Stage the Change 2025!
On November 14, 2025, sixty-seven LIHSA musical theater and dance students attended the Stage the Change Conference at Tilles Center for the Performing Arts on the LIU Post campus.
This annual conference empowers students to use the performing arts to find their social voice and be catalysts for change. And, once again, the day was jam packed with inspiring workshops, powerful performances and a special keynote speaker: LGBTQIA+ advocate and Tony & Grammy Award winner J. Harrison Ghee (Some Like It Hot, Kinky Boots).
LIHSA students participated in meaningful ways throughout the event. Of special note:
Xen Bazemore and Diana Fogel were selected to moderate an onstage interview with J. Harrison Ghee. Diana shared, that she was already familiar with J’s work before preparing for the interview. “I saw Some Like It Hot four times and got so excited when I found out they were the guest speaker. While talking to them privately with the other student interviewers, I learned that J does not have a stylist and that they put together all their outfits. I have always loved J’s unique style so this made me fall in love even more! They were also incredibly kind, humble, and welcoming!”
Nick Schiavo won a Book of Mormon poster signed by cast in raffle.
Dance students performed The Wheel, choreographed by Natalie L’Etoile and Dancers. The Wheel is an abstract Modern piece choreographed by dance students at Long Island High School for the Arts, and their teacher Natalie L’Etoile. The movement created by the students represents moments of hopelessness, and the hope we find in the support of one another. As we stumble, we are witnesses to both despair and light. The participating students are in LIHSA’s Dance Repertory Company include Ava Azzaretto, Sadie D’Amico, Giulianna DiSalvo, Erin Fackler, Stella Madden, Juliette Marckesano, Anna McCormick, Natalia Melendez Smaguin, Lina Murale, Alexandra Negri, Lily O’Connor, Emma Palmieri, Sadie Saccone, Lila Salhuana, Chloe Scaramuzzo, Liahna Sisko, Hanalei Smith, Timothy Wallace, and Kiera Wildeman.
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