Summer Arts Festival

"Join us for our 15th Season!"

SummerArts Festival
2010

Dear Singers, Actors, Dancers and Acrobats!

We have selected our SUMMER ARTS FESTIVAL PRODUCTION! We are SO EXCITED to announce that we are doing GODSPELL! We are going to set this show in the present time...2010 in a city somewhere in America! Costumes will be very hip, modern, and urban. This show lends LOTS OF solo time on stage for performers of all ages, lots of beautiful group numbers, tear jerking moments and ROCKING songs! To hear samples of the music visit http://www.mtishows.com/

A description of the show is listed below. We are PUMPED for this show and cannot wait to spend our summer on stage with all of you! Fundraising is available for tuition! Rehearsals begin July 6th, and run Monday-Friday, 8:30am-12:30pm for the 1st three weeks. The 4th week is tech week, and rehearsals run to 2pm. Show dates are July 31st at 7pm and August 1st at 1pm. Brochures and reg forms will be up on our web site by the end of the week. For more information contact Miss Lorna or Miss Maureen at 508-946-1071.

Clockwise from Top Left) Jenna Kendall of Lakeville, Grant Savage of Lakeville, Jordan McClure of Middleboro, Lorryn Savage of Lakeville, Hillary Savage of Lakeville, Cassie Jordan of Middleboro, and Courtney Adelman of Middleboro take a break from GODSPELL rehearsal to pose for a photo.

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!!!!
THE BURT WOOD SCHOOL OF PERFORMING ARTS PRESENTS GODSPELL

The Burt Wood School of Performing Arts’ 14th annual Summer Arts Festival will feature area students in a production of GODSPELL. One of the most successful musicals in history, GODSPELL tells the story of Jesus based on parables from the Gospel according to St. Matthew. His followers and disciples re-enact parables and scenes from Jesus' life with great energy in a modern urban setting. GODSPELL debuts at the air conditioned Wayne Caron Auditorium at Middleboro High School on Saturday, July 31st at 7 PM and will also have a matinee showing on Sunday, August 1st at 1 PM. Tickets are $15. For more information, please call 508-946-1071.

Check out photos from Behind the Scenes! click here!

Lucy Record to choreograph GODSPELL

L.A. Choreographer Lucy Record returns to MASS for GODSPELL

Los Angeles, California resident Lucy Record will be returning to The Burt Wood School of Performing Arts this summer to choreograph GODSPELL for their 2010 Summer Arts Festival . There are many high stepping exuberant numbers in the show! This summer marks Lucy Record's 11th season choreographing for the annual festival. She has just completed her 4th year as a resident choreographer in LA for Chaminade College Preparatory's largest annual fundraiser. Ms. Record is a renowned West Coast Choreographer who has won numerous awards for her professional work. She has been named Best Choreographer by the Santa Monica Theatre Guild several years in a row, and also won first place in the celebrated Drama Teachers Association of Southern California Competition for middle schools for her work with "MUSIC MAN." Ms. Record created, designed and is teaching a new Musical Theatre class at the prestigious Colburn School in downtown L.A.

At the Burt Wood School, Ms. Record has worked on "Oliver" (2000), "Bye Bye Birdie" (2001), "Anything Goes" (2002), "Grease" (2003), "Footloose" (2004), "Fame" (2005), "Those Summer Nigths" (2006), "High School Musical" (2007), Thoroughly Modern Millie" (2008) and "The Wiz" (2009).

In addition to choreographing GODSPELL this summer, Lucy Record will be offering a three week Dance Intensive Class for all levels on Mondays running for three weeks. The program will offered for beginner and advanced dancers. In lieu of the holiday being observed on Monday, July 5, the first class will be held on Tuesday, July 6th and will run on Mondays consecutively with an open house stage performance on Wednesday, July, 21, 2010.

Auditions for GODSPELL are Tuesday, June 15th, from 4-8pm, at The Burt Wood School of Performing Arts in Middleboro. For more information call 508-946-1071.

GODSPELL

Two Acts, Book Musical, Pop / Rock, Rated G
Original Off-Broadway version

Conceived and originally directed by John-Michael Tebelak, with music and new lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, "Godspell" is one of the biggest off-Broadway and Broadway successes of all time.

