Date: Fri 16-Jul-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: JEFF

Quick Words:

Tom-Swetts-theatre-workshop

Full Text:

Theater Workshop Is Running At Peak Performance

(with photos)

BY JEFF WHITE

"The workshop is going smoothly, almost too smoothly," says a relieved Tom

Swetts, regarding his surprise that the months of planning for the Summer

Theater Connections workshop at the high school are paying off. This is the

first time such a workshop has been held at the high school, and the 94

students from area schools "seem to be really enjoying it," according to Mr

Swetts, the coordinator.

Young thespians from grades 7 through 12 are participating in the program,

with its main objective being an August performance of the hit musical Oliver!

The State of Connecticut has supplied a two-year grant for the workshop,

making it free for all participating students. Buses have also been supplied

for those coming to the high school from neighboring towns.

The program started on June 28 with students attending fundamental workshops

on the many facets of putting on a large scale production. The cast list was

drawn up this past week, as the workshop moved into the rehearsal stage that

will carry on until the play is set to open August 7.

Among the 94 students participating in the workshop are approximately 70 from

Newtown, and Mr Swetts is confident that the success of the workshop will have

him looking at how to model his school-year theater program after the

workshop.

"The program is going so well, in fact, that it has got us wondering how to

change production during the school year to match this workshop," he says.

Mr Swetts attributes much of the success of Summer Theater Connections to the

youthful leadership of his interns, whose job has been to oversee the

different aspects of producing the play.

"The interns are doing fantastic. We don't tend to rely on kids in leadership

positions, but I think they are why things are going so smoothly."

There are 16 paid staff interns, either high school seniors or students who

have recently graduated.

"Everything is going well," said Rachel Walker, an intern in charge of set

construction. Most of the set has already been constructed, and according to

Ms Walker, the set design crew moved much of the construction to the stage at

the end of this past week, to begin the process of setting up for the

performance.

Newtown High School graduate Katie Mooney is directing the show, spending her

days inside the auditorium explaining to the young actors the importance of

truly feeling their characters. "You must think about your characters, how to

make them yours, how to make them stand out," she tells the group.

What makes Oliver! ideal for such a workshop, says Mr Swetts, is that it has

28 different speaking parts, and three distinct choruses, thus requiring a

larger than normal cast.

This has provided an opportunity for a large number of students to hone their

acting skills. "We wondered what we could do as a summer program that would be

different," says High School Principal Bill Manfredonia. "It's a tremendous

opportunity for the students."

And it could prove to be a learning experience for an even greater number of

students, as the workshop is still looking to fill roles in the Orphan chorus.

Mr Swetts says he hopes to get more students from the Danbury Parks and

Recreation programs for these parts.

Among those cast in the lead roles are Ben Roche as Oliver, Tyler Von Oy as

Artful Dodger, Patti Azzara as Widow Corney, and Katie Fuller as Charlie

Bates.

Students will put in a 55-hour week leading up to opening night, a time that

Mr Swetts refers to as "hell."

But through the magic that is theater, Mr Swetts says, everything will come

together by opening night, August 7.