The Weston Drama Workshop Morning Summer Theater program is designed for students entering grades 6, 7, 8, and 9. The workshop rehearsal hours are 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The hours are extended during tech week (the week leading up to the performances). Daily attendance is required. Students should bring a bag lunch. Rehearsals are at Regis College Fine Arts Center, 235 Wellesley Street, Weston, MA. The cast members will be exposed to various aspects of theater production, i.e., basic stage terms and safety, stage presence, movement, and voice projection.

Seussical
Music by Stephen Flaherty, Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, Book by Lynn Ahrens, and Stephen Flaherty

Seussical is based on the works of the beloved children's author, Theodore Geisel, known to the world as Dr. Seuss. The main story involves Horton the Elephant's efforts to save his friend Jojo and the other inhabitants on Who, even though everyone else in the Jungle of Nool thinks Horton is a fool for believing in people who live on a small speck of dust. Horton is a determined, loyal and faithful friend who fights for what he knows to be true. In the end, Seussical is really about believing in yourself, keeping promises and the rewards of being an independent 'thinker'. This show is full of outstanding music and big song and dance numbers. It has inspiring themes for both children and adults. Many dance styles and musical genres are explored.

Director: Abraham Mills returns for his fourth season at WDW after successful productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Once Upon a Mattress and The Music Man. He previously directed at Cambridge School of Weston, Hamilton-Wenham, and Hudson High Schools. Some of his shows include Into the Woods, School House Rock, It's About Time, Murder in the Cathedral, and Imagine (his own original musical). Abe has also been a Technical Director for the past five years at Weston Middle School & High School. Previously, Abe performed in numerous community theater productions in the Boston area, and student productions at Vassar and Harvard. He is a 7th Grade teacher at the Weston Middle School.

Musical Director: Chris Holownia, a former student member of WDW, is currently teaching foreign languages at Wellesley High School. As an undergraduate at Yale, Chris conducted and performed with the world-famous Whiffenpoofs and held the baton for many other Yale-sponsored musical and operatic productions, including Kurt Weill's Street Scene and A Little Night. Music by Stephen Sondheim. During his tenure at Yale, Chris also conducted the Yale Spizzwinks and directed the music for Bat Boy, The Last Five Years, Floyd Collins, Songs for a New World, and The Pirates of Penzance. Chris' past credits in musical direction with WDW include West Side Story, Children of Eden and Joseph.

For a sample of the music go to: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gN7k0huFjUI

MEMBERSHIP FEE:

$600 for the Morning Workshop production which includes a $75 audition/registration fee. Scholarships are available on a limited basis. For information, please contact Sue Ryan at 781- 893-1896. Payment in full and the registration form are due by MARCH 31, 2008. Registrations are accepted by mail only and are processed in the order they are received. We will confirm your registration via phone or email.

Please note: the Morning Workshop fills quickly. A waiting list is maintained.

REFUND POLICY:

100% minus $75 registration fee for any individual who drops out of the Program prior to June 1st. After June 1st, there will be NO REFUNDS.

AUDITION NOTES:

Where: Weston High School, 444 Wellesley St., Weston

When: Two Days: Saturday, May 17 at 10 a.m., Noon, 2 p.m., & 4 p.m. and Sunday, May 18 at Noon. Callbacks will be only at 2 p.m., Sunday. Pick either day at one of the scheduled times to audition. Please allow 1/2 hour before your audition time to register and 2 hours for the audition itself. Students will audition in a group. Please come knowing that we will ask you to sing, move and act. Everyone will be taught a song from the show, but you may also bring a prepared solo. Please bring sheet music for the accompanist.

Who: Registrants who wish to be considered for a named character must audition. Registrants who do not audition will be placed in the chorus/ensemble.

Attire: Comfortable clothing to move in and dance shoes or sneakers. NO SANDALS.

Callbacks: May 18 at 2:00 p.m. only. You will be notified if you need to return.

MORNING CALENDAR '08 (tentative)

• June 20 9:00 a.m. First Rehearsal at Regis
• July 19 - 26 Seussical Performances
• July 27 Set Strike and Luncheon for Cast, Crew and Staff

The Evening program is open to students entering grade nine up through age 23. Please Note Schedule: Rehearsals are scheduled from 6:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m., Sunday through Thursday. Friday evening rehearsals will be added when needed. Daily attendance is required. Rehearsals are at Regis College Fine Arts Center, 235 Wellesley Street. The Evening Program focuses on character development, scene study, vocal projection, movement and dance while rehearsing for elaborately mounted productions.

Thoroughly Modern Millie
Music by Jeanine Tesori, Lyrics by Dick Scanlan, Book by Richard Morris and Dick Scanlan

As with each workshop production, a goal is to select a show with a multitude of opportunities and new challenges. Millie has many varied roles, requiring all levels of skill and talent. There will be some tap dancing and comic timing. There is a very active and involved chorus and a fun and crazy story. The show is filled with wonderful production numbers and memorable songs. This production will be high energy, fast-paced and upbeat. The big plus to Millie is that there truly is something for everyone. The entire cast will learn the required skills so no one should count themselves out based on prior (or lack of prior) experience. Anyone who gets involved with this production on any level will be glad they did!

