Date: Fri 06-Jun-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: DONNAM

Quick Words:

Post-Barlow-theatre-Sabrina

Full Text:

(feature of Newtown mom/Barlow choral director Sabrina Post, 6/6/97)

Newtown Mom Juggles A Number Of Creative Hats

(with 3 photos)

By June April

When you talk to her you know she's really listening. Eye contact and

responsive expressions affirm meaningful communication. Sabrina Post's

intensity, forthright manner and love of music make her a dynamic and

inspiring music teacher. Her ready smile, and hearty laugh make her good

company.

As choral director at Joel Barlow High School in Redding, this Newtown

resident brings the promise of growth and opportunity to her students.

Though there were no familial musical role models for Sabrina, there was

always an active appreciation for music while growing up.

"I remember when I was very little, my mother used to sing to me at the

piano," smiled the attractive brunette. "It seems I always loved to perform,"

she continued, "so that by my fourth birthday I was proud to be taking piano

lessons." With the unflagging and gentle encouragement of her parents, Sabrina

pursued her piano studies and decided to make music her career.

"In high school I was very, very actively involved," Sabrina laughed. "I was

doing theatre, signing in the choir, accompanying the chorus, dancing, part of

the marching band!"

For a short time she considered dropping her piano studies, but her mother

encouraged her to keep on, and just do what time allowed. Sabrina agreed to

the compromise. That same understanding has been brought to her job.

"I try to develop a sense of pride and dedication," she explained. "I don't

believe in threats or pressuring students." Most recently she directed Willy

Russel's musical/drama Blood Brothers at Joel Barlow. This play is a stretch

for the relatively young cast because of its sophistication and more complex

music.

Always one to seek challenges, Sabrina acknowledged that she wanted to put on

Blood Brothers . As soon as the rights allowed, she jumped, making Barlow the

first high school in Connecticut to perform the provocative musical.

Countless hours and extra rehearsals yielded a production that brought smiles

from participants and audiences alike. What was especially pleasing for

Sabrina was the bonding between the actors, and the evident self-esteem that

comes with meeting a challenge.

Such emotional growth is one of the reasons this educator feels music and the

arts are so necessary for students. One of her hopes is to have more

interdisciplinary classes.

"Through music theory, students can learn mathematical concepts. Music

appreciation classes deal with historical periods." Gathering momentum Sabrina

offered that by doing Les Miserable with a history class, students could learn

not only about the French Revolution, but Miss Saigon and John Lennon's music

would be appropriate channels through which to learn about the Vietnam war at

the same time.

Sabrina's efforts have yielded some concrete results. In addition to her music

classes, next fall she will be teaching a fine arts class with English teacher

Mary Luongo that will offer an overview of the arts.

While appreciative of the support from the regional school board, Sabrina does

hope that one day another full-time theatre teacher position will be funded.

When asked about why taxpayers would want to support such a program, the

educator explained that in addition to all the skills (memorization,

technical, psychological, artistic) theatre encourages, it also serves to

bring the community together.

In a business sense, it is an investment in one's home and community by

maintaining an outstanding educational system.

Sabrina's first teaching job was at Darien Middle School, where she first met

George Vollone when he came to direct a play there.

"We worked together well, and when I found out that he and Andy Knapp were

producing West Side Story at New Canaan Summer Theatre, I said that that was

one of my favorite musicals and I would love to choreograph it." So began a

friendship and working relationship that is alive and well at Barlow.

There was one detour in that relationship. Eleven years ago, Sabrina took a

four-year break. She had two sons, Michael and Christopher.

In 1990 she felt ready to go back to work and took a position at Westport

Middle School, where the first contacts with Joel Barlow High School were

established. Three years later she accepted the position of choral director at

Barlow and moved to Newtown.

While jogging one day, she almost literally ran into Andy Knapp, whom she had

not seen in several years. As luck would have it, they lived around the corner

from one another. The team was re-linked and Barlow Summer Theatre is now the

cooperative effort of Post-Knapp-Vollone, with lots of support from Kathy

Slanski (of Barlow's audio visual department), and many volunteers.

Sabrina has remarried and now has twin sons added to the family tree, not yet

one-year old. Husband Roger played the drums in Blood Brothers . As a musician

- and fellow artist - Sabrina says Roger is appreciative and supportive.

Although school may be getting out shortly, summer will not find Sabrina Post

with idle hands. Barlow Summer Theatre is already at work on a grand

production of Barnum . Sabrina will be right in there with everyone else,

continuing to juggle her many hats.