Level Up Program

Presented by

Hello and Welcome!

It is my privilege to welcome you into the UpBeat! community as we proudly present our 17th production, Level Up! It is a tremendous joy for me to work with these exceptional performers as we create productions that showcase the tremendous talents and passions present in all people with varying abilities.

Each UpBeat! season starts off with exercises designed to survey and gauge the performers’ interests and skills to place them into scenes they will find exciting and fulfilling. The characters you see on stage and screen tonight were then chosen by the thespians themselves from countless options. Next, a custom script is crafted to include their wishes and meet each individual’s skill and comfort level while featuring and challenging them.

As well as putting on a show, we felt it was important this season to focus on the themes of belonging and togetherness. We used creative drama exercises to encourage kinder speech and respectful treatment of each other as peers and castmates. We have reinforced these ideals weekly and are thrilled to have witnessed moments of direct improvement.

While UpBeat! is a performing arts program, our overarching purpose is to elevate and advocate for our community with varying abilities by providing a platform to showcase their incredible talents and potential. Level Up is a culmination of months of work featuring a record 49 performers of all ages, the UpBeat! team that includes teaching artists, music therapists, and video editors, plus the support of the Central Florida Community Arts staff. These collaborators, along with the passion of the program’s founder, Kaileigh Anne Tayek, and support from the Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida and The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation allow this one-of-a-kind program to exist. Likewise, nothing would be possible without the support of our performers’ parents and caregivers! The UpBeat! team and I would like to thank all of these people for working together to create something larger than themselves.

Thank you for your presence and your support of our amazing UpBeat! members. I am thrilled for these performers to have the opportunity to share their hard work. I know they will impress you and inspire you, just as they captivate the team and myself on a weekly basis. We hope you enjoy Level Up and that you will join us for more UpBeat! shows in the future!

Sincerely,

William Tayek
UpBeat! Associate Artistic Director

Hello and Welcome!

It is my privilege to welcome you into the UpBeat! community as we proudly present our 17th production, Level Up! It is a tremendous joy for me to work with these exceptional performers as we create productions that showcase the tremendous talents and passions present in all people with varying abilities.

Each UpBeat! season starts off with exercises designed to survey and gauge the performers’ interests and skills to place them into scenes they will find exciting and fulfilling. The characters you see on stage and screen tonight were then chosen by the thespians themselves from countless options. Next, a custom script is crafted to include their wishes and meet each individual’s skill and comfort level while featuring and challenging them.

As well as putting on a show, we felt it was important this season to focus on the themes of belonging and togetherness. We used creative drama exercises to encourage kinder speech and respectful treatment of each other as peers and castmates. We have reinforced these ideals weekly and are thrilled to have witnessed moments of direct improvement.

While UpBeat! is a performing arts program, our overarching purpose is to elevate and advocate for our community with varying abilities by providing a platform to showcase their incredible talents and potential. Level Up is a culmination of months of work featuring a record 49 performers of all ages, the UpBeat! team that includes teaching artists, music therapists, and video editors, plus the support of the Central Florida Community Arts staff. These collaborators, along with the passion of the program’s founder, Kaileigh Anne Tayek, and support from the Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida and The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation allow this one-of-a-kind program to exist. Likewise, nothing would be possible without the support of our performers’ parents and caregivers! The UpBeat! team and I would like to thank all of these people for working together to create something larger than themselves.

Thank you for your presence and your support of our amazing UpBeat! members. I am thrilled for these performers to have the opportunity to share their hard work. I know they will impress you and inspire you, just as they captivate the team and myself on a weekly basis. We hope you enjoy Level Up and that you will join us for more UpBeat! shows in the future!

Sincerely,

William Tayek
UpBeat! Associate Artistic Director

Navigation

Scenes & Songs

Cast

Production Team

Special Thanks

Upcoming Events

The People Behind CFCArts

Sponsors & CFCArts Giving Society

The CFCArts UpBeat! Theatre Troupe presents

Level Up

Scene 1: A New World

• UpBeat! Virtual
  

Scene 2: Gathering of the Heroes

• UpBeat! In Person

Scene 3: In the Heights

• UpBeat! Virtual
  

Scene 4: Don’t Panic, Platform!

• UpBeat! In Person

• Featuring music from the Super Mario Games
  

Scene 5: Party Hearty

• UpBeat! Virtual
  

Scene 6: Mario Party Jr.

• UpBeat! Jr.

