Or technically it's been a lot of weeks but more specifically it's this past week that has been particularly exciting for all of us here at the Huntington -- following, of course, one of the scariest weeks as Bostonians that most of us have ever lived through. But as we continue to heal from that tragedy, perhaps its a confluence of events that has made our own victories all the more sweet.
On Monday, April 22 we held our Spotlight Spectacular, our annual gala / fundraiser, at the Park Plaza Castle. The event, which honored Our Town director David Cromer along with production sponsorships / all around fantastically supportive people Judi & Douglas Krupp, raised over (cue close-up as I put my pinky to my mouth) ONE MILLION DOLLARS, making it our most successful event of all time. The night also included a sneak preview of our upcoming production of The Jungle Book, along with entertainment from the Tony-nominated stars of Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella on Broadway, Santino Fontana & Laura Osnes. Here they are performing an updated version of Cole Porter's "You're The Top" with additional lyrics by Robert Berliner, in honor of the Krupps.
Oh yeah, that's the other thing. We received a Tony Award. Though technically reserved for Broadway productions, the Tonys recognize a different regional theatre each year in recognition of their contributions to the performing arts. I believe Michael Maso is offering every one a staff exactly 3 opportunities to use "I have a Tony Award!" as a kind of get-out-of-jail-free card*, but we're still waiting on the official numbers. The Tony Awards will be broadcast on Sunday, June 9 in New York City, and those of us who are unable to attend (hey, we still have jobs to do!) still plan on having our own black tie screening in the BU Theatre.
So that was Friday evening. And then this past Monday, April 29, was the 2013 IRNE Awards, which are awarded to theatre productions across the gamut by the Independent Reviewers of New England for shows within the calendar year (so any show produced in 2012, as opposed to Fiscal or school-year-type seasons). While sure, okay, Tony Awards sound like a big fancy deal, what makes the IRNE Awards so exciting is that they recognize the entire Boston theatre community, from Broadway In Boston to the smallest black boxes and community groups, and they give everyone an equal chance to win. We walked away on Monday night with 7 IRNE Awards:
Best New Play - Large Company for Kirsten Greenidge's Luck of the Irish;
Best Ensemble - Large Company for Ma Rainey's Black Bottom;
Best Costume Design - Large Company for Clint Ramos on Ma Rainey's Black Bottom;
Best Supporting Actor (Play) - Large Company for Nael Nacer as Simon Stinson in Our Town;
Best Actor (Play) - Large Company for Jason Bowen as Levee in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom;
Best Director (Play) - Large Company for David Cromer and Our Town; and
Best Play - Large Company for Our Town.
Here's Associate Producer M. Bevin O'Gara along with many of the townsfolk of Grover's Corners accepting the award for Best Play:
Meanwhile, members of our Education team are down in DC for the National Finals of Poetry Out Loud supporting MA State Champion Courtney Stewart, Ryan Landry's "M" had its final performance on Sunday, and rehearsals are now underway for our upcoming production of Gina Gionfriddo's Rapture, Blister, Burn, which starts performances on May 24.
So like I said. It's been a week.
*Totally kidding here. I'm the only one who can use that line and get away with it because I've already changed my nametag to read "Tony Award-winning Web & New Media Manager."
We are thrilled to introduce you to Courtney Stewart, our 2013 Poetry Out Loud Champion. This image, captured by David Marshall at the moment his name was announced as Champion, captures the spirit of the program perfectly.
This past Sunday, 23 students from all across Massachusetts met at the Old South Meeting House in the heart of historic Boston to compete for the title of State Champion. It was one of the toughest competitions we’ve seen in the 8 years of facilitating this program. Every contestant brought such unique power, eloquence, and talent to their recitations, it was difficult to anticipate what the judges would ultimately choose as the winning poet.
A freshman from Springfield Central High School, Courtney performed three poems with such grace and power, he was quickly a favorite among many, as was evident by many conversations overheard during the break regarding which student might win the coveted prize.
Courtney will travel, all expenses paid, to Washington DC at the end of April to compete at the National Competition. I personally cannot wait to support him in this next leg of the journey, and look forward to watching him represent the Huntington, his school, and our state at the competition.
Courtney is only the second male contestant to win the Massachusetts Championship. Vinh Hua from Boston Latin School took home the title in 2006, the first year of POL. Stay tuned for more information on the National Finals, and follow along in Courtney’s journey!
Sabrina Accime (Top 6, left) and Micayla Rivin (2nd Runner Up, right) look on as Courtney Stewart (center) reacts to being named the 2013 Massachusetts Poetry Out Loud Champion. Photo credit: David Marshall.
