But just as important a part to Incline's popular lip-synching event is the
whole bunch of young stars making their first-ever stage appearance.

“This is my first time in follies,” said fifth grader Karen Eduardo. “I
thought the shows were really fun when I would go see them so decided to sign up this year. My favorite number is ‘Thriller.'”

Students from Incline Elementary School, Incline Middle School and Incline High School are selected each year to participate in the annual fundraiser, along with a cast of adults. The show, now in its 11th year, raised more than $650,000 for local schools in its first seven years.

Each year when the auditions are held, many students audition. The students must be in fifth grade in order to participate — and not all are
selected due to an influx of performers.

“We always turn down more fifth graders,” said Karen Osborne choreographer. “I would take them all if I could.”

Many must wait for a chance to participate until they are older.

“This is my first year,” said Jennifer Medina now in middle school. “I started signing up when I was in fifth grade and this is the first time I made it.”

Many adults have perfected their own on-stage careers by being cast members for the yearly productions. Dr. Johanna Koch will again be on stage, where she has appeared for all 11 years. Koch did not have previous stage experience before joining the first follies cast. She considers the experience an enhancement to her own life and said it helped her to become a confident public speaker.

Other familiar faces returning this year include Dr. Vincent D'Ascoli, George LeBard, Lorri Waldman, Dr. Jonathan Smith and Incline High School Principal John Clark. Clark, who is retiring from IHS at the end of this school year, is always a favorite star. And be sure to watch for some crowd favorites in the “Calendar Girl” number.

Some new faces will appear this year as well. The entire Todd family will be cast for their first on-stage performances this year. Patty is in the cast of fifth graders and her mother Marjorie and father Duncan will be in the adult cast. Other new faces to watch for in the cast will be Gene Brockman, Susan Goldenberg and Mike Chamberlain.

“It is really fun to work with so many community people,” said Marjorie Todd.

For Marjorie, the tap dancing numbers have been her biggest challenge as she had no prior tap experience. But for her daughter, who is also tap dancing in the production, it was not a problem since she already had the tap experience.

Picking the numbers for the students is always a challenge for the choreographers. Osborne said that after so many years it is hard to find the right music year after year to keep the students interested.

But year after year, they continue to bring crowd cheers with the songs selected.

“I think the student numbers will be crowd favorites,” said show organizer Kathie Goldberg. “In addition, I think the audience will really love ‘Be Italian' and ‘Proud Mary.' And they should be watching for some beautiful pin up ‘girls' in ‘Calendar Girl.'”