Based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew, and featuring a sparkling score by Stephen Schwartz, "Godspell" boasts a string of well-loved songs, led by the international hit, "Day By Day." As the cast performs "Prepare Ye The Way Of The Lord," "Learn Your Lessons Well," "All For The Best," "All Good Gifts," "Turn Back, O Man" and "By My Side," the parables of Jesus Christ come humanly and hearteningly to life.

Drawing from various theatrical traditions, such as clowning, pantomime, charades, acrobatics and vaudeville, "Godspell" is a groundbreaking and unique reflection on the life of Jesus, with a message of kindness, tolerance and love.

Visit the Godspell page on MTI ShowSpace to share and view photos, video, costume and prop rentals and more.

SYNOPSIS
ACT ONE

Godspell begins with Jesus declaring himself as God and King in whom there is no beginning and no end. The company takes on the roles of different philosophers (including Socrates, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, Leonardo DaVinci, Frederic Nietzche, and Jean Paul Sartre) who debate the existence of the God. The debate disintegrates into babble where ideas become only fragments.

John the Baptist enters and brings order as he sings "Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord". John the Baptist baptizes the company who quickly exit. When Jesus wishes to be baptized, John kneels and wishes to be baptized by him instead. Jesus brings John back to his feet and tells him that he is here to save mankind in the song, "Save The People".

The company returns in clown costumes. They begin to put clown make-up on their faces. Jesus assures them that he has come not to abolish the law of the prophets but to complete it. While the company moves like stylized marionettes, Jesus informs them that those who keep to the law of God will earn the highest place in heaven. To illustrate this, he tells the story of the widow and the judge. The story shows that God is a good judge who will vindicate those who cry out to him day and night.
The company then takes over and acts out the story of the Pharisee and the tax gatherer praying in the temple to illustrate that every man who humbles himself before God shall be exalted.

Jesus preaches the law of offering gifts at the altar before God as the company acts making offerings. Then, as they all clap in rhythm, they all act out the story of a Master who had a servant who owed him debt. The servant asked for the Master's pity, and the Master remitted the debt. However, the servant had a fellow servant who owed him a debt. When the servant did not show the same pity that the Master had shown, the Master condemns the servant to prison until the debt is paid. Jesus tells the company that the moral of the story is that one must forgive as God forgives. If one does not forgive, then God will condemn one to prison.

One of the company members sings "Day By Day" which is a prayer for clear vision. The company joins into the song. After the song ends, Jesus preaches that if one part of the body offends, better to lose it than to have the whole of it thrown into hell.

The company then plays to charades to answer such questions as "if a man sues you for your shirt..." or "if a man asks you to go a mile with him..." posed by Jesus. The company then does a pantomime of the Good Samaritan story for Jesus who then tells them to love their enemies and not to make a show of religion. If good deeds are done in secret, the reward will come from God.

The company performs the story of Lazarus and the rich man. Lazarus is a poor man who goes to heaven, and the rich man goes to hell. The rich man begs God to let Lazarus rise from the dead in order to warn his rich brothers of their eventual fate. One of the company members sings "Learn Your Lesson Well" in which he warns of eternal doom if one does not learn the laws of God.

Jesus tells the company that no one can be devoted to two masters, and that no man can serve God and money. One of the company members tells a story of a man, who spends his life accumulating things and then dies before he can enjoy it. She then sings "Oh Bless the Lord, My Soul" in which she praises a patient and wise God. Jesus bids the company to put away thoughts of material things and anxieties about tomorrow.

The company recites the beatitudes (Blessed are the poor in spirit, etc.), and Jesus answers them in a call-and-response manner. However, Judas recites the final beatitude about persecution and directs it at Jesus. The company freezes with fear about what events to come. However, Jesus quickly changes the subject and sings "All for the Best" through which he assures everyone that even if life is bad, their reward will be in heaven. Judas sings a verse of the song as well, and he and Jesus perform a soft shoe dance. The company joins into the song as well.

After the song ends, the company does various bits of stage business. One company member sings "Jesus Loves Me" like a school girl. Another company member pretends to have stage fright. Jesus organizes them all to tell the parable of the sower and the seeds which represent the word of God. To further illustrate the parable, one company member sings "All Good Gifts".