Dance

• All Groups

• Featuring “Dynamite” by BTS
  

Intermission

Solo Video

• All Groups

• Featuring the Pokemon theme song

Scene 7: Player vs Player

• UpBeat! Virtual
  

Scene 8: Immortal Kombat

• UpBeat! In Person

• Featuring the Mortal Kombat theme
  

Scene 9: Choose Your Adventure

• UpBeat! Virtual
  

Scene 10: A Class of their Own

• UpBeat! In Person

• Featuring “Baba Yetu”

Scene 11: Co-op Mode

• UpBeat! Virtual
  

Scene 12: Leveling Up Together

• UpBeat! Virtual & In Person

• Featuring “Lost in Thoughts All Alone” from Fire Emblem Fates, English version

• ASL Activity
  

Bows

Level Up Cast

* 2023-2025 Member Ambassador
^ 2025-2026 Member Ambassador

UpBeat! In Person

Asha Blackwater – Amanda Almeida
Mysterious Merchant, Magnus Merchantmo – Edwin Alvarado*
Scorpion – Brent Arndt
Shadow, Piccolo – Samuel Baquero
Christine Joyheart – Christine Barrowman
Raphael – Josfman Bastidas
Celestia Suncatcher – Amber Baughman
Serana Stillshot – Kianna Brown
Michelangelo – Jahan P. Feghhi
Zangief – John Foster
Nathan Drake – Drew Hunt
Sonic –David Leon
Laurent Nightcrosser – Michael Lindsay
Mega Man – Reesey Longo
Claribelle Tinkerton – Sophia Mazo
Cal Kestis – John McFarland
Mario – Jason Munoz
Marth – Alec Nachtsheim
Brokkr Hammerforth – Gabriel Otero
Akira Yuki – Karen Pineda
Mithral Moonblade – Matias Quezada Verdugo
Gabriella – Clarissa Rang
Leonardo – Sam Rizk
Knuckles – Andrea Rodríguez Diaz
Rayden – Sean C Shaffer
Lara Croft – Taimara Yanelys Torres
Brigitte – Mackenzie Wood^

UpBeat! Virtual

Steve – Brent Arndt
Jinx – Berkley Benefield
Princess Peach – Courtney Coil^
Miraculous Ladybug – Regan R. Elzeer
Patrick Mahomes – Emerson Leigh Frosch
Luke Skywalker – Sam Hagan
Yellow Ranger – Ques Lewis
Proto-man – Vicente Mendoza
Link – Daniel Miller
Zelda – Addison Taylor
Samus – Beckie Ward*

UpBeat! Jr.

Bowser – Josh Ashton
Daisy – Andie Eliason
Koopa Troopa – Noah Kang
Donkey Kong – Cooper Levine
Rosalina – Catherine McCauley
Goomba – Rocko Paneque
Luma – Sabrina Quiles
Dry Bones – Tommy Russell
Pauline – Samantha Stuart

Not On Stage Today

Brian Burns Jr.

Production Team

UpBeat! and UpBeat! Virtual Associate Artistic Director – William Tayek
UpBeat! Jr. Associate Artistic Director – Caroline Del Rey, MM, MT-BC NMT
UpBeat! Jr. Assistant Director – Christina Closs
UpBeat! Rehearsal Teaching Artist – Christina Closs
UpBeat! Music Therapist – Caroline Del Rey, MM, MT-BC NMT
Rehearsal Assistant – Renee Pancoast
Choreographers – Olivia Milburn, Trase Milburn
Production Manager – Sara Breitfelder
Stage Manager – Nathan Fliger
Technical Director – Joshua McKinney
Playwright – William Tayek
Video Director – William Tayek
UpBeat! Virtual Video Editor – Mary Anne Buckley
UpBeat! Virtual Video Editor Assistant – Jessica Fernando
Solo Video Editor – Sara Breitfelder
Digital Media Editors – Phil Christnot, Dave Theisen
Costumer – Sara Breitfelder
Props Master – Sara Breitfelder
Audio Designer – Veronica Santana
Teleprompter Operator – Lucia Chan
Superscript Operator – Nora Szilagyi
Stage Hands – Piper Sunvold
Personnel Manager – Sara Breitfelder
Green Room Attendant – Amelia Lane
Front of House Manager – Tommy Mendoza

Special Thanks

Heather Barnes, Marnibel Castro, and the Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida
Kaileigh Anne Tayek and the University of Central Florida CARD Program
Emily DeNardo and Opera Orlando
Broadway United Methodist Church
Caitlin Williamson and Orlando Magic
Ariana Leon and Nathaniel’s Hope
Megan Taylor and First Congregational Church of Winter Park
Randy Parsons and St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church
Valencia Community College Sound Club
Eliason Family Foundation
Ashleigh Ann Gardner (For the Stage) for production photography

