Friday, March 3, 2006
DIRECTOR & CAST OFFER BEHIND-THE-SCENES GLIMPSE OF ‘BIG RIVER’ MUSICAL
By Kimberly B. Caisse
A discussion about Theatre at the Mount’s production of “Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” Wednesday, March 1 became somber when one of the 30 audience members asked: “Was it hard for the African American actors to play their characters?”
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Huck Finn, played by Sam Simahk, and Jim, played by Gary Martin, in Theatre at the Mount’s production of “Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” |
Based on the Mark Twain novel “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” the musical—along with the book—has sparked controversy over the years, partly because of its look at racism in the United States in the 1800s.
Both African American actors present for the discussion, Gary Martin and Michele Edgerton, said they found their involvement in the production beneficial.
“It was daunting at first,” said Martin, who plays the runaway slave Jim. “Once I thought about the character’s arc, it was something I embraced.”
Edgerton, who plays Alice, also a slave, said she made sure she read the novel before she started rehearsals.
She added that she has experienced racism in the South—while living in South Carolina starting in 1969 from age 2 to 11—and in the Northeast. “The ghost (of racism) is more dangerous than the actual thing,” she said. “We’re blessed to have this play.”
Director Rob Houle said he discussed with the cast the controversial use of the “n-word” throughout the play—and the novel. “They all agreed it’s absolutely critical to the play,” he said.
Houle also talked about how the Southern dialog in the play generally translates well on stage, but can work against conveying the play's message. As an example, Houle pointed out that the ways Huck’s father talks and sings make the character comical, even though he’s portrayed as a bad character in the novel.
He also reviewed the relationship between Huck, a poor white boy with a troubled family life, and Jim, a respected slave who wants to escape to rescue his wife and two children from slavery. “Jim has had a role of protector of Huck. As he watches Huck be led astray (by The King and The Duke), he’s concerned,” Houle said.
The Theatre at the Mount and MWCC’s Humanities Division hosted the free discussion and short performances entitled “Behind the Scenes: Big River” in the MWCC auditorium. The lecture was open to students, staff, faculty and the general public.
“Big River” follows the adventures of Huck Finn and Jim as the two board a raft and set sail down the Mississippi River searching for freedom and discovering the value of true friendship. This classic tale of adventure and self-discovery is a heartwarming piece of Americana and the winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Score for its homespun mix of country, jazz and gospel music. “Big River” features performances from Martin as Jim, Sam Simahk as Huck Finn, Andrew Rudick as Tom Sawyer, Peter Landry as The King, Craig Cormier as The Duke and a talented cast of 36 singers and dancers.
The original production of “Big River” opened on Broadway in April 1985 and ran for 1,005 performances.
PANELISTS TELL STUDENTS HOW TO BREAK INTO THE MARKETING FIELD
By Kimberly B. Caisse
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Robin Brown of Four Points by Sheraton speaks to business students during the first Marketing Career Panel. |
About 40 students interested in a career in marketing received important advice from five area professionals on how to break into the field at the college’s first Marketing Career Panel Wednesday, March 1 in the North Café.
“This is the secret of success in business: creating your network,” said Associate Professor and Business Department Chair Michael Greenwood. The panel discussion presented the students with their first opportunity to start their networking process, he added.
“What really created what I do today is what I did when I was your age,” said Robin Brown, manager of events and marketing at Four Points by Sheraton in Leominster. She started in the hotel business as a bus-girl, “but I hounded by boss to teach me how to do payroll,” she explained.
Later, she attended college to prepare for her career.
“Whatever you do as a career,” she said, “do it as a part-time job to make sure you like it.”
Christine Greenwood, who coordinates national trade shows for SimplexGrinnell, advised the students not to take 12 years to get their bachelor’s degree in business, as she did. “If you have the basic skills and your business degree, you’ll have a head start,” she said. “I think this is the best fundamental education to help you pay your bills for the rest of your life.”
She said there are a variety of areas in which people with business degrees can work. Customer service and trade show displays are two of the areas she worked in, with the latter setting her up for her current position at SimplexGrinnell.
Greenwood said she’s responsible for 15 trade shows a year. Prior to the shows, she must make sure the displays are set up correctly.
She works with the SimplexGrinnell’s marketing team, which includes a graphic designer, web designer and writer (who also is the department director). “We’re in the fun part of the business,” she said.
The other panelists were Carrie LaVierge from The Gardner News marketing department; Michael Mattson, marketing manager at Aubuchon Hardware; and Maria Wilson, vice president of community relations at TD Banknorth.
The Business Department and Alpha Beta Gamma, in cooperation with Academic Career Counseling, hosted the panel discussion.
JUDGES SELECT IDOL AT THE MOUNT FINALISTS
A three-judge panel has selected 12 finalists from a field of 52 hopeful contestants, who brought
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Toshimasa Francis Wada, director of the Thayer Symphony Orchestra, Diane Cushing, music professor at Keene State College and director of the Greater Gardner Community Choir, and David Lasky, director of music at St. Cecelia’s Church in Leominster and a former music critic for the Telegram & Gazette, wait to evaluate the next contestant. |
their best vocal performance to MWCC in the first step to becoming Idol at the Mount on Saturday, Feb. 25.