The company then pretends to be soldiers in the military, and Jesus pretends to be their drill sergeant. The company then acts out the story of the prodigal son. They sing "Light of the World", a song which encourages everyone to be shining beacons in the world. Jesus announces that they are taking a ten minute break and thanks the audience for coming.

ACT TWO

While one of the company members sings a reprise of "Learn Your Lessons Well", the company sets up the stage for Act II. When the song is over, another company comes up through the audience and sings "Turn Back O Man" in which she encourages mankind to give up its foolish ways and turn to God. Jesus joins her in the singing of the song, and they dance.

Company members then become Pharisees who question Jesus's authority. Jesus questions their questions with a stories and tells them that the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart and to love thy neighbor as thyself. In the song, "Alas for You", Jesus scorns the Pharisees and calls them hypocrites. Some company members join in the song and throw garbage at the Pharisees.

At the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, Jesus predicts that he will not be seen again until a future time. He remembers the time of Noah when the flood swept over the land and drowned mankind. He predicts that when he comes again, only one man and one woman will be taken with him. The rest will be left wailing outside the kingdom of God.

One of the women company members is thrown down onto the stage and called an adulteress. Jesus tells the company that the one who is faultless can throw the first stone at her. When no one condemns her, Jesus tells her that he will not condemn her but that she must not sin again. The woman sings "By My Side" in which she asks Jesus to travel with her.

As Judas betrays Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, Jesus tells of a time when he will sit in glory and divide men into two groups like a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats. His righteous sheep will enter heaven while the cursed goats will face eternal fire. The goats beg for mercy and sing "We Beseech Thee". When the song is over, the company sings a reprise of "Day By Day" as they remove their clown make-up.

Jesus announces that one of the company will betray him and tells Judas to do what he has to do quickly. Judas runs off. Then, in a recreation of the last supper, Jesus gives the company bread and wine and announces that it is his body and blood. They will all eat and drink together again in the kingdom of God. Jesus bids farewell to his followers and prays in the garden. In a moment of uncertainty, he begs for the burden to be lifted from him and is tempted by the devil, but he orders the devil to be gone.

Judas returns and embraces Jesus who is crucified on the fence upstage while the company climbs the fence and wails. In the "Finale", Jesus sings as he dies. Then there is no movement. The company removes Jesus from the fence and carry it off as they sing "Long Live God" in harmony with "Prepare Ye The Way of the Lord".

Middleboro Woman to Direct “GODSPELL”

Melissa (Ferguson) Donnelly to direct GODSPELL

Having grown up with a passion for the arts, Middleboro native Melissa (Ferguson) Donnelly is the perfect choice to once again direct the Burt Wood School Summer Arts Festival annual production. Celebrating her tenth year as director for the summer production, Melissa has filled those shoes in 2000 with the show “Oliver”, 2001: “Bye Bye, Birdie”, 2002: “Anything Goes”, 2004: “Footloose”, 2006: “Those Summer Nights”, 2007: “High School Musical”, 2008: "Thoroughly Modern Millie, 2009: "The Wiz," 2010: "Thank You For the Music". She has also directed fall musicals at the bustling cultural arts center, including “Music Man Jr.”, “Godspell Jr.” and “Into the Woods Jr.”.

A voice, acting and pageant preparation teacher at The Burt Wood School, Donnelly recently earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Cambridge College. She is on staff at the Hanson Middle School, where she is a Special Education teacher. Melissa has an extensive background in music, both academically and professionally. After receiving her degree in vocal performance from Hofstra University where she made numerous stage appearances as a soloist, Melissa then went on to perform locally, regionally and nationally. She has continued to perform locally as a soloist and as part of a local trio that performs an original version of The National Anthem, having appeared in several New England venues including Gillette Stadium, Fenway Park and Mohegan Sun.

“I can’t wait for another Burt Wood summer,” the talented performer/teacher/director exclaims. “We are all working towards the same goal and no matter what age you are, you bond because you rely on each other to make the show a success. That’s what makes our summers so special.” Auditions will be held on Tuesday, June 15th at The Burt Wood School. For more information about the festival please or how to fundraise tuition for GODSPELL, call (508) 946-1071 or to download a registration form from our website.