Crime Noir, Advanced Acting Class Style

Our Advanced Acting (or Act III) students wrote and performed an interactive "whodunit" murder mystery play, Would You like a Side of Murder with That?, where the audience must solve the case!

Directed by Angela Merrill (Theatre Director and class instructor) and written by the cast: Jason Glen, Leah Lattanzi, Jenny List, Caitlin Mahoney, Hayley McCormack and Kevin Short, Scene I opens with Jessica Monroe, played by Caitlin Mahoney, at the park waiting for her ex-boyfriend and friend, Eric Cline (played by Kevin Short).

After a cheerful reunion, Jessica confesses to Eric that she is in a relationship with a married man. Eric is outraged and disappointed in Jessica, mostly because he still has feelings for her.

Eric makes a scene, drawing the attention of park visitors and storms off-stage, leaving Jessica to rethink her role in her current relationship before returning to work.

Later that afternoon, Jessica is visited by her boyfriend, veteran of the Afghanistan conflict and married man, Michael (played by Jason Glen). She decides to end the relationship, which, naturally, angers Michael.

Later that evening, on her way home from work, Jessica is confronted by Michael's wife, Elaine, played by Leah Lattanzi. Elaine knows about her husband's affair and threatens Jessica to stay away from her family and husband. Jessica then encounters Veronica Dickenson, played by Haley McCormack, a private eye she hired to track Michael and figure out more about his wife and family. Jessica desperately wants to know if Michael has any intentions of leaving his family. Veronica tells her Michael is obviously lying about leaving his family and that the outrageous stories about his wife are untrue.

Alone in her apartment and shaken from the confrontation with Elaine, Jessica settles in for the night. The lights dim and we hear a door creak open, a blood curdling scream, and a thud. When the lights come up, we see Jessica on the floor, dead, and Eric hovering over her with a knife in his hands. He calls 911, screams and runs off-stage.

The audience is left to wonder...did Eric murder Jessica or was is someone else? Certainly the main characters in Jessica's life all have motives! Eric, Michael, Elaine and Veronica are arrested and charged with the murder of Jessica Monroe.
Act II opens with the murder trial of Jessica Monroe, presided by the Honorable Judge, played by Angela Merrill. The Judge cross examines each defendant about their actions on the night of Jessica's death. Each character reflects on their actions.

The audience learns each character ended up at Jessica's apartment that night, but claimed her door was unlocked, and that they each discovered her body! Though each character stumbled upon Jessica's body, only Eric cared enough to call 911.

Presumably, we realize none of the characters murdered Jessica. So, who did it? As the defendants reflect, they all remember the presence of one particular person...the court stenographer, Chell Michelle (played by Kelly DiCicco)!

She was at the park, the restaurant, and even lived in Jessica's apartment building!

Chell breaks down and confesses. She had a rough day, entered what she thought was her apartment (but made a mistake...it was Jessica's). Jessica startled her and, thinking Jessica was a burglar and acting in self defense, killed Jessica! But was she? Chell, overcome with emotion, runs off-stage. We later discover a bracelet Jessica was wearing went missing, and that a serial killer is on the loose...a serial killer that takes bracelets for a trophy...the same bracelet that Chell was wearing! Hmmm....

On a critical note, I was extremely impressed the cast, ages 12-18, wrote this play. This was a complex plot line with twists and many main characters to juggle. The character reflection monologues during the trial were pre-recorded, skillfully written and delivered. The cast also wound in comic relief to lighten the dark overtones of the script. For example, Elaine Davis (wife of Michael) had a penchant for hoarding, which was expertly and quirkily acted by Leah. Each character was well-acted and quite believable. Bravo to the cast for their hard work! It really was a delight to watch!

Reading Friends and Famly Day

We were at Reading Friends and Family Day! Did you visit our booth?

Virginia Wadland, our Board President, Jennifer Hart, our Executive Director, and Victoria Smith, our Education Coordinator, met with curious families and chatted with familiar faces about up-coming events and programming.

We also provided a Creation Station for those feeling particularly creative! Kids (or anyone) could decorate envelopes (then make cards at home) to give to their favorite person.

Materials to transform blank envelopes into something special.

Such focus!

Finished product!

After the event, we sojourned to unveil OUR PERMANENT, FUTURE HOME! We intend to purchase and renovate the building (currently the Christian Science Church) on the corner of Sanborn and Lowell Streets. That's right! We're starting a capital campaign! If you would like to know more about our future center for the arts, give us a call: 781.942.9600!

It's Recital Time!

Every May and June our music program launches into studio recital mode. Every music instructor culminates the music year with a studio recital...to end on a high note (pardon the pun, I couldn't help myself).

 Recitals are formal, where pieces must be polished and well-practiced. Students typically perform more advanced pieces than in Student Performance Nights.

Some instructors combine their studios, which is a wonderful treat for the audience, as they are exposed to different musical talents and repertoire.

Here, Joshua, percussion student of Joshua Jade, performs his duet.

All students perform when it's recital time, even adult students! Plus, watching and hearing advanced students perform motivates and inspires others.


Nate Shaffer, piano student of Roald Wilson, performs Clair de lune by Claude Debussy.

Andrea Vacon performs

Paul, vocal student of Brian Ocock, performs

Alexander Witham, vocal student of Brian Ocock
This is only a taste of our music faculty and their performing students. Recitals are always free and open to the public, and provide a great introduction to music and instruments!