Other tidbits about Poetry Out Loud 2013
82 Schools registered
20,900 students participated in the program across Massachusetts
71 Students participated at the Semi-Finals
23 Finalists:
Anagha Indic from Advanced Math & Science Academy Charter School
Ben Rutan from Algonquin Regional High School
Raphe Gilliam from Amherst High School
Lily Bunyea from Barnstable High School
Allie Hardy from Burlington High School
Latanya Simpson from Codman Academy Charter Public School
Samantha Salem from Dracut Senior High School
Erin Hebert from Holyoke High School
Devon Flanagan from Groton-Dunstable Regional High school
Michelle Beaulieu from Masconomet Regional High School
Sabrina Accime from Meridian Academy
Micayla Rivin from Needham High School
Kathryn Holaday from Newburyport High School
Ryan Kramer from Norwell High School
Justin von Bosau from Prospect Hill Academy
Stephanie Igharosa from Randolph High School
Christopher Carchedi from Rockland High School
Lydia King from Salem Academy Charter School
Courtney Stewart from Springfield Central High School
Molly Brennan from Sturgis Charter Public School East
This weekend proved to be an incredible experience for our department and for
the three young people who represented Boston at the August Wilson Monologue Competition. The pool of 21 competitors was narrowed down to 15 Finalists,
including our very own Tyrel Joseph and Reeana Johnson. The national title went to Saidah Wade from the Atlanta competition.
Though our contestants
did not place in the top three, it's clear they were treated as winners all
weekend, with top-notch experiences to match.
23 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ADVANCE TO THIS SUNDAY’S FINALS OF SPOKEN WORD COMPETITION
HUNTINGTON THEATRE COMPANY FACILITATES SEVENTH YEAR
OF THE NATIONAL “POETRY OUT LOUD”
(Boston) – Twenty-three students from the 72 semi-finalists that competed last weekend have advanced to Sunday’s State Finals in the national Poetry Out Loud (POL) spoken word competition. Sunday’s winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC to compete in the National Finals May 13-15. The Huntington facilitates the Massachusetts competition with support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
The State Finals, to be held Sunday, March 11, will begin at 9:30am at the Old South Meeting House (301 Washington Street, Boston), site of the historic meeting of colonists that led to the Boston Tea Party and a continued haven of free speech today. The competition is free and open to the public.
Competing students include:
Haley Berube, Doherty Memorial High School (Worcester) Molly Brennan, Sturgis Charter Public School East (Hyannis) Ashly Brun, Malden High School (Malden) Christa Celestin, Revere High School (Revere) Liliana Costa-Smith, Meridian Academy (Brookline) Meredith Derecho, Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School (Sudbury) Rebekah Dowdell, Springfield Central High School (Springfield) Noelani Gabriel, Springfield High School of Science and Technology (Springfield) Micaela Garrison-Desany, Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School (Marlborough) Nicholas Gilfor, Wilbraham and Monson Academy (Wilbraham) Dariana Guerrero, Math, Science & Technology High School at Lawrence High (Lawrence) Stephanie Igharosa, Randolph High School (Randolph) Ezra Marcus, Monument Mountain Regional High School (Great Barrington) Diana Milkey, Sturgis Charter Public School West (Hyannis) Michaela Murray, John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics & Science (Roxbury) Meredith Omer, Acton-Boxborough Regional High School (Acton) Aurelia Paquette, Boston Latin School (Boston) Sarah Pizzano, Stoneham High School (Stoneham) Chelsea Rivera, Global Learning Charter Public School (New Bedford) Danielle Robbins, Algonquin Regional High School (Northborough) Emma Rogalewski, Falmouth Academy (Falmouth) Jessica Seng, Dracut Senior High School (Dracut) Ariana Yates, Worcester Technical High School (Worcester)
Poetry Out Loud (POL) is a national recitation competition that celebrates the power of the spoken word and a mastery of public speaking skills while cultivating self-confidence and an appreciation of students’ literary heritage as they take poetry from the page to the stage. Since its inception seven years ago, Poetry Out Loud has inspired hundreds of thousands of high school students to discover and appreciate both classic and contemporary poetry.
A record 20,000 students from 81 Huntington-supported high schools across the Commonwealth competed in recent months in classroom and school-wide competitions. A complete list can be found at the end of this release.
The Finals will be hosted by playwright, filmmaker, and performing artist Mwalim, who will also perform, along with poet Dr. Daniel Thomas Moran. Massachusetts Representative Alice Peisch, House Chair of Joint Committee on Education, will speak. The Finals will be judged by Huntington Playwriting Fellow Rosanna Yamagiwa Alfaro (Before I Leave You); Michael Curry, attorney and president of the Boston NAACP; teacher and dancer Mayra Hernandez; and poet and professor of dentistry Moran. Huntington Overseer Katherine Jones will serve as Prompter.
“Poetry Out Loud creates an incredibly powerful sense of community in our school,” says Burlington High School English teacher Benjamin Lalley. “For weeks after the competition, I still hear students telling each other, ‘You did a great job. You really knocked that one out.’ From performers to student athletes to ESL students, everyone gets engaged in our school-wide celebration of poetry.”
