After a rousing and successful fall play, Arlington High School performing artists continued their fine work with productions in the winter and spring. Over three nights in January, six students honed their skills as directors with the performances of one-act plays. All of these students took part in AHS Drama Teacher Michael Byrne’s combined playwriting and directing class in the fall.
Each aspiring director had presented a proposal that included why they had selected the play they wanted to direct, what they believed the play was about both literally and metaphorically, and the themes or visual pictures that they would use throughout the production. Once chosen, the directors took it from there, driving the casting, rehearsals, and final performance. Five shows were presented, one written by director Sophie Bruchig. Twenty-one actors took part, along with stage managers for each show. In addition to Sophie, the directors included Vishnu Burra and Blake Lyman who co-directed, Cece Kapaale, Kai Kuwata, and Drew Paratore.
These performances were followed by the AHS Drama Guild’s annual musical. Over 60 students were involved in the production of Twelfth Night, a musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s romantic comedy that uses the original text in the dialogue and contemporary music and lyrics. Conceived by Kwarme Kwei-Armah and Shaina Taub, the musical premiered at The New York Public Theatre Shakespeare Festival in Central Park in 2018.
Mr. Byrne says that Twelfth Night is his favorite Shakespearean play, which he has directed at AHS in 2002 and 2014. He says he “...loved working…” on the musical version and he believes that sharing new works by contemporary working theater artists is just as important as presenting musicals from the Golden Age (1943-1959). All of the playwrights and composers of the shows being performed at AHS this year are still with us. He believes that “Working on something that a living female playwright/composer created allows students a different experience.”
There are many elements of the musical that particularly appeal to today’s performers and audiences. Some things that are implied in Shakespeare become more explicit. Gender roles are explored and sung about. What the construct of gender is and what it means in day-to-day life is questioned and challenged. The joy and freedom in the singing of the score by the students illustrated how the music, being more pop than traditional Broadway, really spoke to them.
Publicity for the show included an Advisory lesson with a presentation and video to help get the students excited about attending the play. Additional videos which showcased set and costume design were created and posted on Instagram and Facebook.
Each AHS production is a wonderful collaboration of students, teachers, musicians, and even alumni. Working costume designer and stitcher Nancy McCarthy, AHS 2011 and Smith College, has been working with the team since 2020. She has a special focus on historically inspired styles and she designs for schools and theater groups. She works at CostumeWorks in Somerville, a manufacturer of costumes for Boston-area professional theater productions as well as Disney.
Visual Arts teacher Nikki McCulloch is teaching a Mural and Set Painting class this year. Her students worked with Theater Manager Hal Knowlton to design the sets, which they then painted along with the costumes. Production Management was handled by AHS English teacher Lianna Bessette and Grant Administrator Chelsea Austin. Mr. Bryne served as the Director, AHS Choral Director Mara Walker was the Music Director, Instrumental Director Sabato D’Agostino conducted the orchestra, and Music Technology teacher John DiTomaso was the Sound Engineer. Kim Kapner took the photos, some of which are attached here, and AHS junior Julia McNeill designed the poster. Added to this, of course, is the cast, company, musicians, and crew, (all students) bringing the total number of individuals involved to over 80.
The next AHS production will be Frog and Toad. The performances on May 10 and 13 are for Arlington Public School students in grades Kindergarten through three. The public is welcome to enjoy the production on Saturday, May 11, at 2:00 pm. Admission is free.
Audience members who enjoyed Twelfth Night may be interested to know that Shaina Taub will make her Broadway debut as a lyricist, composer, librettist and performer in a new musical, Suffs, this spring.