Electric Youth 2025 visit the Franklin TV Studio for a performance & conversation (audio)

FM #1479 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1479 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares our conversation with Raye Lynn Mercer & Electric Youth 2025 in the Franklin TV studios on Tuesday, June 4, 2025.  

Key topics

• Performance of their new acapella number

• Their European tour

After Electric Youth returns from Europe, they are scheduled for a performance at the Farmers Market/Concerts on the Common on August 1. Be sure to stop by and catch their performance.

The recording runs about  24 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Raye Lynn & Electric Youth 2025   Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1479-electric-youth-2025-06-04-25/

--------------

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAPVZx9kqi4

Franklin School for Performing Arts ->  https://www.fspaonline.com/ 

You can also check out Electric Youth's webpage -> https://www.electricyouth.com/  

The "38 Years at 38 Main" audio interview mentioned can be found here

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/09/raye-lynn-mercer-shares-some-stories-of.html 

Performance of "[I've had] The Time of My Life"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAPVZx9kqi4

Community calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar 

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

A conversation with Raye Lynn Mercer & Electric Youth 2025 (video)

Before Electric Youth 2025 left for their European Tour, we had the opportunity for them to visit the Franklin TV Studio for a conversation and recording. We get to share the performance and discussion with you.

My thanks to Raye Lynn Mercer and Electric Youth and to the Franklin TV studio crew for the work recording and preparing the video to share.

Video link ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AH0YtOwSaok

After Electric Youth returns from Europe, they are scheduled for a performance at the Farmers Market/Concerts on the Common on August 1. Be sure to stop by and catch their performance.

You can also check out Electric Youth's webpage -> https://www.electricyouth.com/ 

The "38 Years at 38 Main" audio interview mentioned can be found here

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/09/raye-lynn-mercer-shares-some-stories-of.html

FSPA Senior Voice Recital Aug 3 at THE BLACK BOX

FSPA Senior Voice Recital Aug 3
at THE BLACK BOX

The FSPA School of Music is proud to present a Senior Voice Recital featuring

• Elena Baker (student of Tim Ayres-Kerr)
• Devin Curley (student of Tim Ayres-Kerr, April Ball, and Anissa Perona)
• Devin DeAngelis (student of April Ball and Hallie Wetzell)!

All are welcome to attend August 3rd at 4:00pm at THE BLACK BOX!

Shared from ->   https://www.instagram.com/p/DLuPinyunnG/

The FSPA Open House includes the Little Music School - Weds, May 21 from 10 AM to 7:30 PM

Little Music School - Weds, May 21

Unique to FSPA, Little Music School teaches children as young as 18 months to play the piano, engaging them from the earliest age in the joys of music-making and exploration of the arts! Under the direction of Kim Rezendes, FSPA is pleased to be the only school in the United States to offer this unique program!

FSPA is excited to host an Open House for prospective students and families this Wednesday from 10 AM - 7:30 PM!

FREE LITTLE MUSIC SCHOOL TRIAL CLASSES

• Little Music School (ages 18 months-3) 3:30-4:00
• Little Music School (ages 4 + 5) 5:00-5:30

~Additional trials available on different days!~

Franklin School for the Performing Arts, 38 Main Street, Franklin ● 508-528-8668

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ44D_LRRDO/

FSPA Open House scheduled for Wednesday, May 21

FSPA Open House scheduled
for Wednesday, May 21

We’re so excited to meet new and prospective students and families at our May 21st Open House! 

Stop by 38 Main Street to take a tour, speak with faculty, and even take a trial class!

Shared from ->   https://www.instagram.com/p/DJWwoa0Rw53/

Visit FSPA online at ->   https://www.fspaonline.com/index.php

FSPA’s Drama Department Presents Café Murder on Friday, May 2

Café Murder on Friday, May 2

FSPA’s Drama Department Presents Café Murder (Youth Play) Friday, May 2nd at 7:00 PM at THE BLACK BOX!

Tickets available at FSPAonline.com or by calling the office at 508-528-8668!

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DI_fj-tx_KI/?

2 performances of the Disney Showcase scheduled for Saturday, April 12 at THE BLACK BOX

Disney Showcase scheduled for Sat, Apr 12

 

Join us this Saturday, April 12th at THE BLACK BOX for the annual Disney Showcase! 

 

We’re so excited to cheer on all of FSPA’s performing ensembles and to get a sneak preview of the shows Broadway Light, Broadway Bound, and CenterStage will perform in Walt Disney World this month @disneysprings with @disneyimaginationcampus !  

