FRANKLIN — Superintendent Lucas Giguere and Drama Teacher Skylar Grossman are pleased to share information about the Franklin High School Theatre Company's upcoming performances and productions.
Students involved in Franklin High School's Theatre Company (FHSTC) can participate in a variety of theatrical productions and projects throughout the school year. The program meets each day and is offered to students in grades 9-12.
The FHSTC is currently rehearsing for an upcoming double feature on Jan. 18 and 19 in the Franklin High School Auditorium at 7 p.m.
On Thursday, Jan. 18, students will present "Our Town," written by Thornton Wilder. This is a three-act play which presents the fictional American town of Grover’s Corners between 1901 and 1913 through the everyday lives of its citizens.
The play uses metatheatrical devices, utilizing the stage manager (played by student Hannah Brown) as the main character, who directly addresses the audience, brings in guest lecturers, fields questions from the audience and fills in playing some of the roles.
The play is performed with a minimal set and a bare stage - actors pantomime the actions with the physical use of props. Featuring students Virginia Bernstein, Bella Nuckolls, Kiera Riendeau, Shane Davey, Caleb Pazvakavwamba, Reece Lorenzo and the multi-talented Theatre II acting company.
This production is part of an in-class project and will not be a ticketed event. Community members interested in attending the performance may make a donation to the Franklin High School Theatre Company Boosters at the door to support scholarships for graduating seniors.
On Friday, Jan. 19, FHSTC will present "The Rehearsal" directed by senior Colin Joyce. The performance is about a young teacher who tries to pull off a production of Guys and Dolls, but realizes putting a musical together is never easy, especially with a megalomaniac stage manager, a lead who's convinced that Wicked is a much better show, and a girl who is clinically incapable of following directions (she has a doctor's note to prove it). Featuring students Eden Donovan, Hannah Brown, Shane Davery, Daphne Johnson Smith, Sean Sullivan, Jason DiMatteo, Will Heater and an electric acting company.
Tickets for this performance are $10 and will be sold at the door. All proceeds will also go to the FHSTC Boosters scholarship fund.
While many students will continue to chart new pathways in their post high school career, most will continue to pursue degrees in theatre arts. The Boosters scholarship fund was created to help initiate and support these students who have dedicated their time to the theatre program.
The Theatre Company is also rehearsing its one-act play "Flowers for Algernon," as its submission to the Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guild (METG) Drama Festival preliminary competition, which will take place on March 2 at FHS.
The production is about the compelling story of Charlie, an intellectually disabled man, and the strange interweaving of his life with that of Algernon, a mouse. Experimental surgery has been performed on Algernon increasing his intelligence fourfold. The operation is then conducted on Charlie, whose intelligence rapidly increases to that of a genius, far more intelligent than his teacher, Alice Kinnian, or the doctors who created the operating technique.
As Charlie approaches the peak of his brilliance, Algernon shows frightening symptoms of regression. The play becomes a race against time in which Charlie attempts to keep his new intelligence long enough to save himself and thus continue what he and Alice have found. Featuring students Reece Lorenzo, Bella Nuckolls, Colin Joyce, Brandi Dumas and many others!
Drama teacher Skylar Grossman leads the FHSTC in its day-to-day projects and productions. Grossman has been a public school theatre educator for 13 years, having instructed courses and producing shows with middle through college age students. During his five years at FHS, Grossman has directed and produced noteworthy shows such as Mamma Mia, Cinderella, Cave Dream, Lord of the Flies and most recently Legally Blonde.
Follow the Franklin High School Theatre Company on Instagram for information about upcoming events and activities @fhstc.
Franklin High School Theatre Company presents Legally Blonde November 2023. (Photo courtesy Franklin Public Schools)