They are: Ethan Caouette, a marketing/event planner at TechTarget, from Westminster; David DeCoff, a retired barber, from East Templeton; Fatima Elmi, a Head Start teacher in Worcester, from Holden; Angela Hwang, a student at Mount Wachusett Community College, from Hardwick; Ira Leighton, a singer, actor and dancer, from Holliston; Karissa Mahoney, a musical theatre major at Keene State College, from Salem, N.H.; Gary Martin, a teacher at New England Center for Children, from Worcester; John McWilliams, a realtor and restaurant manager, from Westminster; Julie Smith, a teacher aide and coach at Mahar Regional High School, from New Salem; Joan Syriopoulos, a finance specialist at Juniper Networks and grandmother of three, from Fitchburg; Eric Wefald, a minister at Church of the Good Shepherd in Westboro, from Boylston; and, Jonathan Wright, a team leader at AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, from Leominster.
Preliminary auditions were judged by Toshimasa Francis Wada, director of the Thayer Symphony Orchestra; Diane Cushing, music professor at Keene State College and director of the Greater Gardner Community Choir; and David Lasky, director of music at St. Cecelia’s Church in Leominster and a former music critic for the Telegram & Gazette.
The Idol at the Mount finals will be held live on stage at MWCC on Friday, April 7 at 8 p.m. Tickets for the event are $15 and go on sale on Monday, March 6 at the Theatre at the Mount box office. To purchase tickets, call (978) 632-2403 or purchase tickets online at http://theatre.mwcc.edu. All proceeds will benefit the United Way of North Central Massachusetts.
MWCC LIBRARY INVITES AREA LIBRARIANS TO STRATEGIC PLANNING MEETINGS
The college Library will host a planning meeting on Tuesday, March 7 at 2:45 p.m. to prepare for a day-long seminar it will host in June 2006. Librarians from local elementary and high schools, community colleges and four-year colleges and universities are invited to participate.
Through a grant from the Central Massachusetts Regional Library system, the day-long seminar in June will give librarians and educators an opportunity to discuss common concerns and strategize on ways libraries can best prepare students to work through the educational system and for entry into the workforce.
The March 7 meeting is designed for interested staff from local libraries (public, elementary, high school and academic), plus teachers and faculty from area schools, colleges and universities, to help shape the agenda and discussion topics for the June seminar.
For more information, please contact Heidi McCann at (978) 630-9255 or hmccann@mwcc.mass.edu.
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About 150 students braved subzero temperatures to attend the annual Mardi Gras Karaoke Night Tuesday, Feb. 28. They took time during the fun to donate additional funds to the Southeast Mississippi Rural Health Initiative that was hard hit six months ago by Hurricane Katrina. The Mardi Gras costume winners are, from left, Sean Marks as a viking (second place), Adam Loseman as Amadeus (first place) and Theresa McEndarfer as a wench (third place). |
Other MWCC News :
• Theatre at the Mount production of “Big River, the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” continues Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, March 5 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $18 for evening shows or $15 for matinees. Tickets may be purchased through the Theatre at the Mount box office at (978) 632-2403 or online at http://theatre.mwcc.edu.
• Through Sunday, March 12, an exhibit of works by painter Kathleen Lovenbury of Royalston will be on display in the East Wing Gallery of the Raymond M. LaFontaine Fine Arts Center at MWCC’s Gardner campus. As a part of the Artist Lecture Series, Lovenbury will discuss her occupation as an art therapist on Tuesday, March 7, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the gallery. For more information, contact Professor John Pacheco at (978) 630-9184.
• The First Connections Mothers Group’s weekly meetings are held Fridays in the Children’s Room at Levi Heywood Memorial Library from 10:30 a.m. to noon. All mothers and their babies are invited. At the gatherings, attendees discuss topics such as feeding, sibling rivalry, temper tantrums, appropriate toys, traveling with children and how to choose a daycare provider. For more information, contact MWCC Professor Nancy Duphily, the meeting facilitator, at nduphily@mwcc.mass.edu or (978) 630-9233. Duphily will be assisted by MWCC nursing students as part of their service-learning project.
• Register now for softball clinics for girls ages seven to 12 offered by the Fitness & Wellness Center. Directed by Galaxy U14 and U12 coaches, the sessions will cover fundamentals of hitting, fielding and pitching in the game of women’s softball. Clinics will be held on Sundays March 5, 12, 19, 26 and April 2. The cost is only $60. Call the Fitness Center at (978) 630-9212 to register.
• The new SAT Reasoning Test will be administered for those in the class of 2006 and beyond. It will contain new content and new types of questions in writing, math and critical reasoning. On the Saturdays of March 11, 18 and 25 from 8 a.m. to noon, MWCC will offer preparatory classes covering math and English for the April 1 SAT exam. The cost of $120 includes the required book. For a registration form or more information, contact MWCC’s Division of Lifelong Learning and Workforce Development at (978) 630-9124 or lll@mwcc.mass.edu.
• Register now for the next four-week session of Preschool Yoga, which begins Monday, March 13 from 1 to 1:30 p.m., at the Fitness & Wellness Center at MWCC. Preschool children, ages 3 to 6, learn the power of movement and breath through music, games and simple yoga positions. Yoga games can help children balance and manage their emotions and to understand the emotions of others. The cost is only $20 with a family membership or $28 for non-members. Space is limited. Call (978) 630-9212 for more information.