Giving Regards to Broadway

By Annette Hinkle

Lovers of all things musical will be happy to know that the Great White Way is coming to Bay Street Theatre this Friday in the form of “Broadway in Concert,” a musical revue featuring vocal selections from favorite Broadway hits.

The performance is a fundraiser for this year’s Pierson High School spring musical, “Chicago,” a show that director Paula Brannon has been trying to bring to the school for five years. Taking the Bay Street stage Friday to sing selections from several musicals will be 13 area vocalists — both students and adults. In addition to Pierson students Elizabeth Oldak, Holly Goldstein, Brianna Kinnier and Emily Hinz, who were chosen based on their ability to work independently on the material over the summer, the line up includes Pierson teachers Austin Remson and Suzanne Nicoletti, alumni from the school and other adults involved in musical theater. Fans of Pierson musicals will recognize numbers from previous shows including “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Chorus Line” and “The King and I.” Also expect selections from “Oklahoma,” “South Pacific” and “Rent.”

“It’s fun to hear the songs and not sit through the whole play. You get to hear 25 musicals,” says Brannon.

But one musical the students won’t be singing is “Chicago.” Brannon is giving those numbers to the adult singers on Friday to avoid any conflicts between the students who might be vying for roles in that production in coming months.

“Our 13th performer is a seven year old, Ava Bianchi, the daughter of teacher Jen Bianchi,” says Brannon. “She was the littlest one in ‘The King and I’ and she has a phenomenal voice. She’s our example of nurturing theatre, encouraging things to grow.”

With this revue, Brannon is also looking for Pierson’s musical theater department to grow …. or at least become more independent. Beyond the difficulty of obtaining rights, musicals, she explains, tend to cost more than straight plays. There are stipends to pay and positions to be created such as pit conductors, vocal coaches and choreographers. Sets, too, are often elaborate and numerous in musicals, and costumes, well, that goes without saying.

Though Brannon aims to keep both the high school and middle school musicals within a set budget each year, these are tough times for school districts and their extra curricular activities. Last year’s high school musical budget was $6,000, down $1,000 from the previous year.

Unlike other extra curricular activities, however, the school’s theatrical productions are a revenue generator. Traditionally, the school budget has paid for production of the musicals while money from ticket sales has been used to provide scholarships to graduating seniors, whether those students pursued theater once they left Pierson or not.

“I don’t believe it was ever more than $2,000 worth of scholarships and it was divided among eight last year, so they got $250 dollars each,” explains Brannon. “No single student has ever gotten more than $500.”

But because theater is one area that can actually make money, last year Brannon began talking with school superintendent Dr. John Gratto about making the musical theater department completely self-sufficient.

“Regardless of our budget, we know it will be less than last year,” concedes Brannon. “But we’ll move forward to be completely self sufficient.”

That’s what the Broadway revue is all about. Brannon explains it is also a gift of sorts, not only to parents, school staff and administrators who have supported Pierson productions over the years, but taxpayers and other community members who have turned out to see the plays even if they don’t have children in the school system.

“This is obviously to raise funds. But it’s also a thank you to those who support us. Instead of just asking for more money, we’ll give you a performance,” says Brannon. “It’s designed to take you back in your memories and get you ready to support the live theater, whether it’s our own or any other. I’d love for everyone to go to every community production. It all goes to the same cause, and it’s so important now in a technical age to support the live venues. There’s nothing like it.”

Brannon notes that self-sustaining theater departments are a growing trend at many schools. Beyond saving the district money, she feels that if students are involved in raising the funds needed to produce musicals, they will be more invested in caring for the props, sets and costumes that money is used to purchase.

“We want to teach kids that you can redesign and reuse on the stage,” she says. “It’s fun to see this red dress being worn in the next production. The doorway in one set now becomes the doorway for something else. It’s good for them to see that happen and it makes you more creative.”

“Broadway in Concert” is at 8 p.m. Friday, October 8, 2010 at Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor. Suggested donations are $20 for adults, $10 for students and senior citizens. Tickets will be sold at the door. For more information call Paula Brannon at 899-3111.

Top: Pierson students Elizabeth Oldak, Brianna Kinnier, Holly Goldstein and Emily Hinz rehearse at the piano with teacher Suzanne Nicoletti. (Michael Heller Photo).