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Natick’s Caron is Pippin in A Common Thread Theatre Company’s musical this month

August 4, 2023 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

A Common Thread Theatre Company‘s production of the musical “Pippin” this weekend and next will feature Natick’s Tim Caron in the title role.

Pippin follows the son of Charlemagne, who is the leader of the Holy Roman Empire, as he struggles to find meaning in his life.

The play, taking place in Dennison Memorial Hall at Boston Church of Christ in Framingham (214 Concord St.), runs Friday (Aug. 4 & 11) and Saturday (Aug. 5 & 12) at 7:30pm, and Sunday (Aug. 76 & 13) at 3pm. Tickets cost $20-$25.

A Common Thread Theatre Company states its mission as being “a community theatre, founded by local theatre veterans, which seeks to unite the Greater Boston area under a common goal: to foster, promote, and increase the public knowledge and appreciation of the arts and cultural activities through theatre and other artistic endeavors.”

Tim Caron and Juliana Buckler

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Filed Under: Theater


Theater review: No one walks “Into the Woods” alone in Actors Company of Natick production

August 3, 2023 by Ella Stern Leave a Comment

Steven Sondheim’s beloved musical Into the Woods blends and subverts several classic fairy tales. Focusing on the universal theme of wishing for more than one has, the musical follows the stories of the baker and his wife, who wish for a child; Little Red Riding Hood, who wishes to bring bread to her granny; Jack and his mother, who wish for their cow to provide milk; and Cinderella, who wishes to go to the ball; among a plethora of others with their own wants. All the characters must go into the woods to get what they desire, and that’s when things get funky. The characters work against each other to all get their wish—but then realize they’re not feeling so happily-ever-after. Eventually, they must put their selfishness and defensiveness aside and band together to fight a giant, realizing that, despite loss, none of them are alone. 

Actors Company of Natick, Into the Woods

The refrain “no one is alone” inspired Actors Company of Natick (ACON) founder and executive director Patrick Conaway to choose this show. The thematic messaging is what he says sets Into the Woods apart from other musicals. It is also what led ACON to dedicate the show to healthcare workers and their extraordinary efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic.

ACON’s production of Into the Woods ran at Walnut Hill School for the Arts from July 21–31. 

Adventure and romance

Only the third production of this fledgling theater company, founded in 2022, Into the Woods had a lot going for it. One of the show’s challenges was highlighting multiple story lines without confusing the viewer, and ACON pulled this off very well. For instance, the set featured three connected platforms: one for the baker and his wife, one for Jack and his mother, and one for Cinderella. These platforms gave viewers an easy visual for  differentiating the stories. The use of spotlights trained on individual platforms and characters during key moments also kept the narrative thread clear. The show’s choreography helped establish links and differences between characters. For example, in the opening songs of both acts, while the characters sang about their individual reasons for going into the woods, they danced mostly the same steps to establish their shared destination. In addition, the baker’s wife’s dances with the baker and the prince started with similar steps but developed into something different. This tied together the two romances while emphasizing their differences. 

Actors Company of Natick, Into the Woods

Into the Woods is also known for its humor, which was portrayed especially well by some actors. Milky White, Jack’s cow, was a stuffed animal held by actor Alexander Lyons, who represented the cow’s emotions. Lyons’ facial expressions and body movements added touches of humor to even sad and stressful scenes. Similarly, Allyson McCormick, who played Jack’s mother, loudly splashed hilarity here and there with her over-the-top screaming and shrieking. The princes also did a great job of parodying the role of “fairy tale prince.” We wished that Essie Bertain and Becca Mayerson, the talented singers who played the witch and Cinderella’s stepmother, respectively, had hammed it up a little more with their character voices, which sounded way too normal when we wanted them to be kooky and evil. 

Sondheim’s music is known for being technically challenging, but despite a few instances of singers being a bit out of time with each other, the cast and pit band of this production rose to the occasion. We especially loved the high notes of Cinderella, (Emma Robertson), and the sweet tones of Rapunzel, (Natalie Stahl). The pit band had an especially important role in this show, which is held together by musical motifs, many of which are sounded by instruments. We were especially impressed by how well the pit locked in with the singing and actions onstage. Sound effects like knocking at the door were timed perfectly.

