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As I See It: Sweeney Todd In Rehearsal

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Mar 282013

Sitting in on the rehearsal for Sweeney Todd at Amity High School Wednesday night, I was pleasantly surprised by how wonderful and catchy the songs are.

This is one musical that I was completely unfamiliar with, just as I was clueless about Les Miserables back in 2010. I haven’t seen the entire play yet, just bits and pieces, a song here, a scene there, but I think once it’s all together it’s going to be wonderful.

The Orchestra was in place last night and rehearsal was a bit intense with the cast having to sing certain big numbers for the first time with the live orchestra.
With only 9 days before opening night, it was time to get serious and get it right as soon as possible.

This show has several extraordinary sopranos, including Shaylen Harger, whose parents, Gary and Barbie, of Orange, are both amazing singers. Also Nicole Simon who wowed us with teased hair, and the line “I was in the shower” in last year’s Legally Blonde, really shows off her high octave ability. And Alida Ballou, who played one of Elle’s giddy BFFs in Legally Blonde takes on a more adult role in Sweeney where she can really show off her voice.

Traditionally by this time, all shows would be nearly sold out, but unfortunately, a fabricated story that got blown out of proportion put a dark cloud over this production and there are still plenty of seats remaining in the left and right sections on all five nights.

The entire cast, crew and orchestra have been working hard since November on this production and it is sure to amaze all theater goers as past Amity productions have.

“That story really hurt our ticket sales,” said Director Rob Kennedy.

The show will take place on April 5th, 6th, 11th, 12th, and 13th @ 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.amitytheaterdepartment.com or by calling 203-392-2019. All seats are reserved and cost $17.00

If you haven’t gotten your tickets yet, I encourage you to visit the performing arts website at www.amitytheaterdepartment.com soon, choose your seats and pay for them online before it’s too late and witness another Amity High School musical gem.

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As I See It: Sweeney Todd In Rehearsal

This is what the actors see when they are onstage, don't let them see empty seats.

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Opinion: This Play Is Genius! Get Your Tickets NOW!

Amity High School, Latest News No Responses »

Dec 032012

Amity Senior Peter Charney stars in Whose Life Is It Anyway?

The Amity High School theater department presents the gripping medical drama Whose Life is it Anyway?

Who should decide when or if a patient may end his or her own life? That is the dilemma of the play “Whose Life Is It Anyway?” by Brian Clark, produced by the Amity Creative Theater this Friday and Saturday.

After a horrible car accident, an artist is left paralyzed from the neck down. Confined to a hospital bed with feeding tubes providing nutrients, the artist believes there is nothing left to live for while a well-meaning hospital staff tries to convince their patient not to give up hope. Everything leads to a court hearing held in the artist’s hospital room as a judge must determine who gets to make the final decision for the patient.

The Amity production stars Amity senior Peter Charney as Ken Harrison in a very demanding role which requires him to play a paraplegic. Kens concerned and caring doctor Joan Scott is played by senior Sabrina Brier. Rounding out the cast is April Rock, Miriam Roday, James Ottaviano, Matt Burkhart, Ted McNulty, Alida Ballou, Maya Rose, Bowen Kirwood, Kahari Blue, Rishi Mutalik and Gabrielle Airdo.

I sat in on a rehearsal this week and was moved by Peter Charney’s magnificent portrayal. The character speaks to me as I saw my dear friend Bob Crocco go through many of the same emotions during his battle with ALS.

I’ve known (of) Peter since he was 7 years old and watched him in different performances and I looked forward to seeing him in a perfect role to showcase his acting talent.

At Amity we’ve seen Peter sing, act, juggle and entertain us in many memorable roles. Peter is a senior now and this is one of the last opportunities you’ll have to see him on the Amity Stage. Buy your tickets now.

As is tradition at Amity the play will be presented to all the students grade 8-12 from December 4^th to the 7^th as part of the Spartan Seminar program. Students will discuss the plays legal and moral issues before viewing the play and engage in a question and answer session after each performance with the cast, crew and Amity teacher Jim Clifford who also is an attorney. The play is directed by Amity Theater teacher Rob Kennedy, with costumes by Julie Chevan and Lighting by Dan Hassenmayer.

There will also be two public performances of Whose Life Is It Anyway? on Friday December 7^th and Saturday December 8^th at 8pm. All performances will be held at the John J. Brady Center for the Performing Arts on the campus at Amity High School. Tickets can be purchased online at www.amitytheaterdepartment.com all seats are $10.

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Opinion: This Play Is Genius! Get Your Tickets NOW!

Amity Senior Peter Charney stars in Whose Life Is It Anyway?

