NEMPAC Musical Theatre Troupe presents “Oliver! Jr”
Musical Theatre Troupe’s 12th season production of “Oliver! Jr” is coming up this May! The cast of 28 students, ranging from grade 3 to 8, met in late January to begin rehearsals. These budding Broadway stars come from 12 different schools and 7 different neighborhoods across Boston. Rehearsals take place in Charlestown at both the Charlestown Working Theater and St. John’s Episcopal Church. Performances will be at the Charlestown High School auditorium, open to the public on May 17th and 18th. The production is directed and choreographed by NEMPAC’s Educational Programs Director, Allie Carufel.
Jaime Castellanos will act as Music Director, Lidia Pina as Stage Manager, and Michaela Barczak, NEMPAC’s Musical Theatre Program Director, will act as Production Manager. Additionally, NEMPAC provides opportunities for high school teens to gain experience working on a production in the stage crew, as assistant stage managers, or assistant directors. This year, NEMPAC is hosting three teens on this production.
The Musical Theatre Troupe program provides an opportunity for students to learn, create, and perform in a fully staged musical production. They receive training in music/voice, acting, and choreography. With ample principal roles and tons of fun ensembles, students have lots of chances to shine and learn, helping them to progress in future years. The program always provides audition workshops before rehearsals begin and enrichment activities during rehearsals such as memorization stations, character worksheets, theatre games, and more! This year, the cast of students will be joined onstage during one of the big numbers by grade 1 and 2 students from our younger musical theatre and dance classes as part of the new “Junior Troupers” program.
Performance Dates:
Friday, May 17th at 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 18th at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Location:
Charlestown High School Auditorium
240 Medford St. (Use Polk St. Entrance!)
Charlestown, MA 02129
Tickets:
$15 General Admission
$12 Students under 12
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE STARTING APRIL 25
Questions? Email Michaela at theatre@nempacboston.org
Things to Note:
- Doors will open 30 minutes prior to the start of the show.
- Online Ticket Sales end 2 hours prior to the start of the show. At door ticket sales will be available at that time, pending availability
- There is no assigned seating – seats are first come first serve.
- There is no eating or drinking (besides water) in the auditorium. All beverages and food must be consumed in the lobby.
About Oliver! JR: Oliver! JR. is the Broadway Junior version of Lionel Bart’s classic musical based on Charles Dickens’ novel, Oliver Twist. The Tony and Olivier Award-winning show is one of the few musicals to win an Academy Award for Best Picture and is widely hailed as a true theatrical masterpiece by actors and audience members alike.
The streets of Victorian England come to live as Oliver, a malnourished orphan in a workhouse, becomes the neglected apprentice of an undertaker. Oliver escapes to London and finds acceptance amongst a group of petty thieves and pickpockets led by the elderly Fagin. When Oliver is captured for a theft that he did not commit, the benevolent victim, Mr. Brownlow takes him in. Fearing the safety of his hideout, Fagin employs the sinister Bill Sikes and the sympathetic Nancy to kidnap him back, threatening Oliver’s chances of discovering the true love of a family.
Oliver! JR. is full of classic songs like “Consider Yourself”, “Food Glorious Food”, and “Oom-Pah-Pah”. Oliver! JR. is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials also supplied by MTI.