“The Huntington is proud to lead Massachusetts’ support of Poetry Out Loud,” says Huntington Theatre Company Artistic Director Peter DuBois. “Its growth over the years speaks to its success. Poetry Out Loud provides a forum for the next generation of orators and creative voices to be heard.”
About Poetry Out Loud: poetryoutloud.org
Recitation and performance are major new trends in poetry. There has been a recent resurgence of poetry as an oral art form, as seen in the slam poetry movement and the immense popularity of hip-hop music. Poetry Out Loud builds on that momentum by inviting the dynamic aspects of slam poetry, spoken word, and theatre into the English class. The NEA and the Poetry Foundation have partnered with state arts agencies to support the expansion of Poetry Out Loud, which encourages the nation's youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance. This exciting program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage. The Massachusetts Cultural Council and the Huntington sponsor the Massachusetts contest; the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Poetry Foundation sponsor the competition on the national level.
About the Huntington Theatre Company: huntingtontheatre.org
Since its founding in 1982, the Huntington Theatre Company has developed into Boston’s leading theatre company. Bringing together superb local and national talent, the Huntington produces a mix of groundbreaking new works and classics made current. Led by Artistic Director Peter DuBois and Managing Director Michael Maso, the Huntington creates award-winning productions, runs nationally renowned programs in education and new play development, and serves the local theatre community through its operation of the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA. The Huntington is in residence at Boston University. For more information, visit huntingtontheatre.org.
About the Massachusetts Cultural Council: massculturalcouncil.org
The Massachusetts Cultural Council is a state agency that promotes excellence, access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences, in order to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities. The MCC is committed to building a central place for arts and culture in the everyday lives of communities across the Commonwealth. The Council pursues this mission through a combination of grants, services, and advocacy for cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists.
2012 Participating High Schools:
Acton Boxborough Regional High School
Algonquin Regional High School
Advanced Math and Science Academy Charter School
Amherst Regional High School
Artovotion/Teen Empowerment
Avon Middle High School
Barnstable High School
Berkshire School
Boston Adult Technical Academy
Boston College High School
Boston Latin School
Brookline High School
Burlington High School
Claremont Academy
Codman Academy Public Charter School
Covenant Christian Academy
Dartmouth High School
Dennis Yarmouth Regional High School
Dexter School
Doherty Memorial High School
Dracut Senior High School
East Boston High School
Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers
Everett High School
Fairhaven High School
Falmouth Academy
Fitchburg High School
Framingham High School
Francis W Parker Charter Essential School
Global Learning Charter Public School
Groton-Dunstable Regional High School
Harwich High School
Haverhill High School
Hingham High School
Humanities and Leadership Development High School at Lawrence High School
The John Dewey Academy
John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science
Leominster High School
Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School
Malden High School
Masconomet Regional High School
Math, Science & Technology High School at Lawrence High
Melrose High School
Meridian High School
Minnechaug Regional High School
Monument Mountain Regional High School
Mt. Everett Regional High School
Needham High School
Newburyport High School
Newton North High School
New Mission High School
Old Rochester Regional High School
Peabody Veterans Memorial High School
Pittsfield High School
Presentation of Mary Academy
Prospect Hill Academy Charter School
Provincetown High School
Putnam Vocational Technical High School
Randolph High School
Revere High School
Rockland High School
Salem Academy Charter School
Saugus High School
South Hadley High School
South Shore Charter Public School
Southfield School
Sparhawk School
Springfield Central High School
Springfield High School of Science & Technology
Stoneham High School
Sturgis Charter Public School East
Sturgis Charter Public School West
Swampscott High School
Tyngsborough High School
Waltham High School
West Springfield High School
Westfield High School
Whitman-Hanson Regional High School
Wilbraham and Monson Academy
Wilmington High School
Registration for Massachusetts’ seventh annual Poetry Out Loud is open through December 23. All Massachusetts high schools are invited to participate. To register or learn more about how to bring POL to your school, visit huntingtontheatre.org/pol.
Poetry Out Loud is a national recitation competition that celebrates the power of the spoken word and a mastery of public speaking skills while cultivating self-confidence and an appreciation of students’ literary heritage as they take poetry from the page to the stage. The Huntington Theatre Company supports high schools as they stage classroom and school-wide competitions, and then hosts semi-final and state final competitions for the winners. In 2010-2011, a record 19,000 students from high schools in 78 towns participated. The Massachusetts winner receives an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC next spring to compete in the national finals. The Huntington facilitates the Massachusetts competition with support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
Since its inception seven years ago, Poetry Out Loud has inspired hundreds of thousands of high school students to discover and appreciate both classic and contemporary poetry.
