Thursday, December 18, 2025

Dear Friends and Family, 

Happy Holidays to all! Later this afternoon we’re celebrating with RYET (Resident Youth Ensemble of TADA!) members at our Holiday HOT (Hang out Time). I love this HOT because it’s so much fun watching them create their Gingerbread Houses and telling us the story behind their final products. The creativity of their stories is as special as the houses they build. They also play dreidel and eat lots of sugar – from Hanukkah Gelt to candy canes! This party is a great way to end my last day in the office for a couple of weeks. 

I can definitely use the time off to take care of my at home to do list which gets pushed aside most of the year since my TADA! to do list takes priority (unlike Santa who only does this once a year – I’m constantly making lists and checking them twice). This year I have some major things to do because I’m turning 65 in January (What???). I have to sign up for medicare. I don’t know why but I’m finding it really hard to do this. I had thought that 65 meant I could start collecting social security even while I’m still working (I need the additional income), but alas that is not the case – I have two more years to go. I have started thinking about retiring in a few years, but I don’t want to stop working all together. I’m looking forward to continuing to direct and write musicals for TADA!. I love working with our RYET members. But I look forward to passing on the reins of leadership (and the day to day) to others. 

TADA! has weathered many storms over the last 40 years and we will have to weather many more. But wasn’t it pretty the other day when we had our first snowfall? I do love the way it looks when it’s falling and when it’s fresh on the trees and sidewalks. I don’t like the cold of winter any longer and I really don’t like the dirty slush or ice (it definitely didn’t bother me as much when I was younger – oh, the stories I could tell – growing up in Massachusetts and having to walk over a mile to school in snow storms that had accumulations of many inches). I’ve heard predictions that this year may be a colder and more snowy winter than we’ve had in a number of years. It just means taking precautions — lots of layers, the right equipment, and maybe some work from home days — which we all know how to do now. 

As individuals we have snow shovels, umbrellas, boots, hats, mittens/gloves (remember muffs? I liked mine!), and scarves to protect us. As an organization, we have YOU to protect us and help us plow through. 

Please think about TADA!, tell your friends about TADA!, share our eblasts and stories on social media, stream our shows if you can’t see them in person, have young people join our classes and camps, let your schools know about our inschool and afterschool programming. We need YOU to all come together and shield us from the storms. If you are in a position to make a financial gift – it is more important now. Federal funding cuts has affected the arts big time and TADA! is feeling this shift. If you’d like to introduce me to people you think can help, I’m still here! 

Thank you for being a part of the TADA! community. For weathering the storms with us. Times are tough, but we can find the beauty in the storms together. 

Again, wishing you a wonderful holiday season and a happy and healthy New Year.

Best,

Janine Nina Trevens
Executive & Producing Artistic Director