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A Preview of Natick High School Theatre’s ‘9 to 5’

January 31, 2023 by Admin Leave a Comment

Natick Report is working with The Natick Nest, Natick High School’s official student-run school newspaper, to help bring the students’ work to a larger audience. We’ll be republishing some of their articles, and plan to coordinate with their staff on additional pieces. This article originally appeared in The Natick Nest.


By Ella Stern, editor-in-chief, The Natick Nest


Not many empowering shows also include kidnapping and fantasies of murder. 9 to 5, however, strikes that balance perfectly.

From its feminist messaging to its well-thought-out acting, choreography, music, and set to its opportunities for growth, Natick High School Theatre’s production of 9 to 5 promises to be spectacular.

9 to 5 foto

 

9 to 5: The Musical follows Judy, Violet, and Doralee, three very different women who are friends because they work at the same office. The office is run by Franklin Hart, a misogynistic boss who mistreats his female staff. The three women band together to build up the company and make it a better place for its workers (after dreaming up ways to murder Hart, of course).

9 to 5’s clear message of female empowerment drew Marly Rotenberg ’23, the student director, to the show. She said, “What makes this show different from other shows with female leads is that it’s all about women coming together and bringing each other up and doing something positive and making a lasting change.” Even though the movie version of 9 to 5 (off which the musical is based) was written in 1980, its feminist message is still relevant and necessary over 40 years later. Further, 9 to 5 allows audiences to connect the topics discussed in the show with modern issues by themselves without feeling singled out for their lack of knowledge about sexism. Marly said, “The message that [9 to 5] spreads—and it deals with heavy topics of sexual harassment and gender discrimination in the workplace—is told through as comedic of a lens as humanly possible when dealing with those subjects to try and make it seem less confrontational.”

The female-driven cast was also appealing because the current theatre program skews heavily female. The creative team (9 to 5’s student leaders) wanted to choose a show that would fit those demographics and give as many people as possible their time to shine. 9 to 5 has multiple female leads of differing vocal ranges, which allows some actors to get a starring role for the first time. Marly wanted to give people this opportunity, even though it had not always been given to her. “What always stood out to me about Marly is that she always really wanted to give everyone a fair chance, and to give everyone a voice, and I thought that was really cool and special,” said Anna Huynh ’23, 9 to 5’s music director.

Even though 9 to 5’s feminism was a huge point in favor of the show, the student leaders had to consider various cons when choosing which show to direct. For instance, 9 to 5 is a difficult show with an expansive and challenging score. On top of that, this production is entirely student-run, and the cast, crew, and pit have had a very short time to put everything together. However, the creative team decided that they were up to the challenge.

Photo by Nick Peace '23

 

Marly said that the biggest obstacle she has faced in shaping the acting of the show has been helping everyone understand the character that they need to portray. “Acting is all about storytelling,” she said, so she wants each character to be three-dimensional and dynamic. To accomplish this, Marly has actors think about what their character is like throughout the show as a whole and how they change from song to song and scene to scene. Marly is especially proud of the way the three female leads portray their characters’ perseverance, growth, and empowerment. This enhances the acting moments about which Marly is most excited: the end of Act I, when the characters finally do something about their frustration, and the end of Act II, when they share their frustration with the world.

The story of the show is also told through its choreography. For instance, the opening number, “9 to 5” introduces lots of characters and brings them from waking up in the morning to arriving at the office. Sydney Carner ’24, the choreographer, said that that song was the hardest to choreograph because of all its moving parts and all the information it has to convey. Sydney is proudest of the choreography for “One of the Boys”. When putting together most of the numbers, she took inspiration from the Broadway version, but “One of the Boys” has Sydney’s own choreography and ideas more than any song in the show, especially in its dance breaks. Even better, it is the song whose choreography people have liked the best, which has been validating for Sydney.

