Printer Friendly Version - Wish Granted at 'Broadway in Branford'

Kayla Pellegrini (in flower lei) is surprised by members of The Broadway Boys (left) and Seaview Production's Jana Shea and Greg Nobile (far right) with news that Make-A-Wish CT had granted her wish to travel to Hawaii for a vacation with her family.

On July 17, in addition to bringing sextet stage sensation The Broadway Boys to perform at Broadway in Branford, Seaview Productions brought the house down by helping grant a very special wish to 14 year-old Clinton resident Kayla Pellegrini.

Pellegrini is one of many "Wish Kids" in line to have their dreams fulfilled through Make-A-Wish Connecticut. Earlier this summer, in an event at the Owenego Beach & Tennis Club in Branford, Make-A-Wish CT announced the "Summer of Wishes," with plans to grant 80 wishes to shoreline kids, to help celebrate the 30th anniversary year of Make- A-Wish CT.

According to www.ct.wish.org , the mission of Make-A-Wish CT is to "grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy." The non-profit has granted over 2,600 wishes to local kids since 1986. The average cost of a wish is $10,000.

Branford-based Broadway production company Seaview Productions became a Make-A-Wish CT supporter a couple of ago, said Nobile. Nobile and partner Jana Shea run their Tony- and Oliver-Award winning production company with assistance from another native of Branford, Colin Sheehan.

Nobile said the folks at Seaview knew they'd found the perfect match between Pellegrini and the Broadway in Branford event to help grant a wish in a memorable way.

"Her wish for many years was to sing on Broadway," said Nobile. "But she abandoned that wish so that she could instead wish for something for her whole family-- going to Hawaii. So we partnered with Make-A-Wish, and we were able to make both her wishes come true."

The July 17 event was Seaview's third annual Broadway in Branford show, with organizers asking for a "pay what you can" ticket donation. The opportunity to see The Broadway Boys perform by the shore, under a huge tent on the Owenego grounds, drew an estimated crowd of 1,000. Proceeds will support efforts of non-profit Legacy Theatre to restore its Stony Creek Puppet House.

Pellegrini was invited to come to Branford last Sunday night not only to see The Broadway Boys, but to sing on stage, too. Pellegrini delivered a show-stopping song from the Broadway smash, Wicked. What organizers didn't tell Pellegrini was what would follow her performance; as Nobile, Shea and The Broadway Boys joined her on stage to reveal Pellegrini and her entire family would be going to Hawaii in August on a "Wish Granted" trip.

Helping grant Pellegrini's wish helped Seaview Productions add even more goodwill and good vibrations to an enormously well-received Broadway in Branford night. Make-A-Wish CT Community & Media Relations Manager Michael Dominick said it was an "exciting moment in Kayla's life" which served to give her "hope, strength and joy in front of 1,000 guests."

"We partnered with Make-A-Wish to make it really special part of the program and a really special night for a shoreline Wish Kid," said Nobile.

The Broadway Boys -- Nick Cartell(Phantom of the Opera), Donald Webber Jr. (Motown), John Krause (Fun Home), Brent DiRoma (Jersey Boys), Shaun Mykais (Dreamgirls), and Matt DeAngelis (Hair) pose for a photo with Kayla Pellegrini.

Seaview Productions' Jana Shea and Greg Nobile suprise Kayla Pellegrini with a Make-A-Wish CT trip to Hawaii for her and her family.

CT State Senator Ted Kennedy Jr. (D, District 12) congratulates Kayla Pellegrini on a great performance as dad Bryan Pellegrini looks on.

Kayla Pellegrini sings a song from Wicked during Broadway in Branford on July 17.

Clinton "Wish Kid" Kayla Pellegrini, 14, wows the crowd under the tent at the Owenego during "Broadway in Branford" July 17.