Nursery Crimes: Four & Twenty

The Creative Arts Traveling Theatre Troupe, taught by Theatre Director Angela Merrill, is a group of young actors that take their 'act' on the road. The troupe learns basic improv skills and a short skit, where each actor becomes a new character each time it's rehearsed or performed. This pushes our young actors to understand the importance of character development.

The Troupe in action! Monday, May 23, the Troupe performs their skit, Nursery Crimes: Four and Twenty, to an audience of curious kids and adults.

Nursery Crimes: Four and Twenty follows Jack Horner (famous for sitting in a corner with a pie), a rookie in the CTU, Counter Troll Unit, on the case of a missing troll. Missing trolls are a big deal in Nursery Land! The CTU uncovers a mysterious note, which puts Jack on the trail of Goldilocks and the Piper Brothers. With a little help from Wee Willie (Bill) Winkie, a private detective, the two must race against a 24-hour deadline to find the troll.

 Jack Horner on the case!

The Piper brothers: Simon and Peter

 

They caught the perpetrator! To find out...attend the performance at Lynnfield Public Library on June 20th!

After the performance, our young actors read nursery rhymes to the audience!

Traveling Theatre meets on Saturdays and is comprised of beginning through advanced actors between the ages of 8 and 18. Thank you to parents and students for making this performance happen!

The Dancing Flute: A free music concert for all ages at Reading Public Library

We have a wealth of excellent faculty artists that teach art, music and theatre to those willing and open to take classes or lessons, and we LOVE to share! Thanks to a grant from The Harpley Foundation and a donation from the Helen Nigro Foundation, we are able to share our excellence in music education and performance with you!

To kick off our concert series, which are all free and open to the public, our flute instructor, Judy Braude, prepared a fantastic program of George Frederick Handel's flute sonatas! Concert-goers also learned several popular dances during Handel's time: the Minuet, Bourree and Gavottee.

Concerts are tailored for all ages, as music (classical in this case) is appreciated by both active and passive listeners. Judy opened the concert with Handel's Sonata in E minor (Grave, Allegro, Adagio, Allegro).

Two children passively listening

Sonata literally means "a piece of music that is played" as opposed to a piece that is sung. Sonatas during the Baroque era are defined as "a major composition for a solo instrument as accompanied by a keyboard instrument." Handel composed during the Baroque era 1600-1750 (or, what we now classify as the Baroque era), which had a huge effect on culture. During this era furniture, music, artwork, fashion, writing and architecture were all characterized by the Baroque style: anything that is ornate, lavish, highly textured, intense, irregular and strange (as compared to Medieval & Renaissance style).

Here's an example of a flute sonata in E minor composed by Handel (we think) in the Baroque style

Judy plays the Baroque flute accompanied by Debbie Emery

Under Baroque influences, composers experimented with counterpoint (two or more melodic lines played simultaneously), decorated melodies, basso continuo (played by one or more bass instrument accompanied by a keyboard instrument), and demonstrated emotions - a novel invention for music.

Judy performing Sonata in G Major

George Frederick Handel's music embodies and defines the Baroque style. He was famous, world-famous - a classical rock star - as famous (maybe more-so) as The Beatles. Everything he composed was a hit and made money, lots and lots of money. People loved listening and dancing to his music. So, many composers disguised their pieces as written by Handel. That's right! What does this mean? We don't know how many pieces Handel actually composed - including the ones performed at the concert!

Debbie Emery accompanying Judy as she plays "Handel's" Sonata in F Major

 

After listening and dancing, attendees had a chance to play and hold the flute and piccolo (a very small flute).

Close-up of a piccolo. The Music Place in North Reading loaned both instruments for the concert's Instrument Encounter. I wish I had photos of kids and adults trying to play the flute! It's not easy, but several kids succeeded!

Special thanks to Children's librarian Corinne Fisher for helping promote and organize the concert (and providing a book display about music), The Reading Public Library, performers Judy Braude & Debbie Emery, The Music Place and The Helen Nigro Foundation for making this concert possible!

Candyland

Over February Vacation, our students worked together on the play, Candyland. Written and directed by Angela Merrill, our Theatre Director, Candyland follows the adventure of five kids after they are sucked into the game, Candyland.
To view the animated slide show of the production, click PLAY!

Imaginative Acting: A Program for Future Playwrites!

Imaginative Acting class takes theatre to a new level. Students learn acting principles along with creative writing skills! Our theatre classes, workshops and camps always hold final productions however; this production was special as the students were primary playwrites! Instructor Angela Merrill guided the class through the elements of creative writing and acting basics. After reading and studying many examples, the class created a clever and witty play in three Acts, Holiday High. In Holiday High, Santa Claus is kidnapped, leaving two hopeful kids and Sherlock Holmes to solve the caper using clues found in his forgotten high school year book (Holiday High).

 

 Imaginative Acting class reveals their play, Holiday High.

Act I opens with three elves preparing for Christmas. They finish decorating and loading Santa's sleigh when they hear Santa is missing!

 

Mrs Claus calls investigates the disappearance!

But first, news breaks and two kids find out Santa is missing and decide to help.

So they call Sherlock Holmes to help solve the mystery!

The trio roots through old magazines, news clippings and an old Holiday High year book looking for clues. They discover Santa attended Holiday high and had many jealous frenimies.

So they meet with several characters...

And they discovered Cupid did it (as let slip by the Leprechaun)

The most interesting part of the program was taking kids from different backgrounds, ages, abilities, acting and writing experiences and focusing them to work together on a complex project. The result was fantastic, and the credit goes to Angela Merrill and the cast of Imaginative Acting!