WCT CABARET STUDENTS DELIGHT AT LORENZO’S
Wagner College Theatre extends its heartfelt gratitude to Lorenzo’s at the Hilton Garden Inn Staten Island and to Lois and Richard Nicotra for hosting You’ve Got a Friend in Me, a special cabaret performance presented on May 13, 2026. Through Lois and Richard’s long-held love for the art of cabaret, WCT students were lucky enough to bring their craft to this wonderful space.
Featuring students from Wagner College’s Cabaret Class, the evening showcased a remarkable array of emerging talent, with many performers making their New York City cabaret debuts as part of their final course presentation. Under the direction of acclaimed performer and educator Amy Williams, with musical direction by Dr. Lauri Young, audiences enjoyed an evening filled with beloved standards, contemporary selections, humor, and heartfelt storytelling.
Guests gathered for an evening that celebrated not only performance, but also friendship, mentorship, and artistic collaboration. The event reflected the spirit at the heart of cabaret itself: connection through music and shared experience. That spirit was especially embodied by the longstanding artistic partnership between Williams and Young, whose combined expertise has shaped generations of performers at Wagner College.
“Wagner College Theatre is proud to support students as they gain real world experiences, credits, and skills which they can parlay into professional opportunities right away upon graduation,” said Theatre General Manager, Michelle Siemens. “We are so lucky to be with these students while they are ‘in-progress,’ both seeing how far they’ve come and how far they have left to go.”
LAURI YOUNG & AMY WILLIAMS
Dr. Lauri Young has served as resident music director for Wagner College Theatre for more than 25 years. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, a Master of Music from the University of Louisville, and a Bachelor of Music from the Oberlin Conservatory. Her New York credits include performances and productions with Lincoln Center Director’s Forum, Weill Recital Hall, Snug Harbor Cultural Center, and the Staten Island Symphony, as well as original cabaret work at renowned venues including Don’t Tell Mama, The Duplex, and The Metropolitan Room. In addition to her theatre and concert work, Dr. Young is also a writer and retired triathlete.
Amy Williams has taught at Wagner College for more than two decades, bringing extensive professional performance experience and a deep commitment to student mentorship. A celebrated singer and actor, Williams is a recipient of MAC, Hanson, and two Bistro Awards, and currently serves on the pre-college voice faculty at the Manhattan School of Music. She earned her MFA from Cornell University and her BFA from SUNY Binghamton. The Bistro Awards, among cabaret’s most respected honors, have recognized legendary artists including André De Shields, Ben Vereen, Dionne Warwick, Liza Minnelli, Elaine Stritch, and Eartha Kitt.
Together, Williams and Young provide Wagner students with extraordinary professional guidance as they develop their artistic voices and prepare for careers in performance. The cabaret course culminates in a public performance designed to give students practical experience in one of the entertainment industry’s most enduring and entrepreneurial art forms.
THE PERFORMERS
The You’ve Got a Friend in Me Cabaret featured performances by Keri Adolfson ‘26, Kayli Blanchard ‘26, Maggie Cantwell ‘26, Emma Cornish ‘27, Ava Giglia ‘27, Nico Alexander ‘27, Mikaila Miller ‘26, Marc Mundsinger ‘26, Antonio Paz ‘26, Harper Saxon ‘26, Sophia Smith ‘26, Tori Tarleton ‘26, and Maddy Vaillancourt ‘26. WCT always features homegrown, Staten Island talent and May 13th was no exception. Seniors Kayli Blanchard, Marc Mundsinger, and Antonio Paz are all from the Island.
SPECIAL THANKS
This event would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of Jenny Kelly ‘13 (Director of Alumni & Development Events). WCT hopes to continue collaborating with Lorenzo’s to bring music and joy to the Staten Island community, featuring the current students, alumni, and faculty members.