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Don’t Be Left Out, Get Your Tickets Now

Amity High School, Latest News No Responses »

Nov 172012

Amity High School theater department will present the Tony Award winning drama “Whose Life Is It Anyway?’ by Brian Clark.

Who should decide when or if a patient may end his or her own life? That is the dilemma of the play “Whose Life Is It Anyway?” After a horrible car accident; an artist is left paralyzed from the neck down. Confined to a hospital bed with feeding tubes providing nutrients; the artist believes there is nothing left to live for while a well-meaning hospital staff tries to convince their patient not to give up hope. Everything leads to a court hearing held in the artist’s hospital room as a judge must determine who gets to make the final decision for the patient.

The performance dates are December 7th and 8th at 8pm at the John J. Brady Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Amity High School. All seats $10.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.amitytheaterdepartment.com

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Travel Notes: Kennedy, Amity Theater Kids say “Beannachd leat” to Scotland

Amity High School No Responses »

Aug 232012

One of the magnificent castles the Amity Theater group saw during the past two weeks in the United Kingdom. (Photo by Rob Kennedy)

On Thursday, Aug. 23, Rob Kennedy, director of the Amity Theater department and chaperone for the two-week trip to the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh Scotland, wrote this final entry in his daily blog from the land of kilts, medieval castles and the Loch Ness Monster.

Kennedy wrote: “Last full day here in Scotland. Up and out tomorrow at 5am. No photos today as the batteries on the camera died. We had an easy morning. A few kids climbed Arthur’s Seat again at 6:30 a.m.”

Since Rob’s camera batteries went dead and there are no new pictures, I will recap their trip with some of his beautiful scenic shots that I did not publish previously.

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Travel Notes: Kennedy, Amity Theater Kids say “Beannachd leat” to Scotland

One of the magnificent castles the Amity Theater group saw during the past two weeks in the United Kingdom. (Photo by Rob Kennedy)

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Travel Notes: Amity Students Explore the Scottish Highlands: Kennedy To Speak At Fringe’s Closing Ceremony

Amity High School No Responses »

Aug 232012

As their adventure of a lifetime winds down, Amity Drama teacher Rob Kennedy, fellow chaperone Julie Chevan, and 15 Amity Performing Arts students are making the most of their last days in Scotland where the students were invited to perform the play “Almost, Maine” at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh.

Kennedy’s latest installment from the trip, posted Wednesday, Aug. 22, goes as follows:

“Exhausted! Why? Left at 8 a.m. for an all-day tour of Stirling Castle (Home to Mary Queen of Scotts and the site of many battles of William “Braveheart” Wallace), met a Highland Coo (that’s the way they pronounce it), climbed the highlands, danced among the heather and shopped till we dropped at a local woolen mill.”

“Afterwards we saw a ton of shows including: “One Man Lord of the Rings,” “Sweeney Todd” and “The Blind,”" he wrote. “Still others took part in a Edinburgh dungeon and ghost tour! Phew!”

Today, August 23, is the closing ceremonies for the Fringe Festival, where Kennedy has been asked to speak. It also is the group’s last opportunity to see some of the best theater in the world.

Orange Live looks forward to welcoming these wonderful kids and their chaperones back to Amity just before the start of the new school year.

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Travel Notes: Amity Students Explore the Scottish Highlands: Kennedy To Speak At Fringe’s Closing Ceremony

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Travel Notes: Amity Students Enjoy Day 10 in Scotland

Amity High School No Responses »

Aug 222012

Amity Students enjoy a day as tourists in Scotland on Aug. 21.

The 15 Amity Creative Theater students and chaperones Rob Kennedy and Julie Chevan had a very busy schedule at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh Scotland, where they were invited to perform the play, “Almost, Maine.”

Tuesday, Aug. 21 was Day 10 of their trip and they spent it acting like regular tourists.

“As our shows are over, today was our first day as tourists. We had a full day to see shows, shop and sightsee in Edinburgh,” Kennedy reported. “We finished the day with an amazing dinner with all 17 of us (and the Adairs) complements of the Flaumenhaft family. Its was easily the best meal of the trip.”

Afterward the entire group attended the “amazing military tattoo,” Kennedy said.

Today, Wednesday, Aug. 22, the Amity group is off for a full day sightseeing tour of Stirling Castle and the Highlands.

Oh, the stories they will have when they return to school!

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Travel Notes: Amity Students Enjoy Day 10 in Scotland

Amity Students enjoy a day as tourists in Scotland on Aug. 21.

