FPAC

Flying Over the Rainbow

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 15:35:58 +0000

Flying Over the Rainbow Anonymous Thu, 01/09/2020 - 10:35

FPAC’s The Wizard of Oz takes off - literally

July 15, 2019

Brian Benson

Story Series

News Feature

Oz is an enchanted land where witches and even monkeys can fly, but ever wonder how they do it?

The cast and crew at ��ϲ�’s Family Performing Arts Center are eager to show off their flying skills in The Wizard of Oz, opening Friday on the Rondileau Campus Center stage.

“There are so many huge story elements that involve characters and things flying,” said Director Andrew Child. “The fact that we can literally do that is super exciting and allows us to tell the story so much more clearly because rather than asking an audience to fully imagine that a witch is in the air, she can actually be soaring over everyone’s heads.”

Thanks to a system of ropes, pulleys and harnesses largely hidden from the audience, several characters will fly above the stage, leaving many theatergoers to remark: “Toto, I've a feeling we're not in ��ϲ� anymore.”

“It adds a little more magic to the show,” said Haley McKenney, who plays Glinda and is flying for the first time in her career. “It might be something people aren’t expecting, especially the little ones.”

Flying is a technical challenge that takes weeks of preparation. Actors were fitted for harnesses and Costume Designer Mary Hurd created outfits to accommodate the harnesses. Actors and crew rehearsed with a representative of Flying by Foy, a company that provided the equipment. They mastered the art of gracefully soaring and moving their bodies in the air and learned to operate the system to ensure everything runs like a well-oiled Tin Man.

During a performance, there’s lots happening backstage. For one scene, the Wicked Witch is hooked up, lifted in the air and steadied, flown quickly across the stage and back, and lowered to the ground.

“Just the process of lifting her up in the air is probably two or three times longer than the actual effect,” said Emmett Buhmann, an assistant professor of theater at BSU and the technical director for the production.

Sometimes, an actor will land or lift off in full view of the audience. That requires creative choreography so other thespians can seamlessly connect or disconnect the actor from the system.

The extra effort is more than worth it to Buhmann: “I think the audience is really going to love that pop.”

The Wizard of Oz will be performed July 19-21 and 25-28. Click here for tickets.

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

The fact that we can literally (fly) is super exciting and allows us to tell the story so much more clearly because rather than asking an audience to fully imagine that a witch is in the air, she can actually be soaring over everyone’s heads.

Director Andrew Child

So Says the Wizard

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 15:35:58 +0000

So Says the Wizard Anonymous Thu, 01/09/2020 - 10:35

Meet one of the cast members of this summer’s FPAC production

July 8, 2019

Heather Harris Michonski

Story Series

News Feature

Those familiar with The Wizard of Oz most likely visualize a man with white hair portraying the titular character.

But in this summer’s production of the much-loved story, produced by the award-winning Family Performing Arts Center at ��ϲ�, actress Neha Groves is playing the “voice behind the curtain.”

Born and raised in India, Groves moved to the United States in 2005 where she attended Louisiana State University to pursue a master’s degree in physical oceanography.

Groves said it’s encouraging to see roles being less gender-specific.

“I don’t think we can afford to, or should limit ourselves to, specific genders or ethnicities playing specific roles,” she said. “Not only could we lose out on tapping into some amazing talent, but I think as part of show business, it’s important and incumbent on us to be at the forefront with progressive and inclusive outlooks on life, relationships and societal dynamics.”

As a child growing up in India, Groves was not encouraged to participate in non-academic activities. Because of this she did not have a creative outlet. This was tough, given she claims to possessing a type-A personality.

After obtaining her master’s from LSU, she started her career as an oceanographer. Despite her successful career, she still felt an urge to do something outside her daily routine.

To break out of her comfort zone, she enrolled in acting classes. To Groves’ surprise she immediately took to acting.

“I was like a fish to water. I loved it. I enjoyed the process of doing it,” she said.

Since then, the theater has become a central part of her life, with Groves appearing in many productions throughout the South Shore. She even met her husband, Dan, during an audition.

“Acting is very near and dear to my heart,” she said.

Groves encourages the community to make their way to campus to witness first-hand her interpretation of the Wizard during one of the scheduled shows (July 19-21 and July 25-28).

“This show is bound to be a crowd pleaser for all ages. With our excellent team, I know that we will put together a dynamite show that will be hard to resist,” she said.

For more information about show times and tickets visit, www.BSUtix.com.

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu

I don’t think we can afford to, or should limit ourselves to, specific genders or ethnicities playing specific roles. Not only could we lose out on tapping into some amazing talent, but I think as part of show business, it’s important and incumbent on us to be at the forefront with progressive and inclusive outlooks on life, relationships and societal dynamics.

