Burlington's 50 Years of Musicals!

 

Burlington's 50 Years of Musicals!

 

(article written by Vanessa Ovian, Publicity Coordinator for "Hairspray")

 

Burlington High School is proud to announce that it is celebrating 50 years of musicals with the performance of the Tony Award-winning musical “Hairspray,” which will take place March 15, 16, 22, 23 and 24 in the Fogelberg Performing Arts Center.

The story of an effervescent plump teen who takes on social issues in early 1960’s-era Baltimore, “Hairspray” moves to the beat of a score filled with be-bopping songs by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. It’s oddly coincidental that this musical was chosen for this year’s production--imagine a musical that takes place in the very same era as the students who participated in Burlington’s very first musical!

And who would have guessed back in 1963 with the performance of Rogers and Hammerstein’s classic, “Oklahoma,” that it was the beginning of a half-century love affair between the town and its talented high school students.

When the curtains rose on the opening night of “Oklahoma,” Burlington High School was located in what now houses the Marshall Simonds Middle School. The school auditorium was considerably smaller than the current performance space in the 800-seat Fogelberg Performing Arts Center.

Ten years later in the spring of 1973, the high school moved to a new facility on Cambridge Street where it remains to this day. Fogelberg Auditorium (recently renamed Fogelberg Performing Arts Center) became home to the next forty years of pure enjoyment for not only cast and crew members but tens of thousands of family and friends.

The first years in the new theatre were challenging compared to today’s standards. There was almost no stage lighting, no carpeting for acoustical purposes and no sound amplification. The space, however, was a director’s dream as it was equipped with deep wings, a green room, fly space, and enough seats for the entire student body.

As time and musicals marched on so, too, did technology. Today’s performances are enhanced by wireless microphones, two-way radios for stage management, multi-dimensional lighting and special effects projections. What was once publicized by hand-drawn posters and photos in the local papers, is now also handled by a Burlington Theatre website, social media, local cable television, electronic news delivery and bulletin boards, and broadcast emails. Burlington casts now hover in the 90-100 student range and with the creation of the high school Stage Crew, over 25 students man lights, sound, props and sets, and professionals design and construct everything from sets to costumes to lighting.

Through the magic of theatre Burlington audiences have been transported to locales far and near. They have travelled to a rival ballpark in New York where they’ve chanted about those “Damn Yankees,” to Austria where they heard that the hills were alive with “The Sound of Music,” and to Rome where they found out that “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum!” They have delightfully been seated atop a mattress, skipped along a yellow brick road and witnessed tragedy and redemption during a student uprising in 19^th century Paris.

In celebration of the golden anniversary of BHS musicals, a Facebook group for its alumni was created. The group took off like wildfire. Now nearing the 300 member mark, former students post memories, photos, programs and pictures. The enthusiasm is contagious as former cast and crew members reminisce about their days on stage.

As a result of this outpouring of memories, “Hairspray’s” producing-director John Middleton-Cox realized that a very special reunion would honor the occasion and the “50 Years of BHS Musicals Reunion and Reception” was conceived. Following the Friday, March 22 performance of “Hairspray,” former cast and crew members will gather with a number of their directors at the high school to reminisce and celebrate the influence that fifty years of Burlington High School musicals have had on their lives. Among those in attendance will be former directors Bob Tyler, Mike Barczak, Nancy Ferretti and Sue LaVoie.

The success of the past fifty years has also recently piqued the interest of a new, younger generation of musical theatre actors. To fill a void where no program existed, Middleton-Cox and the Burlington Public Schools developed the Burlington Educational Summer Theatre (BEST). A thriving summer musical theatre program entering its fourth year, BEST operates on two levels, offering younger students a chance to explore the performing arts and older students the opportunity to participate in a complete musical production culminating in performances in the Fogelberg Performing Arts Center.

These 50 years of musicals at Burlington High School have been a testament to the dedication and passion that have been shared by generations of all who have stepped onto the BHS stage. The greatest validation of the program is that the alumni truly cherish the life-long and sometimes life-changing memories of their years at Burlington High School.

“Hairspray,” a family-friendly production, will be performed on March 15, 16, 22 and 23 at 7:30 pm and March 24 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $10 for students/senior citizens and $15 for adults and can be purchased online at www.BurlingtonTheatre.com or by phone at 781-A-FUN-TIC. The Fogelberg Performing Arts Center is a handicapped accessible venue.