Consider yourself an American history enthusiast? Think you know all there is to know about the patriotic exploits of George Washington, Ben Franklin, Paul Revere, Sam Adams, Benedict Arnold, and Martha Dandridge (Washington)?

Then you should get to know Liberty Smith.

More than four dozen youthful but talented cast members starring in this comedic, historical musical being staged this summer by NewArts, a division of the 12.14 Foundation, met for an initial read-through Monday, June 29 in the cafetorium at Newtown High School. A similar exercise happened with the 120-plus actors of NewArts production of Disney’s The Lion King, Jr later in the week.

NewArts is also staging a July 24 dance showcase and a July 11 community spelling bee, which will be staged and hosted by The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee creators Rebecca Feldman and Jay Reiss, who worked with NewArts Director Michael Unger on the original production of the play that earned six 2005 Tony Award nominations.

Taking a short break from music run-throughs this week, Mr Unger explained how the 12.14 Foundation has diversified into two distinct but overlapping missions focusing on the arts and youth leadership development — both with an eventual goal of establishing a permanent performing arts center in Newtown.

“The 12.14 Foundation is now the umbrella under which NewArts has established as its arts division, which is presenting our two summer musicals, our July 24 dance concert, and our own exciting spelling bee with the creators of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” Mr Unger said.

“The leadership training, or ARC, is being developed as another branch of the foundation,” he continued. “So between the ARC training and the NewArts productions we can combine the joyous collaboration on stage with leadership tools our participants can use in their daily lives.”

According to Mr Unger, the ARC leadership initiative is tapping the talents of a former dean of the Yale University School of Management and other executives who will conduct four workshops during the course of rehearsals for the two musicals.

While Mr Unger was initially unfamiliar with the processes and exercises employed in advanced leadership training, he was pleasantly surprised to learn they were similar in many cases to the types of warm-ups and exercises he has used in the theater for years.

“It’s interesting to see how synergistic both programs are,” Mr Unger said. “We certainly see proof of how and what we do building confidence. So to experience it in a high level executive environment will extend beyond their summer, adding tools to their toolbox to enhance their critical thinking, collaborative skills, and so much more.”

Building Toward Recovery

Looking back at the previous two summers of 12.14 Foundation musicals, Mr Unger sees the natural progression mirroring the community as it continues to recover from the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

“Our first year, Seussical, focused on community. And last year, both A Rockin’ Midsummer Night’s Dream and 101 Dalmatians: The Musical focused on family and how love wins,” Mr Unger said.

“This year, Liberty Smith and Lion King, Jr teach how we can exert influence to make a difference in our world,” he said. “Liberty Smith is a gloriously witty history lesson embedded in a musical comedy where we learn how the lead is responsible for nearly every major aspect of the American Revolution, but was completely forgotten.”

But Mr Unger said that that’s ok with the musical’s lead character because he knows he is making the right choices, it was the right thing to do, and he did not set out to accomplish any of it just for recognition.

“Lion King, Jr is a similarly beautiful story about doing the right thing, and keeping your family as your number one priority,” Mr Unger said. “We know from the story that for the first half of the show, the lead doesn’t do that — he doesn’t follow his heart when he should. But he’s got his friend Nala there to help guide him back.”

Mr Unger said while these two musicals seem like a natural and coincidental fit for both Newtown audiences and the community at large, he literally considered hundreds of titles for this summer’s program before settling on these productions.

“I’m very proud of the stories we’re going to be able to tell, and how we tell them,” Mr Unger said. “And we want to give local and regional theatergoers an option between driving to New York, paying to park and for dinner and dropping several hundred dollars, and driving over to Newtown High School to see two productions that truly offer a viable, professional option for around $25.”

Making It Sustainable

The foundation is encouraging and needs tax-deductible contributions, ad sales for the program, corporate sponsorship, etc, with all proceeds from tuition, donations, ticket, and ad sales supporting the work of The 12.14 Foundation.

Supporters can also plan to attend the July 24 Dance Concert or perhaps sponsor a participant in the group’s “1st Annual NewArts Spelling Bee.”

First Selectman Pat Llodra is the first high-profile town resident to step up and participate, and Mr Unger said. Supporters can go to the Foundation’s website to “sponsor a speller.”

“What you are actually doing is sponsoring more opportunities for each speller to cheat — in a fun way,” he said. “It allows them to buy hints, clues, to phone a friend, even use the dictionary.

“And every $50 sponsor gets a free ticket to the spelling bee,” he added.

Ultimately, however, Mr Unger says it’s all about building excitement and putting patrons into seats for every production.

“I’d love for people who will drive to New York to see theater to consider this an option,” Mr Unger said. “Newtown’s kids deserve it, the community deserves it, and the foundation deserves it.”

Liberty Smith will be staged July 31 at 7 pm; August 1 at 2 and 7 pm; and August 2 at 2 pm.

Disney’s The Lion King, Jr will be presented Thursday, August 6, and Friday, August 7, at 7 pm, August 8 at 2 and 7 pm, and August 9 at noon and 5 pm.

For details on productions, sponsorships, tickets and fundraisers, visit www.1214foundation.org.

This story was updated July 4 removing outdated references to required tuitions. There is no mandatory charge for participation in the NewArts summer musicals.