| Music
Ed Major Helps Organize Musical at Madison Schools
AC students team up with Gleaner
Madison Arbor and Madison school children to present
“Seussical” updated
11/14/06
ADRIAN, Mich. – Thanks to the
help of an Adrian College student, Madison School District
will offer its first ever musical later this month.
“Suessical the Musical,”
which follows the books of Dr. Seuss, is scheduled Nov.
16-18 in Dawson Auditorium at Adrian College, and features
the talents of Madison students from grades 3-12 alongside
Adrian College students.
Eric Swanson, a music education major
and Adrian College senior, is director and conductor
of the show. Madison does not have a choral teacher,
who would usually organize an event like this. However,
after talking it over with Madison staff members, they
decided that the show would be a wonderful opportunity
for Madison students to express themselves creatively.
The musical is being produced with
help from the Gleaner Madison Arbor, a group of staff
and volunteers who are involved in a variety of school
projects.
This is not Swanson’s first
effort to benefit the arts programs at Madison. Last
year he, worked with Madison’s Kate Hamilton,
Jim Patrick, and Erin Miller to start Eats and Treats,
an arts-related benefit for Madison Schools that Eric
helped to organize again just last month.
“The students are so excited
to put on this production,” Swanson said. “Music
is being brought into their lives and they are getting
really excited about that fact!”
There are 45 third through twelfth
graders involved in the production. In addition, several
Adrian College students are involved, including several
key people from the College’s musical theatre
program and the music education program.
“It’s so interesting to
see how the younger musicians really step up to the
plate when they see a college musician perform and rehearse,”
Swanson said. “I often hear the phrase, ‘Oh,
that’s how I am supposed to do that!’ or
even ‘Wow, this is something that is taken seriously
at a college level. I want to do this when I go to college!’”
“It is also important to acknowledge
that staff, faculty, and parents alike have stepped
forward and asked, ‘How can I help?’ Many
are willing to build sets, paint, play and instrument,
design a program, post posters, help with P.R., and
help back stage.”
Suessical is by Eric Idle, Stephen
Flaherty, and Lynn Ahrens.
Curtain time each night is 8 p.m.
In addition, there is a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets
are $10 for general admission, $5 for students (K-12
and college) and senior citizens.
All proceeds will assist in future
productions at Madison. If you have questions, call
Eric Swanson at 517-265-5161, ext. 4360, or Kate Hamilton
at 517-263-0741, ext. 353.
Who are the other AC people
involved?
Playing in the orchestra pit is junior
Joe McCarthy, senior Kim Ferguson, junior Jim Davidson,
sophomore Ray Knox, sophomore Jessi Nieves, senior Jaqui
Jantzen, freshmen Ben Jones, senior Sara Bartrum, and
playing lead piano and accompanying all rehearsals is
sophomore Tim Mathis.
Tom Pavlovich is a lead named Horton
the Elephant, sophomore Cyndi Ferguson will play the
Cat in the Hat, and junior Rebecca Ditto will play the
Sour Kangaroo. The choreographer is sophomore Makenzie
Fader. Junior Amanda Born is assistant director of the
show.
Set and light design is by Adrian
College alumnus Jason Zorn, who now works full time
at the Croswell Opera House.
Related links:
Another arts benefit that Swanson
was involved in (includes photos):
http://www.adrian.edu/news/mus_broadwayrev06_swanson.php
Photos available upon request.
This year’s Eats and Treats:
http://www.adrian.edu/news/eats_Treats06.php
Last year’s Eats and Treats:
http://www.adrian.edu/news/mus_eats-treats05.php
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