If only…

ACON’s Into the Woods left viewers thinking about its messaging. It engaged moral questions, such as deciding whose needs are more pressing and when, if ever, stealing is justified. Viewers were left to ponder the definition of “nice” as characters  encountered the universal experience of wishing for what one doesn’t have, and the impacts of pursuing one’s wishes. The show reminded viewers that children do listen, so adults should be careful what they say and teach. Most of all, Into the Woods challenged something we are taught from a young age: the perfection of a fairy tale and the existence of a happily ever after. 

With all those moral ponderings and challenges to assumptions, we appreciated that ACON delivered a message that is comforting and simple —no one is alone.


More arts coverage

English singer/songwriter Graham Parker at TCAN

Filed Under: Entertainment, Theater



Natick residents performing in Weston Drama Workshop shows this July

July 18, 2023 by Admin Leave a Comment

Nonprofit youth theater outfit Weston Drama Workshop will stage five productions this month at Regis College’s Fine Arts Center, featuring participants entering Grade 5 through age 23.

The younger ensemble will perform two productions: Grease and Gary Grinkle’s Battles With Wrinkles and Other Troubles in Mudgeville. Among the young actors performing in these two productions are Natick’s Eliana Aliprantis, Julia Cusson, Ariana Jahic, Bernie Klau, Aditi Ranade, Diya Shah, Diya
Shankavaram, Annabelle Springer, and Liam Turner.

The program’s older ensemble, ages 14–23, will perform two main stage musicals and one black box play. Audiences will dive into Mean Girls: High School Version, musical comedy/horror show Bat Boy: The Musical,  and Anton Chekhov’s drama The Cherry Orchard. Among the performers starring in these four productions is Natick resident Anya Carroll.

Weston Drama Workshop

 

Weston Drama Workshop

 

Tickets are available at westondramaworkshop.org, and questions can be directed to the box office at 781-768-7070.

The performance schedule is as follows:

Grease: Saturday, July 22 at 10:30am; Monday, July 24 at 7:00pm; Tuesday, July 25 at 7:00pm; Thursday, July 27 at 10:30am; Saturday, July 29 at 10:30am

Gary Grinkle’s Battles With Wrinkles and Other Troubles in Mudgeville: Friday, July 21 at 5:00pm; Sunday, July 23 at 10:30am; Tuesday, July 25 at 10:30am; Wednesday, July 26 at 5:00pm; Friday, July 28 at 5:00pm.

Mean Girls: Friday, July 21 at 8:00pm; Saturday, July 22 at 2:00pm; Sunday, July 23 at 7:00pm; Thursday, July 27 at 8:00pm; Saturday, July 29 at 8:00pm.

Bat Boy: Thursday, July 20 at 8:00pm; Saturday, July 22 at 8:00pm; Sunday, July 23 at 2:00pm; Friday, July 28 at 8:00pm; Saturday, July 29 at 2:00pm.

The Cherry Orchard: Thursday, July 20 at 7:00pm; Saturday, July 22 at 2:30pm; Sunday, July 23 at 7:00pm; Tuesday, July 25 at 8:00pm; Wednesday, July 26 at 9:00pm; Thursday, July 27 at 7:00pm; Friday, July 28 at 7:00pm; Saturday, July 29 at 5:00pm.


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Filed Under: Theater

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Natick teachers make cameos at SpeakEasy Stage’s THE PROM

May 28, 2023 by Admin Leave a Comment

To celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, several cast members from SpeakEasy Stage’s production of THE PROM invited influential teachers in their lives to join them for a show and a moment of tribute on stage during the May 13th matinee performance.

Natick-based teachers Noreen Diamond-Burdett and Danielle Bourdeau were joined by Music Director Paul Katz and cast member Tori Heinlen for a reunion to highlight the impact that teachers have on the lives of creative professionals and artists.

THE PROM continues through June 10 at Roberts Studio Theatre, 527 Tremont St., in Boston. 

Music Director Paul Katz with Jr. HIgh and High School Music Teacher Noreen Diamond-Burdett
l.-r. -- Dance Teacher Danielle Bourdeau, Tori Heinlein and Visual Arts Teacher Hannah Wright

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Filed Under: Education, Theater

Natick Drama Workshop’s ‘Wild, Wild, Wildest West’ coming March 18 & 19

March 10, 2023 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Natick Drama Workshop will present “The Wild, Wild, Wildest West,” a musical spoof of Hollywood westerns that features villains such as Snydley Dastardly, at Natick Middle School on Saturday March 18 (2pm and 6:30pm) and Sunday March 19 (2pm).

Tickets are available for purchase online and cost $7 for kids and seniors, $10 for adults.

 

wild wild wildest west


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