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Travel Notes: Amity Students Enjoy Day 10 in Scotland

Amity Students enjoy a day as tourists in Scotland on Aug. 21.

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Travel Notes: Day 6, First Performance At Fringe Festival, Mr. and Mrs. Tambis Come To Visit

Amity High School No Responses »

Aug 182012

Amity Students in Scotland

More than a dozen students from the Amity Creative Theater (ATC) Department are in Europe where they were invited to perform the play “Almost Maine” at the Fringe Festival in Edinberg, Scotland. Director Rob Kennedy is one of their Chaperones and has been reporting back to us every day.

On Friday, Day 6, Kennedy wrote, “‘Almost Maine’ opened today and the students were excellent! Great performances both onstage and off!”

“We also toured Edinburgh Castle this morning, saw an “interesting” production of Alice in Wonderland by another AHSTF school and a few of us saw a great Canadian comedian,” he said. “Best surprise of the day was that two of our ACT parents (The Tambis’s) showed up unbeknownst to their daughter!”

The group looks forward to another full day, show two today.

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Travel Notes: Day 6, First Performance At Fringe Festival, Mr. and Mrs. Tambis Come To Visit

Amity Students in Scotland

Here are some of Kennedy’s photos from Day 6.

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Travel Notes: Day Three Amity Kids Off To Scotland

Amity High School No Responses »

Aug 152012

As we first reported on Saturday, a group of Amity Theater kids are in Europe, enroute to Scotland where they were invited to perform the play “Almost Maine” at the Fringe Festival. The students are accompanied by chaperones, Director Rob Kennedy and Costume Designer Julie Chevan.

Kennedy reported Tuesday night, “Day three not as exciting as the previous days. Up at 5 a.m. and spent 9 hours on a bus up the Lake District of England into Scotland. Had a quick tour of the City of Edinburgh with Andie the world greatest tour guide. We checked into our accommodations for the rest of our trip. Kids had a nice dinner and as of 15 minutes ago were all hanging out in the courtyard between the boys and girls dorms playing cards and having fun.”

Today they will hike up Arthurs Seat and have their all important technical rehearsal of “Almost, Maine.”

Like our hometown kids on “Almost Maine Fringe 2012″ on Facebook.

Here are Kennedy’s photos from Tuesday in England.

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Travel Notes: Day Three Amity Kids Off To Scotland

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Kennedys Put Amity Performing Arts On The Map

Amity High School 6 Responses »

Jun 142012

Ryan Shea and Sophia Gall

It’s no secret that Supt. John J. Brady is a great supporter of the performing arts. When he first came to Amity it was the one thing on which he most wanted to dedicate his attention.

He hired Robert Kennedy and his wife Andrea to run the theater department at Amity and the rest, as they say, is history.

The Kennedys have put the Amity Performing Arts on the map. Early on, their productions were popular, but as word spread about how wonderful the shows were, more and more people regretted missing them and vowed to purchase tickets early the following year.

Chicago in 2011 was sold out by the time the first show debuted. This year’s Legally Blonde sold out almost a month before the first curtain went up and procrastinators were placed on a waiting list.

Since they began working at Amity, the Kennedy’s productions and all the talent behind them, brought the school to the CT High School Musical Theater Awards (CTHSMTA) three times.

Two lead actors, John Jorge — Les Miserables in 2010 and this year’s Alli Kramer — Legally Blonde won the top award at the CTHSMTA, as BEST in the STATE.

John performed on a Broadway stage in the National Competition and was one of the finalists there. I’m sure Alli will make it to the top too. She goes to New York City to start rehearsing and training with the best of the best in directors, choreographers, vocal coaches and so much more in a whirlwind week leading up to the National Award Show.

Each year, the Amity Performing Arts has an awards banquet for its members (and parents). Four years ago it took place in the Amity Cafeteria with about 30 guests, this year it was held at Racebrook Country Club with 150 guests.

Among the award recipients were two seniors that everyone believed should have won at the States — Sophia Gall – “Paulette” the hairdresser with a heart of gold, and Ryan “I’ve got a package” Shea – “Kyle” the UPS delivery guy.

Every year the question is, “With all these amazing seniors leaving — Alli Kramer, Carson Adair, Marques Christopher Iwanicki, Sophia and Ryan, Kusal Yapa, Rachel Skalka, Miles Radin and so many others — Who will star in next year’s show?

Fear not, Amity, we’ve seen them on stage in past productions — Peter Charney, Nicole “I was in the shower” Simon, Allida “OMG” Ballou, Maya Rose, David Linet and Maddy Eldridge to name a few — who will still be around next year. and with the Kennedys at the helm, everything will be fine!

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