Sydney’s choreography would not be complete without the music to which it is set. 9 to 5 features a whopping 18 songs (all written by Dolly Parton!), and they are not easy. Anna Huynh ’23, the music director, said that the biggest challenge for themself and for the cast when it comes to music is the limited rehearsal schedule. She has had to spend days making practice tracks, and the cast has not had much time to master each song, but they have all been pulling their weight and making significant progress on the music. One of Anna’s favorite things about the music in this show is that it is very ensemble-oriented. “Many people have the impression that [the] ensemble isn’t important, but it is in this show. We have all been realizing the importance of the ensemble and how they frame the show and how they really make the show come to life,” they said.

The pit band is also playing some challenging music in this show. In fact, the creative team was advised to use background tracks rather than a student pit, but they decided that the pit was up to the challenge, and that they would let them play. Isaac Hoffman ’23, the pit conductor, said that the pit has learned to sync their difficult parts and changes, especially in complex songs like “Dance of Death”. Isaac is conducting for the first time for this show, and is enjoying it. He has especially grown as a conductor from slower songs like “Heart to Hart”, which force him to be perfectly in time. Isaac is proudest of the opening number, “9 to 5”, as it has come together well and is a song everyone will know and appreciate. The pit band as a whole is excited to be performing onstage (on a platform built by stage crew) for the first time.

Despite 9 to 5’s abbreviated time frame, the stage crew has been able to put together an impressive set. Charlotte Gagliardi ’23, the stage manager, said that her only requirement for the show was a stationary set. When the crew does not have to focus on moving large set pieces, they can make the movements of smaller pieces (for this show, the desks and other furniture) more intricate. Further, when the set stays the same throughout the show, the actors can settle in and be confident in moving around the stage and interacting with the set. In this show, the thing Charlotte is most proud of is the other people in stage crew. Earlier this year, Charlotte was one of the only stage crew members left who remembered how things were before Covid, but she and the other crew heads have done a great job teaching their assistants how to run things. They have all loved watching the underclassmen fall in love with crew and become more confident in their abilities. Charlotte is also excited about having a working elevator onstage, as its opening and closing doors allow the actors to interact with it realistically.

9 to 5’s creative team has had to learn new skills for the show too, whether that is allocating money, teaching high schoolers, or finding the balance between director and friend amongst a group of their peers. It has been a challenge, but has taught them life skills, such as communication, teaching, and leadership.

The creative team is made up of Marly Rotenberg ’23, the director; Anna Huynh ’23, the music director; Charlotte Gagliardi ’23, the stage manager; Sydney Carner ’24, the choreographer; Naomi Zwelling ’23, the producer; and Isaac Hoffman ’23, the pit band conductor.

With all of these differing roles, there is the potential for overstepping, but this is not the case for this group. One of the greatest strengths of 9 to 5’s creative team has been giving each other the space to excel in their area of expertise, and trusting each other to do their thing well. Charlotte said, “These guys don’t bother me at all, and I love it…They gave me specific things they wanted for the set and then they let me do what I’m already good at.”

In addition to preventing conflict, this trust has given each member of the creative team significant influence over an area of the show, making them more confident in their abilities. “Once you’ve done something before and once you feel like you’ve learned enough to be confident in your perspective on it, it becomes a lot easier to make your voice heard,” Charlotte said.

This confidence is one of the things the creative team as a whole is most excited for in the final production. It has been a privilege for them to help the cast, pit, and crew learn their roles and build trust in their own talent. They cannot wait to see even more confidence shine through as all the pieces of the show start to fit together and they head into show weekend.

9 to 5 will be playing in the Natick High School auditorium at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, February 3 and at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 4 and Sunday, February 5. Tickets can be preordered at this link or bought at the door.

The creative team encourages residents of the Natick area to come see the show because it is bursting with talent from the cast, pit, and crew, and is a great way to support local artists and get a good couple hours of entertainment. Or because, as Charlotte said, “I love Dolly Parton, and so should you.”

9to5

Please send tips, photos, ideas to natickreport@gmail.com

Filed Under: Education, Entertainment



Natick Cultural Council grants: Projects range from school murals to senior hip hop to Johnny Cash

January 27, 2023 by Bob Brown 1 Comment

The Natick Cultural Council has announced more than 30 grants ranging in amounts from $200 to $2,132 to fund a variety of projects that support the arts, humanities and interpretative sciences.

The projects, intended to benefit the Natick community, run the gamut from films to dance to history.