Up Next With CFCArts

CFCArts Board of Directors

Chad Faulkenberry, Chair, Journey Strategic Wealth
Dr. Meghan Brand, Vice Chair, Community Leader
Sara Osborne, Secretary, Orlando Health
Tom Clements, Treasurer, Katmai Government Services and Ouzinkie Native Corporation

Dr. Glenn Dym, Florida Cardiology, P.A.
Rep. Anna Eskamani, Florida House of Representatives
Jack Feivou, Themed Entertainment Executive
Kris Gault, Samba Safety
Jessica Guthrie, Immediate Past Chair, One Compass Consulting
Dr. Briyanna Jenkins, Seminole State College
Jason Locker, Orange County Public Schools
Rob A. Lott, Blue Trumpet Creative
Esu Ma’at, Orlando Magic
Jeffrey Moore, University of Central Florida
Mark Morales, Attorney, State of Florida, Dept of Children & Family Services
Gary Moss, Retired / Simon Malls
Jed Prest, BakerBarrios Architects
Dr. Jeffery Redding, University of Central Florida

CFCArts 2023-2025 Member Ambassadors

Lina Al-Wali, Symphony Orchestra
Edwin Alvarado, UpBeat! Theatre Troupe
Dr. Aleta Ashford, Community Choir
Kerri Byrd, Symphony Orchestra
Sharon Dentler, Arts in Action, Narrators, and Musical Minds
Hannah-Kate Garrett, Youth Theatre
Dustin Heil, Symphony Orchestra
Katrina Johnson, Community Choir
Travis Lefke, Symphony Orchestra
Danny Seigler, Community Choir
Daisy Spann, Youth Theatre
Haylee Van Dalen, Big Band
Beckie Ward, UpBeat! Theatre Troupe
Katy Reinsel Willis, Community Choir

CFCArts Staff

Sara Breitfelder, Community Choir, Narrators, UpBeat! Program Manager
Allison Cothran, Instrumental Programs Personnel Manager
Caroline Del Rey, MM, MT-BC, NICU-MT, NMT, UpBeat! Jr. Associate Artistic Director
Brandon Fender, Community Choir Artistic Director
Christine Hicks, Narrators Associate Artistic Director
Olivia Knight, Manager of Marketing & Communications
Justin Muchoney, Executive Director, Artistic Director
Sara Myers, Managing Director
Hayden Patterson, Youth Theatre Program Manager
Leah Porrata, Youth Theatre Artistic Director
Rose Purdy, Manager of Donor & Patron Services
Ashley Samuels, CFRE, Grants Administrator
Stefany Sosa, Operations Administrator
William Tayek, UpBeat! Associate Artistic Director
Juan Torres, Production Director

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

Central Florida Community Arts is funded in part by United Arts of Central Florida, your local agency for the arts, and by Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs Program.

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

Central Florida Community Arts is funded in part by United Arts of Central Florida, your local agency for the arts, and by Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs Program.

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

Central Florida Community Arts is funded in part by United Arts of Central Florida, your local agency for the arts, and by Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs Program.

CFCArts Giving Society Members

This list includes all individual donations from 1/1/24 through 4/23/25. We value your gifts, but sometimes mistakes happen – if your name is not listed the way you’d like to see it or you notice any other errors, please let us know so we can update it!

$10,000 +

Jim and Barbara Caldwell
Tom Clements
Dr. Glenn Dym
David Greene
Frank and Winn Merritt
Jeff and Mindy Moore
Charles and Margery Pabst-Steinmetz
John and Ann Pucci
Bill and Cora Sterling

$5,000 – $9,999

Russ and Cindy Airington in honor of Stephanie Daugherty
Carlos and Cathy Barrios
David and Carol Cowan
Hurckes Family Foundation
Jessica and Vance Guthrie
Arne Haak
Rob Josey
Lynne McCoy
Clark and Carol Morris
Frank Santos
Prof. Stephen Summers

$2,500 – $4,999

Jane Berg
Trevor Brewer
Chad, Amy, and Caitlin Faulkenberry
Laverne Herzog
Eduard Hoffmann
Arum Lansel
Katherine Leatherman
Clark Morris
Dr. Donna Nickel
Carol Ann Pohl
Christopher Scocco
Nancy Shutts
Doug Whitehead

