Left to right: Julio Morales, Diego David, and Jadyn Torres before a performance of Newsies. (Image credit: Rose Carlson)

The hundreds of community members who came to see McCaskey’s production of Newsies gave it nothing but glowing reviews. After two years of upheaval and pandemic-induced cancellations, the show was a jubilant symbol of our celebrated music program’s rebirth. Everyone was captivated by the performance of Jadyn Torres, who led the cast as lead Jack Kelly for half the shows. They stepped into the role with such elegance and grace that many would be surprised to learn it was their first time performing in a musical.

But Jadyn was a natural at playing Jack, perhaps because of their deep connection to the character. “Playing Jack taught me a lot about myself . . .about my own confidence and ability, and it helped me out of my shell as a performer,” they reflected. And music has been an essential aspect of Jadyn’s life for years. They spend more than half their school day in the music wing, participating in three choirs on campus – Vocal Ensemble, Voices of Freedom, and Chamber Choir, a small, selective ensemble. While Jadyn isn’t yet sure of the specifics of their career plans, they know they want to go into music, whether that be musical theatre, music performance, or music education. They plan to attend Temple University in the fall and transfer into a music-related major.

The human element of music and performance is a key part of its appeal for Jadyn. “Music is truly therapy for me,” they gushed. “Life as a Hispanic kid means there’s music playing constantly around you. It’s a huge part of our culture.” While they love all types of music, Ariana Grande is one of Jadyn’s favorites, for her “insane vocal power” and “healing” effect. Music is unique in its universalizing power, how it forges connections across social barriers and cultivates community, and Jadyn echoed this when describing their time in Newsies. “When you’re experiencing that craziness as a group, you become family very quickly,” they said. 

Connection with family and friends is very important to Jadyn. They have a 13-year-old brother and 21-year-old sister, and cited their mom, Assistant Principal Jazmin Torres, as their greatest inspiration, as she models working hard and still making time for her hobbies and family. They also value extended family, describing how over thirty family members traveled to Lancaster to see Newsies. Jadyn expressed gratitude to their friends for mitigating the struggles of their difficult transfer to McCaskey sophomore year. “I had to restart my high school experience in a whole new city that was hours away from where I used to live, and moving away is scary and upsetting,” they recalled. “I was lucky that I met the friends that I did because now I can say that the move was 100% worth it. I wouldn’t change anything that happened.” A lover of art in all its forms, Jadyn loves to meet up with their friends and have “crochet, painting, or craft parties.” Spending time with friends has helped sustain Jadyn through difficult times, and they credit their loved ones with inspiring them to pursue their passions. “My friends and family encourage me in every little endeavor and for that I am so grateful,” they said. 

In spite of a rough transition two years ago, Jadyn now feels that McCaskey is home. In a characteristically effusive statement, they said, “I get to meet new people all the time and it’s so cool. Everyone is so funny and nice!”