SAIL ON THIS WEEKEND!

What are your plans this weekend?

Burlington High School will present its final three performances of Titanic this weekend in the Fogelberg Auditorium. The response to last weekends’ shows was overwhelming. We hope you’ll enjoy the pictures here provided by Chet Maguire and Jim Tigges…they are just a smidgeon of what you’ll see as the stories of real-life passengers unfold on stage.

Titanic will be presented today, March 26, and tomorrow, March 27, at 7:30 pm. The final performance is a matinee on Sunday at 2:00 pm.

TITANIC RAISES BAR WITH OPENING TECHNOLOGY

Burlington High School, a school that embraces technology and its role in education, has raised the bar once again with this year’s production of “Titanic, The Musical” by enhancing the performance with an array of multimedia effects.

Producing and Artistic Director John Middleton-Cox is a man known for his creative innovations in high school musical theatre. Calling upon Burlington High School science teacher and videographer Alan McRae to assist him, the two have created an opening video sequence that is unmatched by any other local high school or community theatre group. Integrating 21st century technology with an overture rich in orchestral sounds akin to the great British composers of the early 20th century, Middleton-Cox used MP3 technology with score in hand, translating his image of what each measure and frame should reveal. McRae then created the opening video sequence, a stream of historical images of the Titanic before and after its demise on April 15, 1912. The sequence instantly settles the audience into their seats through the images projected on a 40 foot cyclorama.

In addition to the opening video sequence, McRae created a “curtain warmer,” a pre-show and intermission animation of the Titanic sailing on the open sea drawn from the poster graphics of student designer Samantha Bressi. The audience will also have an historical down-to-the minute time stamp of the events through projections above the stage as the story progresses.

The animations of the sunken Titanic were created using Adobe Premiere Pro, a video editing software program. From stills of the ship McRae used the software to slowly magnify and move the images across the screen to resemble what might be viewed from an undersea video camera, followed by a reverse countdown from present day to the year of its maiden voyage created by a rapid succession of numbers saved as independent images. Finally, the grandeur of the Titanic is displayed in projected stills, resting on the ship’s blueprint as the curtain opens on the production.

“Titanic, The Musical” is a tragic story that promises to dismiss any memory of a single fictitious love story from blockbuster movie fame. It evokes a tidal wave of emotions from excitement and exhilaration to shock and despair. Audiences find themselves entwined in the stories of actual passengers who stepped on board the “ship of dreams” and how, when faced with unbelievable odds and a sinking ship, they had to make some incredible choices.

“Titanic, The Musical” will be presented March 19, 20, 26 and 27 at 7:30 pm and March 28 at 2:00 pm. Reserved seating tickets may be purchased online from Burlington High School’s new online ticket service, http://www.burlingtontickets.org/, or in the music office of the high school between the hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens. For more information, please call 781-A-FUN-TIC. Performances will be held in the handicapped accessible Fogelberg Auditorium of Burlington High School located at 123 Cambridge Street, Burlington, Massachusetts.

TOWN WIDE BAND CONCERT: I'll have the "Band for 400" please!

The instrumental music faculty of Burlington Public Schools is pleased to announce the performance of a Town Wide Band Concert on Thursday, March 11. The concert will begin at 7:00 pm in the gymnasium of the high school.

The performance will feature all Burlington Public Schools student bands from Fox Hill, Pine Glen, Memorial and Francis Wyman elementary schools, Marshall Simonds Middle School and Burlington High School, totaling approximately 400 students.

The young musicians, ranging in age from grades 9 through 18, will be seated with their band on the floor of the gym and will remain there throughout the concert, allowing each group to experience all the performances, with audience members seated in the bleachers. Combined performances will also be heard, including one that will bring together all the students from Burlington in one wonderful finale.

The Burlington High School Music Boosters Association will offer concessions to commemorate this musical event.

The Town Wide Band Concert is open to the public and admission is free. The gym at Burlington High School is handicapped accessible.

