From the Principal's Desk
The rite of passage into the spring season takes on different forms for different organizations every year. The Red Sox head to spring training in Fort Myers (I still have trouble not saying Winter Haven) as members of the Grapefruit League, the NCAA rolls out the basketball March Madness Tournament, and Massachusetts high school student-athletes swarm the nearest baseball diamonds, lacrosse fields, tennis courts, track facilities and volleyball stadiums with dreams of grandeur (weather notwithstanding) on the third Monday of March.
Over the next couple of months there will be plenty of time to chronicle the thrills of victory and agonies of defeat for every sports team. But, for the moment, I’d like to highlight another spring happening that occurs only three times despite the hundreds of hours of preparation that its participants record to excel in their craft – the CM Spring Musical.
Who better to explain our upcoming show than Dr. Mickey Corso, the Spring Musical Director. In his words:
Oliver! is as rich an audience experience as musical theater comes. Based on the extraordinary story and characters of Charles Dickens’
Oliver Twist
, Lionel Bart’s musical adaptation is filled with compelling moments and memorable songs. Bart captures the irony of Dickens' writing by juxtaposing a mostly dark underlying story with some of the happiest, most singable music written for stage.
CM's production of
Oliver!
makes good use of an incredibly talented cast of students. Like this Fall’s
You Can’t Take It With You
,
Oliver!
is very much an ensemble show. While Fagin (Kyle Peterson ‘20), Dodger (James O’Donovan ‘20), Nancy (Mary Kate McDonald UA ‘20, and Oliver (Brendan Jolley ‘24) are stand out parts, the supporting roles of Mr. Bumble (Kevin Panaro ‘19) and the Widow Corney (Chloe Olwell MAHS ‘19), the Sowerberrys (Guiseppe Presti ‘21 and Erin Melley UA ‘21) and their employees (Paul Fantozzi ‘19 and Talia Esposito MAHS '24), Bet (Catherine Sullivan UA ‘20) and the rest of Fagin’s Gang, Mr. Brownlow (Tim O’Brien ‘19) and his household, and the violent Bill Sykes (Nolan O’Connell ‘21) add a depth that is unique in musical theater.
CM’s
Oliver!
will also feature twelve 7
th
graders who will take the CM stage for the first time as the workhouse chorus. Additionally, there is a cameo quartet by CM teachers Mr. Johnny Steichen, Ms. Laura Connor, Ms. Gloria Riley, and Principal Mr. Tom Beatty. Mr. Pat Murray will play in the orchestra as he has in years past. This is truly a CM show!
The set for
Oliver!
was professionally designed and generously donated by veteran set designer Steve Gilliam of SLG Design & Creative Talent. Br. Phelps, Ms. MacMullin, myself, and the student crew--led by stage manager Tim Chevrette '21--have spent hours building and painting the largest and most interesting set piece that has ever graced the CM stage. It evokes the grime and grit of Victorian London and provides the perfect setting for Fagin and his band of juvenile pickpockets. We have also been blessed with a professional choreographer (Jamie Huggins) and costumer (Ann Faherty)-- both friends of mine.
Dr. Michael Monroe has done an amazing job in his first stint as musical director of the Spring Show. You are guaranteed to be singing the songs from
Oliver!
for hours and even days after you see a performance.
Shows are Thursday, March 28th at 6:30 pm, Friday, March 29th at 6:30 pm, and Saturday, March 30th at 2:00 pm. Do not miss this opportunity to see your friends and teachers in a musical theater classic.
Looking forward to seeing you there,
Principal Thomas Beatty '68
