Director of Kids Who Care.  I manage the communication with the actors in the company, assist Deborah and work with the production staff and actors on all of the mainstage shows.  I also book the Resident Company and serve on the development team on staff.  My favorite thing is that I’m in the class room every day with 4-year-olds and 17-year-olds who love Musical Theatre and want to study together.

2. What was your favorite role or show you were in at Kids Who Care?  The most fun experience I had  on stage at KWC as a kid was when I was a wife in an orange leotard in the 1998 production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The year that stands out to me most was the 1994 tour of Choices. I sang the end of the Star Spangled Banner at the top of the show – in the dark! It was my only part in the show and it was my favorite year. But, if I had to choose only one favorite it would be getting to play Mrs. Darling in this summer’s production of Peter Pan. Coming back to the Scott stage as an adult was delightful and I will never forget it.

3. What is the strongest lesson you took away from your time at Kids Who Care and how has it made you who you are today?  You can create the life you want to have.  The best way to a happy life is to find your dreams, say them out loud and make the choice to chase them every day. And if you surround yourself with the right people who will encourage you and love you no matter what…anything is possible.

4. Which KidPower Point of Power do you most identify with and why?  As a kid, Role Model shaped me the most. The idea of being authentic to myself is at the core of who I am. Now, Encouragement is an active part of my day-to-day life because for me it is the most powerful thing I can receive and gift I can give to those around me.
   
   
5. Tell us how what you are doing today applies to what you wrote on your cloud card as a kid.  When I was 7 years old, I wrote on a cloud card “I want to make Kids Who Care happen forever.” And over the years, I continued to say that out loud and now I’m living my dream every day.

6. Any favorite or funny story about your time at KWC that we may not know?  My very first Sparkie was Clinton Foster. I was 16 and he was 7. Before a tour performance, shortly after we’d become Sparkies, he walked up to me while I was talking with some friends, gave me a kiss on the cheek and told me to have a good show. After I walked away, he said to my friend Taylor, “I just kissed Katie on the cheek and I bet it was the best thing she ever felt in her whole life.”  And it was. First Sparkie For Life.

7. What is your dream for Kids Who Care? This summer as we celebrated 25 years, I was reminded over and over as each alumni spoke that this is our home. My dream is that our family will continue to grow and that we stay connected and most importantly will never lose sight of the heart of the company.