One project that we’ve previewed is called “What’s in your heart? NATICK,” and will be a public art display on the MBTA pedestrian bridge.

Among other grant recipients are the Brown Elementary School PTO, which is receiving $1,000, and Lilja Elementary School, which is receiving $1,500. Both will use the funds to paint murals at the schools.

Brown Elementary will be having artist-in-residence Joe Pimentel working with students and staff in March to create a welcoming new mural in the lobby, says Michelle Parven, visual arts educator at Brown.
A generous grant from Natick Education Foundation got the school 75% of the way to funding the cost of the mural, and the Natick Cultural Council grant will cover the rest, Parven says.
What will make this mural unique is that Pimentel “incorporates students into the entire process – from ideation (kids generating drawings based on a theme) to execution (all hands on deck to help with the actual painting).  He feels that this gives students voice in the design and ownership of the finished product,” says Parven who discovered the Ulster County, N.Y., artist on Instagram.
In October, students met with Pimentel over Zoom and made drawings aligned with the theme “Our School Community.”  Pimentel sent Parven drafts of the design, and it has since been finalized in preparation for the artist’s visit to the school during the last week in March.  “While I have renderings, I cannot share them with you at this time—we want to keep things a surprise!” Parven says.
The Council, which awarded grants totaling $16,582 in this latest round, will seek applications again in the fall.

Fiscal year ’23 funding list

Recipient Project Title Amount
Argyrople, Catherine Growing Pains (Feature Film) $300
Brown School Parent-Teacher Organization of Natick, Massachusetts, Inc. Brown School Lobby Mural $1,000
Brown School Parent-Teacher Organization of Natick, Massachusetts, Inc. Ball in the House $2,132
Costarelli, Eve Jerusalema Flash Mob: The Dance of Joy $200
Edgecomb, Diane Fantastical Folktales of Flowers $400
Girardin, Denise What’s In Your Heart Natick? $800
Hiller, David Natick Family Science Nights $400
Historical Natural History and Library Society of Natick, Inc. Know Natick History: Natick Reimagined (working title) $300
Lilja Elementary School School Mural $1,500
Lilja School PTO, Inc. Three Billy Goats Gruff by Pumpernickel Puppets $400
Lilja School PTO, Inc. Peoples of the Dawn Land $400
MUSIC Dance.edu I am Autistic I am Fantastic $300
MUSIC Dance.edu Hip Hop Chair Dance for Seniors! $300
MacInnes, Rebecca “Crankie” Muscial Story-Telling $400
Moock, Alastair Johnson Elementary PTO presents Alastair Moock’s musical social justice assembly “Playing With Tradition” $400
Natick High School RoboNatick Team 6032 “Lightning Hawks” $300
Natick Parents Music Association, Inc. Natick Jazz Night $500
Newman, Howard Knock on Wood, acoustic folk-rock duo $400
Polatin, David “The Fifties – The Golden Age of Music” $400
Quazi, Shahreen Tribute to Natick Praying Indians $350
Radhakrishnan, Smitha Radical Love: A Community Movement $600
SPARK Kindness, Inc. SPARK Kindness Week 2022 $400
Sound & Spirit, Inc. “Get Happy!” $500
Taunton City Band, Inc. Taunton City Band free community concert $200
The A Cappella Singers, Inc. Concert Season 2022-2023 $500
The Morse Institute in Natick Ezekiel’s Wheels Klezmer Band $400
Voices of MetroWest, Inc. Trial Educational Tool – ChoralTracks $400
Waterman, Jon Live Music Making History Live $300
Wilson Middle School Masterclasses for Music! $600
Women of Note, Inc. Women of Note Holiday Concert $400
York, Matt Johnny Cash – Songs & Stories $400
Zaino, Nick 100 Years of Boston Comedy $200
Zinshtein, Ronen Dance competition $250
Zinshtein, Ronen National Training camp and Dance competition $250

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Filed Under: Art, Community, Education, Entertainment, Music



Top 10 things to do in Natick, Mass. in 2023

January 4, 2023 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

We’ve updated our popular “Top 10 things to do in Natick” page to remind everyone of how much the town has to offer. From hiking and bird watching at Mass Audubon’s Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, to catching some culture at The Center for Arts in Natick, or visiting the Natick History Museum (currently by appointment only) inside the Bacon Free Library, there’s plenty to do and see in Natick.

