Mount St. Joseph Academy

END OF YEAR DRAMA NEWS

MSJ drama students will assist their counterparts from Christ the King
school as they move to our theater for three performances of “Willie Wonka
Jr.”  Thanks for Michael Sherwin and Abby Harvey for stage managing, Kelsey
Gordon for make-up, Lylly Yakunovitch for sound design; Matt Sanborn,Olivia
Tisdale and Michael Robertello for lighting, and Courtney Elliott for
general assistance.
Performances will begin with an in-school performance on Wednesday
morning, May 19th at 9:30, and two evening performances at 7:00 on Wednesday
the 19th and Thursday the 20th.

END OF YEAR DRAMA AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

We would like to recognize the eight MSJ seniors who have been
active in drama during their years at MSJ. Most of them have been involved
in eight productions, hosted up to three festivals, and have earned numerous
theater awards.Tyler Sanborn, Tom Garbitelli, Josh Scaralia, Michael
Sherwin, Matt Messier, Courtney Elliott, Ian Patch and Kate Zambon together
have earned seven excellence acting awards, have taken one act plays to two
state and one New England festival, have worked behind the scenes with
summer drama and middle school shows, and will leave a hug gap behind them
as they go off to college. Thanks to them all.

SUMMER DRAMA WITH JESSICA BRIDE

Assistant director Jessica Bride will welcome middle school  students to
a week of theater activities from July 12 to the 17th. Students will meet
from 12 to 4 Monday through Friday and from 11 to 3 on Saturday the 17th,
when they will perform the show they will have rehearsed all week. Jessica
will be ably assisted by experienced MSJ theater students, and will welcome
up to 25 youngsters interested in learning more about all aspects of
theater. Join us in the fun! Sign up at the MSJ office.

MSJ one-act play season wrapped up Tuesday night, March 23rd, with a
final performance of “The Importance of Being Earnest”  at our own theater.
Congratulations to the cast and crew for a successful run of a famous and
complex satire. We are glad to report that at Long Trail’s regional
festival, our show won an award for set design, and three actors received
Excellence in Acting awards: seniors Tom Garbitelli,Tyler Sanborn and
sophomore Mara Scaralia. Congratulations to them and to the entire company.
What’s next? Drama takes a spring break and will resume with summer
drama in July, led by Jessica Bride, and then a big fall production
featuring the award-winning Dorothy Canfield Fisher’s “Understood Betsy” and
one of her little know plays,”Tourists Accommodated.” Stay tuned.

The Express’ Jim Sabataso sat down with local musician and MSJ musical director Mark Harding to chat about Prince, performing and his favorite Beatle.

How many instruments do you play?

Twenty-eight, at differing levels.

Wow. You got Prince beat.

How many does he play?

Like, twenty-seven, I think. If you had to choose, what’s your favorite play?

If I’m playing alone, guitar or piano. I like the fullness they give you.

Who’s been your biggest influence musically?

My father. He was a jazz player. He led me to the fundamental understanding that if you learn chords, you can play anything you want.

What’s your most memorable musical moment?

Hmm. I’ve played 200 gigs a year for the last 25 years, but I’d say it was meeting my wife, Kerry, on stage.

And finally, because you’re a musician I have to ask this: Who’s your favorite Beatle?

[Producer] George Martin. He’s the guy that led them beyond basic pop, and allowed them to become great.

He made Paul learn piano so no George Martin, no “Let it Be.”

Best answer to that question yet.