Harlem Wizards coming to Laconia High School

LACONIA — The Harlem Wizards, a comedic basketball team from New York City, will be at Laconia High School on May 6 to perform for a community event where elementary school PTAs will also hold a fundraiser. 

“We wanted to bring together the community,” PTA representative and Ward 2 board member Laura Dunn said. “We were thinking, you know, March Madness — we wanted to bring the school community together for a family event.”

And that’s exactly what they've done. 

The event is sold out, but those without tickets can add themselves to a waiting list on the Harlem Wizards website (HarlemWizards.com). Students who didn’t secure tickets will still be able to interact with the Wizards, as team members will go through schools to meet students. 

Each elementary school will host a 20-minute assembly with a Wizards player, and every elementary school student will get the chance to meet them. 

The event, a collaboration between Volunteers in Service to Elm Street School (VISTESS), the Pleasant Street School PTA and the Woodland Heights School PTO, will feature the Harlem Wizards in an exhibition match played against members of staff at Laconia School District. Staff members playing in the game include Jake Colby, Kelly Dow, Andy Mercer, Quinn Taylor, Brenna Wildness and Liz Weeks from the Elm Street School; Tim Lindberg, Katie Seigle, Allison Walls, Jamie Allen, Rebekah Gonzalez and Tara John from Pleasant Street School; Haley Ryan, Mary Ann Myers, Lindsey Packer, Allison Wade, Jennifer Connelly and McKenna Caldwell from the Woodland Heights School; Josh Scarponi, Chris Carey, Abby Ball, Lindsy Poulin and Joey DiTommaso from the middle school; and Derek Colquhoun, Taylor Osborne and Keith Ball from the high school. 

The game will run for one hour. The Wizards last appeared in Laconia in 2013 and 2017.

“It’s fun, it’s a high-energy event,” Dunn said. “We’ve been doing a lot behind the scenes to get ready for this event — it’s been a huge collaboration.”

During the game the various parent organizations will host a fundraiser bake sale and 50/50 raffle to support the operations, field trips and other expenses of the elementary schools. Overall, there are 40 volunteers helping to facilitate various tasks including set-up, parking, the bake sales, the 50/50 raffle and souvenir sales. 

All funds raised will be distributed evenly between the elementary school parent groups, Dunn noted.  

Dunn said VISTESS coordinator Deanna Mazzei and Woodland Heights PTO co-chair Erika Allen played vital roles in organizing the event.

“We’re working with the PTAs,” Harlem Wizards CEO Todd Davis said. “It’s for the public, they’re doing it as a fundraiser for the PTA.”

Davis said his organization performs hundreds of times each year and they look for talented college basketball players with big personalities to bring onto their roster. 

“Our claim to fame is that it’s the most interactive basketball show in the world — there’s nothing like it,” he said. “Every kid gets the chance to come on the floor.”

The game will end with a dance party where students and other fans will be able to meet players and get autographs signed. 

“It’s a community vibe,” PTA representative and board member Davis said. “Lot’s of energy, it’s a party environment.”

This year the Wizards are bringing two of their fan-favorite players, Davis said: King Arthur (Arthur Lewis) and Giant (Jonte Hall), who is called that not because of his size — he’s 5-foot-2 — but because of his heart.

“You’re going to see two guys that are leading the show and are great friends,” Davis said. “The chemistry is amazing.”

Each school in the district has a lot going on, and the fundraiser — although not the main point of the event — will help support the district's students, Dunn said. But the idea behind organizing the game was simply to provide a fun experience to students and staff throughout Laconia’s schools. 

“It’s all based around a fun, engaging community event for our families,” she said. 

Dunn said the elementary school principals also played an important role in bringing this event to fruition. 

“It’s been a great collaboration between our principals and communicating with families,” she said. “They’ve been instrumental with getting our communications out.”

She noted that high school Principal Lisa Hinds, as well Athletic Director and former coach Craig Kozens also played key roles in organizing the event. 

“We’re super excited,” she said. 

Event organizers are still looking for more volunteers or donations of items including candy, snacks and refreshments. Anyone interested and able to contribute can sign up using this link: signupgenius.com/go/409084AA4AB2EA2F85-48918949-bake