Have you experienced everything on our list?

TCAN

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Filed Under: Art, Bacon Free Library, Boston Marathon, Entertainment, Natick History Museum, Outdoors, Shopping, Theater

Natick Holiday Stroll brings out a festive crowd

December 19, 2022 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

The annual Natick Holiday Stroll drew last-minute holiday gift shoppers, kids and their families on a quest to see Santa, and those who took the event at its word and were just in town to walk around and enjoy the lights before popping into a restaurant for Saturday night dinner.

Natick Holiday Stroll

Natick Center merchants took advantage of the mild-enough weather to throw open their doors in a welcome to shoppers. The strains of live music were audible from inside Baylee Bee, and a hustle-and-bustle scene was evident at Calliope Paperie, where author Lindsay Cadigan was signing copies of her book, Betty the Confetti Yeti. Paper Fiesta hosted Jonah’s Twisters, who gave out free balloon animals to excited children, who then could get further wound up by getting their faces painted at Sweetwaters (we saw 1 little kid fall on the sidewalk, and her face was perhaps saved from hitting the cement when her ballon animal—which did not pop—cushioned the fall). We missed out on the free soup at Agostino’s but are sure it was delicious.

Natick Holiday Stroll

In addition to the classic bricks-and-mortar shopping experience, local small business owners and non-profit organizations set up tables on the sidewalk to capture the street traffic.

Natick Holiday Stroll

 

Natick Holiday Stroll

The Natick Center Cultural District put together the event, designed to encourage people to shop and eat in Natick’s downtown district.

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A post shared by NCCD (@natickcenterculturaldistrict)


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Filed Under: Community, Entertainment, Holidays, Shopping

Business buzz: Immersive Gamebox could bring Squid Game & Angry Birds to Natick Mall; Good Feet relocates slightly; Thank you MutualOne

December 15, 2022 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

The latest Natick, Mass., business news:

Immersive Gamebox coming to Natick Mall

Not to be confused with Natick Mall’s Level99…or Dave & Buster’s…or Puttshack mini-golf, a new entertainment venue called Immersive Gamebox now plans to bring its group video game venue into the mix, likely in summer of 2023.

Immersive Gamebox is a business branching out across the United States, Europe, and beyond with social video games. Its games include a version of the popular Netflix series Squid Game, the classic Angry Birds, and more.

Immersive Gamebox involves game playing among groups, who cluster in a room geared up with motion tracking, projection mapping, touch screens and surround sound, all while wearing goofy visors (not full-blown virtual reality gear). Physical exertion is minimal, but you do at least move around a bit.

The venue caters both to kids and adults, though some games may be too intense for very young children. School field trips can also be arranged.

An Immersive Gamebox location in Texas charges from $5 for 15 minutes for kids during off-peak hours to $35 for an hour.

Event Recap Landscape (Royalty Free) (1).MOV from Immersive Gamebox on Vimeo.


Also new at the Mall

Showcase, which closely monitors social media and search engine trends to fill its stores with the hottest toys and collectibles, has opened at Natick Mall.

showcase natick mall

More than 100 Showcase stores have popped up across North America, and trending now are advent calendars, plush toys, and Pokémon.

Making its return to the Mall will be jeweler Zales.

Good Feet relocates slightly

The Good Feet Store, which specializes in arches to help with foot pain, recently moved from the main strip of buildings in Sherwood Plaza on Rte. 9 east to the free standing building in the plaza closer to Rte. 9. Big Picture Framing was the previous tenant.

The Natick Planning Board approved signage and roof work during an October meeting (about 2 hours, 35 minutes into Pegasus recording).

the good feet store

Thank you MutualOne!

We’re happy to have MutualOne as a returning sponsor for Natick Report.

MutualOne, Natick

We appreciate community support for our independent journalism venture.

Learn more about advertising on Natick Report.

Filed Under: Business, Entertainment

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