$1,000 – $2,499

Angela Divjak in honor of Anette Boughner
Tessa and Rolan Anodide
David and Lynn Berelsman
Caridad Bergnes
Christina Bianchi
Tom Bissell
Neal Blaher
Steven & Nikki Botwinik
Sara Brady
Stephen Brannon
Don Chancy
Dr. J. Gene Chen
Melissa Deschamps
Eric Eliason
Marcia Enos
Brandon Fender
Matt Gay
Marcia Hope and Ken Goodwin
Ian Gottschalk
Priscilla Greenough
David Gurney
Paul Harmon
Erica Huffstodt
Mimi Hull
Lynda and Darrell Jobman
Eric and Jennifer Johnson
Bethany Kelly
Rebekah Kinard
Eva Krzewinski
Denise and Joylon Lamwatt
Rita Lowndes
Deb McCrary
Deborah Mead
Julie Muchoney
Lettie Myers
Ted Nelson
Alyssa Noll
Nichole and James Oxley
Renee Pancoast
D.W Perkins
Shirley Piercy
Diane Rinkes
Maria Rubin
Jordan Ruhl
Diane Sandquist
George Bridges and Michael Slaymaker
Jennifer Smith
Haylee van Dalen
Hardy Vaughn
Larry Watchorn
Tyler Whipple
Katy Reinsel Willis
Bickley Wilson
Jen and Matt Zadell

$500 – $999

Peggy and George Albu
Marlana Antifit
Andrew Ayoob
Susan Barack
Ken Bays
Christina Bianchi
Dr. Meghan Brand
Robert and Mary Brown
Karen Buchan
David and Marie Chivers
Inge and Jay Clay
Elizabeth Conklin
Louise Cooper
Sandra Daum
Josh Davidson
Nancy Deskins
Joseph and Carla DiMaio
Joan Dougan
Alissa Forde
Martin and Emily Glickstein
Chris and Carolyn Grant
Grant Gribble
Crystal Hernandez
Jay and Kim Hood
Venetta Jones
Gerald and Kathryn Keane
Bethany Kelly
Micah and Olivia Knight
Shelly Lanham
Anne Lee
Travis Lefke
Claire and Rick LeFlore
Teresa Lucchese
Esu Ma’at
Justin Muchoney
Jessica Needham
Aurelia Nugent
Mary Padilla
Jed Prest
The Honorable Marty Sullivan
Kristen van Cauli
Kay Van Der Heyden
Keith Walls
Larry Winchowky

$250 – $499

Tracy Ainslie
David Andrade
Carlos Aquino
Natisha Asbell
Judith Bahr
Nancy Barnette Rapport
Michele Bell
Ann Black
Sarah Brooks
Marcia Buie
Elisabeth Butler
Candi Calhoon
Catherine Davey
Sharon Dentler
Laura Dray
Tom Emling
Laura Firtel
Martin Folk
Susan Forster
Scott Galbraith
Kris Gault
Anna Guidubaldi
Joanne and David Halloran
Zac Alfson and Bryan Henley
Suzanne Herin
Danielle Holstine
Patricia Houlihan
Robert Huffer
Theresa and Bob Hunt
Ken Ingraham
Etta Jean Juge
Robert and Angela Kirby
Sylvia Kirkendoll
Bob Kodzis
Myles Laffey
Vicki Landon
Olivia Lee
Blanche Marie Lewis
Carolyn Litwin
Jason Locker
Nancy Matherly
Elias Mavrofrides
Pamela and Doug Miller
Deborah Mork
Karayn Moss
Gary and Carol Moss
Sherry Mulvaney
Brian Paster
Robert Peale
Richard Sandler
Catherine Scott
Christi Searls
Jeana Smith
Pamela Spears
Rich and Marcia Starcher
Brooke Van de Houten
Dr. Margie Vicente
Stacia Wake
Crystal Walls
Catherine Warner
Jennifer Whitman
Michael and Paula Wilson
Jean Witherington
Julie Wolf
Pamela Yarrington
Ashley Zirkle
William Zoon

