Weston Drama Workshop Opens Registration for Summer 2017

Weston Drama Workshop, a nonprofit youth summer theater organization operating out of Regis College, has opened up online registration for its 55th summer season. For over half a century, WDW has offered young performers the opportunity to explore the arts in a supportive environment, engaging young artists in the challenge of presenting fully staged, professional-quality productions.

Season 55 will consist of five productions starring local students, from those entering 5th grade up to age 23. This summer’s Morning Show musical for rising 5th graders through rising 9th graders will be School of Rock, the new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, currently on Broadway. Based on the 2003 film starring Jack Black, the show follows Dewey Finn, a failed, wannabe rock star who decides to pose as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school in order to earn some money. Dewey creates his own curriculum, turning his class into a rock band. Directed by Weston Middle School’s resident drama teacher Aidan O’Hara, the ensemble will consist of rising 5th graders through rising 9th graders, while the show’s four principal adult roles will be cast from both Morning Show and Night Show participants (entering 9th grade and above).

The second option for this younger age group is WDW’s Afternoon Theatre Intensive program, presenting its first musical: Freckleface Strawberry, directed by Katie Brobst and based on the New York Times Best Selling book by Julianne Moore. The titular character will do anything to get rid of her freckles, but with the help of her schoolmates and teacher, she learns that everyone’s different– and that’s what makes everyone special. Limited to 20 participants, the program will give young actors focused training on topics ranging from acting theory and ensemble building to guided monologue and scene work. In addition, participants will perform at Regis as well as at other locations in the surrounding community. This program is currently full, and there is a waiting list.

For high school and college-aged participants in the Night Show Program, WDW offers three productions: a straight play and two musicals. This year’s Black Box play will be The Children’s Hour, a serious play written by Lillian Hellman and directed by Rebecca Bradshaw. The play’s central characters, two women who run a school for girls, become the victims of a rumor perpetrated by a malicious youngster. Meanwhile, on the Regis mainstage, WDW Executive Producer Chris Brindley will direct West Side Story, the classic retelling of Romeo and Juliet with music and lyrics by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. Two young, idealistic lovers find themselves caught between warring street gangs in New York City, and their story makes for one of the most memorable musicals of all time.

The third 2017 Night Show production will be Tony Award-winning Billy Elliot, directed by Tyngsborough Middle School drama teacher Skylar Grossman. Billy is the inspirational story of a young boy’s struggle to achieve his dream of being a dancer. Although most of the cast will be comprised of high school and college-aged students, there will be special auditions held to cast the production’s children’s roles and ballet ensemble, open to ages 10-14. These auditions will take place on February 11 and 12, and more information is available online. Auditions for the rest of the season will take place in May.

For further information on our productions, Theatrical Internships, and registration, as well as a season calendar, visit www.westondramaworkshop.org.

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