Director: Hollis Welch Sullivan. A former student member of Weston Drama Workshop, Holly has been associated with the organization for more than 30 years. During the school year Holly directs a senior citizen chorus at North Hill in Needham. She is also the conductor of a local women's a cappella group, The Notables. Last summer Holly directed Steel Pier for WDW and in 2006 she was the director of WDW's Moss Hart Award winning production of Ragtime. Holly has also directed recent productions of Annie and The King and I for the Weston Friendly Society. She is extremely excited to be directing this summer's production of Thoroughly Modern Millie!

Musical Director: Chris Holownia, (you can read Chris's biography under Seussical).

For a sample of the music go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoroughly_Modern_Millie.

Bat Boy: The Musical
Story and Book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming, Music and Lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe

Based on an actual tabloid story in the Weekly World News, Bat Boy: The Musical is a jaggedly imaginative new musical about a half boy-half bat discovered in a West Virginia cave. One hilarious and shocking scene follows another as Bat Boy is accepted into the family of a local veterinarian, falls in love with his daughter, and eventually flees from the ignorant and wacky characters of Hope Falls. This outrageous comic horror show is punctuated with a pulsating score full of fun and memorable rock, pop, and gospel songs.

Director: Aidan O'Hara returns to WDW for his second season after acting as Assistant Director for last year's stirring production of Dancing At Lughnasa. Previous directing credits include Into The Woods, Fools, Bye Bye Birdie, Honk!, Where The Sidewalk Ends, Once On This Island, I Never Saw Another Butterfly, Barnum, Guys And Dolls, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, and Wonderful Town. Aidan has been a drama teacher and director at Weston Middle School for the past six years. He has also taught theater at Hingham Middle School, Salem High School, and the Chestnut Hill School Creative Arts Program. He currently serves on the Middle School Executive Council for the Massachusetts High School Drama Guild and holds a Masters in Theater Education from Emerson College.

Music Director: David Seaman is joining the Weston Drama Workshop for his fourteenth production, having directed Dancing at Lughnasa with Aidan O'Hara last season. In previous years he was music director for the award-winning Ragtime, director of the riveting Songs for a New World, and music director of the immensely successful Children of Eden. He has also directed West Side Story, Chess, Grease, Into the Woods and A Little Night Music for WDW. David is currently the choral director of the Middle School and High School for the Medford Public Schools.

To hear a sample of Bat Boy go to: http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?ean=90266380022&=y.

MEMBERSHIP FEE:

$375 for either of the Evening Workshop productions; which includes a $75 audition/registration fee. Scholarships are available on a limited basis. For information, contact Sue Ryan at 781-893-1896.

REFUND POLICY:

100% minus $75 registration fee for any individual who drops out of the program prior to June 15. After June 15, there will be NO REFUNDS.

AUDITION NOTES:

Where: Weston High School, 444 Wellesley St., Weston, MA

When: Three Days: Sunday May 18 at 4 p.m., 6 p.m., & 8 p.m.; Tuesday, May 20 at 6 p.m., & 8 p.m. & Thursday, May 22 at 6 p.m. Callbacks are Thursday, May 22 at 8 p.m. only. If it is NOT possible to audition on these dates, contact Sue Ryan (781-893-1896) to set up an alternative audition prior to 5/20. Please allow 1/2 hour before audition time to register and 2 hours for the audition itself.

Who: Registrants who wish to be considered for a named character must audition. Registrants who do not audition will be placed in the chorus/ensemble.

Attire: Comfortable clothing to move in and dance shoes (character, jazz) or sneakers. NO SANDALS.

Callbacks: Thursday, May 22 only at 8 p.m., as necessary. You will be notified if you need to return.

Prepare: A song may be prepared for the musical audition. Please bring sheet music for the accompanist. Monologues will be provided.

Payment: A $75 audition/registration fee is required. Balance is due in full on or before June 15.

EVENING CALENDAR ’08 (tentative)

• June 15 6:30 p.m. First Evening Program Rehearsal at Regis College
• July 17 - 26 THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE and BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL Performances
• July 27 Set Strike and Luncheon for Cast, Crew and Staff
  

The Technical program is designed for students entering grade six up through age 23. The workshop hours are 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Hours are extended during tech and production weeks. Daily attendance is required. The Workshop operates at Regis College, 235 Wellesley St, Weston, MA. The areas of technical production include: basic stage terms, stage safety, tool safety, set design, lighting, painting, audio/sound design, set construction and stage management. The Technical Crew is responsible for the run of all the shows.

This year there will be an additional tech program on selected evenings for high school and college students. Please call Sue Ryan at 781-893-1896 for details.

$450 for the Technical Workshop, which includes a $75 registration fee. PAYMENT IN FULL IS DUE BY 3/31/08. Limited scholarships are available. For info, call Sue Ryan at 781-893-1896.

REFUND POLICY:

100% minus the $75 registration fee for any individual who drops out of the program prior to June 1st. After June 1st there will be NO REFUND.