Neighborhood Notes
ALMADEN>>Miranda Lu, a 2023 Leland High School graduate, was recently named a 2023 United States Presidential Scholar for her achievements in visual arts. Lu’s portfolio was chosen as a winner in the annual YoungArts National Competition, which put her in the running for the award. She was among 161 finalists nationwide.
The portfolio Lu entered in YoungArts included textiles, repurposed materials, sculptures and recorded performance art displays—all on the theme of menstruation. “There’s a lot of social stigma surrounding that in school; it’s traditionally been an embarrassing or shameful topic to discuss,” Lu said in a statement. “I wanted to challenge not only the societal stigma surrounding that but also my own personal shame. Creating this portfolio helped me really not care what anyone else thinks.”
Lu is currently a student at Columbia University in New York City.
ROSE GARDEN – Playful People Productions is cutting loose—footloose, that is. The San Jose theater company is staging “Footloose, The Musical” Oct. 27-Nov. 5 at the Historic Hoover Theatre, 1635 Park Ave.
Based on the hit 1984 movie, this musical—which will be performed by teens and adults—follows Ren McCormack, a teenage boy from Chicago who moves with his mother to the small town of Bomont, where the local reverend has convinced the town to outlaw dancing. With the help of his friend Willard and the reverend’s daughter, Ren convinces the reverend to let the teenagers hold a dance and, in the process, helps the town to heal from a tragedy that affected them all.
For more information, visit www.PlayfulPeople.org or call 408-878-5362.