$100 – $249

Keith Albright
Nancy Alfieri
Judith Alper
David Alter
Mateo Alvarez
Tom and Donna Anderson
Jennifer Anderson, MD
Aleta Ashford
Kathy Ashton
Stephen Bacallao
Tameem Bakkar
Paula Barnett
Cathy Barrios
Johan and Janet Bergh
Kyle Bergman
Julie Bilinski
Carmen Bilinski
Hayley Rose Black
Dr. and Mrs. Gregory and Lisa Boger
Anette Boughner
Scott Boyce
Jeffrey Brabham, MD
Tad Branham
J. Joseph Brann
Stanley Brazell
Leigh Brennan
Colleen Brost
Randall Brown
Eric Kahn and Chip Bryant
Thomas Buckley
Dale and Patricia Burket
Kerri Byrd
Sandra Carbone
Karen and Stephen Catron
Barbara Chambers
Mike and Susie Cheatham
Carolyn Christena
Rebecca Clancy
Julia Clements
Rosemary Copple
Allison Cothran
Arielle Courtney
Angela and Dylan Cox
Kelli Creech
Nancy Cruce
Diane Culler
Janet Darroch
Paul and Stephanie Daugherty
Alan and Susie Davis
Candy Dawson
Victoria Dean
Ray Alger and Janet Denniston
Maxine Derington
Megan and Corey Derryberry
Vicky Diaz
Gerald and Sandra Dooley
Lisa Doolittle
Christine Dudding
Mary Edwards
Whitney Egbert
Vickie Emling
Anna Eskamani
Jennifer Evins
Jack and Ann Feivou
Christine Fitzgerald
Victoria Garcia Retterath
Richard Gibbs
Diane Giordano
Scott Greenwood
Steffen Guenzel
Lois Harkins
Roseann Harrington
Irene Haufman
Ralph Hewitt
Fraser Howe
Bonnie Hubbard
Lydia Hubbell
Rachel Hunter
Tim and Karen Hurley
Sara Hurst
Jacquelyn Hurst
Lynette Jackson
Nancy and Craig Janisz
Barbara Jarvis
Sylvia Johnson
Carlton Johnson
Claudia Kasen
Vicki Katsarakes
Denise Kay
RK Kelley
RK Kelley
John Kennedy
Michelle Klein
Vadim and Alyona Klochko
Prabhakara Kunamneni
Deborah Labonge
Dr Baskar and Dr Ramaiah Lakem gastroenterology associates
Paul Lartonoix
Sherri Lava
Laurie Lesher-Lockcuff
Mark and Kathleen Longergan
Richard Lucchesi
Rachel Luckenbill
Wah Lum Family
Heather Mahoney
Wendy Mammino
Marilyn Markowitz
Melyssa Marshall
Borys Mascarenhas
Mary Dell Mattingly
Carole and Cory Mayback
Timothy McCann
Pamela McLaughlin
Tommy Mendoza
Andrea Menendez-aponte
Celia Mikels
Sandi Miller
Carolyn Minear
Geoffrey Moehl
Mark Morales
David Mote
Heather Mount
James Munoz
Diana Murphy
Bruce Mylrea
Jonathan Nadreau
Elmer Nagy
Ken and Susie Ng
Thomas Nixon
Barbara Rose Northcutt
Megan Nuttall
Dana Oneill
Louise Orum
Therese Osborne
Kelly Pacheco
Dr. Mary Palmer
Emily Peterson
Carrie Pierce
Cynthia Price
Rachel Reinhardt
Jayne Reynolds
Christine Rieck
Bradley Roberts
Nikki Robinett
Arnetta Rodgers
Jane Rodriguez
Aaron Rowe
Mark and Laura Sajeski
Marlene and Jim Schaus
Patty Schmidt
Bob and Janet Scott
Dr. Daniel Seigler
Anita Seufert
Edmund Short
Peter Sieviec
Adam Sliger
Luis Sousa Lazaballet
Alice Southworth
Kim Spradlin
Karen St. Charles
Rebecca Stauber
Dawn and David Staymates
Willa Sydney Stern
Eloise Stiglitz
PJ Storm
Lisa Stuart
Jenny Summers
Thomas and Nancy Swalby
Julie and David Symonds
Mary and Craig Tench
David and Marion Theisen
Mark Thomason
John and Nancy-Lee Thompson
Mary Thurston
Richard Thurston
Francisco Torregrosa
Sheila Trapp
Amy Trewin
Lizzie and Clive Tricker
Kim Tricker
Dr. Andrew Tringas
Jennifer Tyndall
Barbara Valis
Linda Van Der Heyden
Peggy Vives-Austin
Blake Weber
Madison Weinberg
Elizabeth Welker
Patricia White
Charna Wiese
Allyson Wise-Bird
Julie and Cliff Wright
Todd Zimmerman

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR CENTRAL FLORIDA COMMUNITY ARTS, A FLORIDA-BASED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION (REGISTRATION NO. CH36897, EIN 45-2324172) MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE (WWW.FRESHFROMFLORIDA.COM.) REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. CENTRAL FLORIDA COMMUNITY ARTS IS A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. YOUR CONTRIBUTION IS TAX-DEDUCTIBLE TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW. UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED, NO GOODS OR SERVICES WERE PROVIDED IN EXCHANGE FOR YOUR FINANCIAL DONATION.