Neha Groves

There’s No Place Like Home

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 15:35:58 +0000

There’s No Place Like Home Anonymous Thu, 01/09/2020 - 10:35

��ϲ� alums in cast and crew of ‘Oz’ share their own stories

July 1, 2019

Brian Benson

Story Series

News Feature

Everyone knows Dorothy follows the Yellow Brick Road to reach the Emerald City. But, you may not realize several cast and crew members in Family Performing Arts Center’s upcoming production of The Wizard of Oz took their own Yellow Brick Road through ��ϲ� State. Their destination? Theatrical excellence.

Katia Greene, Angela Harrington, Michael Duarte and Eli Bigelow return to their alma mater in July to bring L. Frank Baum’s fantasy novel to life on the Rondileau Campus Center stage July 19-21 and 25-28.

Click here for tickets and read on to meet the BSU graduates.

Pictured above: Harrington, left, Bigelow, Greene and Duarte.

KATIA GREENE, ’11, WICKED WITCH OF THE WEST

Greene, who studied communications with a focus in theater arts, got more than a great education at ��ϲ�. She also met her husband, Matt Greene, ’01, G’06, who now teaches in the Department of Theatre and works for FPAC and Arts for Youth. Fittingly, they were cast as husband and wife (Major Holmes and Mrs. Claire Holmes in The Secret Garden) before they were dating. Katia has performed for more than 25 years, and is doing her fifth FPAC show as an actress or special effects makeup artist. She is also costumer at Mass Music & Arts Society and director for UnCommon Theatre.

ON HER AFFECTION FOR THEATER: “It was the world that I felt most comfortable in. I loved everything about theater, from putting on a costume and becoming something you wouldn’t be in real life, to making props, to stage managing a show, to calling cues.”

ON PLAYING A VILLAIN: “For me, I take it from a place of comedy. I really want my villains to be funny. … I’m not as truly scary as (kids) think I am.”

ANGELA HARRINGTON, ’18, STAGE MANAGER

The audience may never see Harrington, but her role is as important as the actors gracing the stage. It’s a good thing she has been involved in theater since she was 3 years old and loved the art form ever since. She brings experience stage managing for Brown Box Theatre Project, Boston Center for the Arts and FPAC. In 2017, while studying theater at BSU, Harrington presented at the U.S. Institute for Theatre Technology about her work on a timing system for actors who perform immersive theater.

ON BSU’s IMPACT: “I came to ��ϲ� because I really loved the campus and I liked the department. It wasn’t as competitive. It was more focused on your individual needs. I was able to act and stage manage and do lighting design and study scenic design, which wouldn’t have happened if I went to another college for theater. I came out more well-rounded and well-versed.”

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CREW: “I coordinate all of the technical effects. Every light that turns on, every scenic piece that moves, and all of the tracking the actors are doing is being called by me and operated by crew members backstage. It’s really a giant team working behind the scenes that you don’t get to see to make the production look technically how it does.”

MICHAEL DUARTE, ’78, SET DESIGNER

Duarte studied physics at ��ϲ�, but he still managed to find his way to the campus arts scene. After graduating, he pursued a successful career as a public school teacher and corporate trainer. He’s also a veteran of the theater world as an actor and set designer, including designing for many Dean College productions.

ON BRIDGEWATER’S IMPACT: “I consider BSC as the best years of my life. … I was always interested in theater. If I wasn’t in the science building, I was here at the theater.”

ON THE SET: “It’s not your Judy Garland version. We haven’t changed the story at all. The look is going to be different.” (Wondering what changed? Duarte is tight-lipped, so you’ll have to attend a performance to find out.)

ELI BIGELOW, ’13, MUSIC DIRECTOR

Bigelow comes from a theatrical and musical family, so it’s no surprise he studied theater education at BSU. He is resident music director and accompanist for The Capachione School of Performing Arts, where he also teaches private voice and piano. Additionally, he has served as music director for productions across the South Coast over the past decade.

ON BRIDGEWATER’S IMPACT: “I met my fiancé here. The teachers here – I still work with most of them, which is wonderful. Growing as a student and now as a collaborator has really shaped my education in theater.”

ON THE SHOW’S MUSIC: “They’ll definitely hear the way the show should sound. It evokes a simpler time. There will be a couple surprises, vocally.”

Do you have a BSU story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

I came to ��ϲ� because I really loved the campus and I liked the department. It wasn’t as competitive. It was more focused on your individual needs. I was able to act and stage manage and do lighting design and study scenic design, which wouldn’t have happened if I went to another college for theater. I came out more well-rounded and well-versed.

Angela Harrington, ’18