ALL WORK, NO PLAY, FINISHES MOST OF THE SET TODAY

The Titanic set is just about finished. Today was a busy day on the stage with the student crew on a mission and that was to get everything done! Here are some shots of those who were there.

TITANIC WORDS FROM OUR DIRECTOR

Please visit the Burlington High School Blog by clicking on the link to the left. Our Director, John Middleton, has left a few words to the public about how special "Titanic, The Musical" is.

Also, make sure to take every opportunity to spread the word about the performances . . . we don't want anyone to miss this great show!

ARE YOU ON BOARD YET FOR "TITANIC, THE MUSICAL?"

Burlington High School is proud to announce that it will set sail with the 1997 Tony award-winning production “Titanic, The Musical” on March 19, 20, 26 and 27 at 7:30 pm, with a final matinee performance on March 28 at 2:00 pm.

“Titanic, The Musical” promises to dismiss any memory of a single fictitious love story from blockbuster movie fame. It will evoke a tidal wave of emotions from excitement and exhilaration as passengers and crew embark on their journey to shock and despair as the drama of the ill-fated voyage unfolds. Audiences will fall in love with the stories of real passengers who stepped on board the “ship of dreams” and how, when faced with unbelievable odds and a sinking ship, they had to make some incredible choices.

A vocally demanding ensemble show, “Titanic, The Musical” showcases the quality of talent at Burlington High School. Members of Titanic’s crew include David Murray as designer and builder Thomas Andrews; Zaven Ovian as Frederick Barrett, the stoker; Shane Ryan as Harold Bride, Radioman; Eric Leva as Captain E. J. Smith; Dan Feldman as J. Bruce Ismay, owner; and Jesse Carnes as Henry Etches, First Class Steward.

Titanic’s passenger list is a study of social society in the early 20th century and a glimpse into the hopes and dreams of a generation of America-bound immigrants. The first class passengers placed on “A” deck represented financial royalty, among them Isidor and Ida Straus played by Adam Tigges and Bridget Hoarty. Second class passengers, placed on “C” “D” and “E” decks, were thrilled to be on board with social aristocracy and include Alice and Edgar Beane played by Samantha Goober and Patrick Hanafin. Third class passengers were simply looking for a better life in America and include the delightful trio of Irish lasses, the “Three Kates”: Kate McGowan played by Katie Campbell; Kate Mullins played by Futaba Shioda; and Kate Murphy played by Jessica Olin.

The creative team for “Titanic, The Musical” has a history of record-breaking productions. Led by Artistic/Co-Music Director and Producer John Middleton-Cox, the team includes Stephanie Diozzi as Assistant Director; Amanda Potts as Co-Music Director/Production Manager, Leanne Reardon as Choreographer, Peter Waldron as Set Designer and Maureen Krebs as Costumer Designer. All graphics for publicity and programs were designed by art student Samantha Bressi with guidance by art teacher George Ratkevich.

Reserved seating tickets for “Titanic, The Musical” may be purchased online at www.BurlingtonTickets.org, in the music office of the high school between the hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm or at the door. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens. For more information, please call 781-A-FUN-TIC. Performances of “Titanic, The Musical” will be held in the Fogelberg Auditorium of the high school, a handicapped-accessible venue.

ENJOY THE IDES OF MARCH!

The Burlington High School Music Department will hold its annual Ides of March Concert on Thursday, March 4, 2010, in the cafeteria of the high school. The concert will begin at 7:30 pm.

A favorite of many because of its relaxed cabaret atmosphere, the Ides of March Concert will feature the talents of the Burlington High School Chorus and Select Chorus under the direction of John Middleton-Cox, and the Burlington High School Concert and Jazz Band, under the baton of Matt Lovell.

The Ides of March Concert is free of charge. Freshmen and sophomore families have been asked to provide refreshments for the concert. The BHS cafeteria is handicapped accessible.