 

 

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/1AYqTMD5ZE/

Tickets available online -> https://www.purplepass.com/organizer/82234

 

 

FPAC Announces Cast for Mel Brooks’ The Producers

The Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) is excited to announce the cast of Mel Brooks’ The Producers running March 14-23 at THE BLACK BOX in Franklin, MA. The production is directed by FPAC Artistic Director Raye Lynn Mercer, with choreography by Associate Director Broadway’s Clay Rice-Thomson (Moulin Rouge!, KING KONG, Matilda, Newsies), and music direction by Hallie Wetzell. 

The Producers is a Mel Brooks comedy full of adult humor and innuendo. Audience discretion is advised.

(L-R) Nick Paone, Paul Rescigno, Katie Mariko Murray

Leading the cast are FPAC’s Nick Paone as Max Bialystock and NYC’s Paul Rescigno as Leo Bloom. They are joined by NYC’s Katie Mariko Murray (Disney’s Frozen on tour) as Ulla, Anthony Fett (Disney’s Beauty and the Beast on tour) as Roger DeBris, Robert Mintz as Carmen Ghia, and Franklin favorite Timothy Ayres-Kerr as Franz Liebkind.

The ensemble is made up of artists from NYC, the Boston-Providence-Franklin area, and Musical Theater students from Dean College: Andrew Scott Holmes, Casey Harkness Andrade, Melissa Baratta, Elijah Bondar, Marissa J. Browning, Nya Dekrines, Heather Dorler, Shaina Dunn, Charley Eastman, Kim Frigon, Julia Lavoie, Alex LeBlanc, David Livingston, Conor Meehan, Caroline Merten, Anissa Perona, Myranda Rose Silva, Kellie Stamp, Jason Robert Warner, and Isis Wilson.

Joining the ensemble on stage at THE BLACK BOX are FPAC Student Apprentices from the Franklin School for the Performing Arts: Elena Baker, Ani Corkran, Helena Cornwell, Devin Curley, Brodie DeAngelis, Devin DeAngelis, Baree Frigon, Kayla Hoben, Hailey Hulbig, Madeleine Jacomme, Katherine LeBlanc, Matthew Packard, Kate Settle, Angelina Willey, and Michael Wirkus.

The plot of The Producers is simple: a down-on-his-luck Broadway producer and his mild-mannered accountant come up with a scheme to produce the most notorious flop in history, thereby bilking their backers (all "little old ladies") out of millions of dollars. Only one thing goes awry: the show is a smash hit. The antics of Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom as they maneuver their way fecklessly through finding a show, hiring a director, raising the money and finally going to prison for their misdeeds is a lesson in broad comic construction. At the core of the insanely funny adventure is a poignant emotional journey of two very different men who become friends. With a truly hysterical book co-written by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan (Annie) and music and lyrics by Mr. Brooks, The Producers skewers Broadway traditions and takes no prisoners.

FPAC is an Actors’ Equity Small Professional Theater company based at THE BLACK BOX in downtown Franklin. Each season, FPAC produces musicals, plays, ballets, and more featuring Broadway stars, professional actors, local artists, and students of the arts.

Tickets for The Producers are available at FPAConline.com/tickets or by calling the box office at 508-528-3370. Follow Franklin Performing Arts Company and THE BLACK BOX on Facebook and Instagram for updates on programming.

Kimberly Akimbo comes to Boston with FSPA Broadway Faculty Members

This cast features FSPA Broadway Faculty Members Emily Koch  @embkoch as Debra and Jim Hogan @jimhogan220 as Buddy  

"A new musical about growing up and growing old (in no particular order), KIMBERLY AKIMBO is the winner of 5 Tony Awards including BEST MUSICAL. It features Tony Award-winning book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire (Shrek), a Tony Award-winning score by Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home), choreography by Danny Mefford (Dear Evan Hansen) and direction by Tony-nominated director Jessica Stone.

Kimberly is about to turn 16 and recently moved with her family to a new town in suburban New Jersey. In this “howlingly funny heartbreaker of a show” (The New Yorker), Kim is forced to navigate family dysfunction, a rare genetic condition, her first crush … and possible felony charges. Ever the optimist, she is determined to find happiness against all odds and embark on a great adventure."

Shared from ->    https://www.instagram.com/p/DGgoOJvxBAR/

Tickets available ->    https://www.emersoncolonialtheatre.com/events/kimberly-akimbo/

Dean College Announces Partnership with the Award-Winning Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC)

Dean College is excited to announce a synergetic partnership with the Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC), downtown Franklin’s Actors Equity professional theater. This alliance will enrich the educational experience of Dean students studying musical theatre, acting, or dance; provide a professional affiliation for Dean’s Schools of Performing Arts; and support FPAC’s seasonal programming of musicals, plays, and dance performances. 

Dean College Announces Partnership with FPAC

Through this partnership, internship opportunities will also be available for Dean students at FPAC’s THE BLACK BOX and the affiliate Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA).

FSPA was founded by Raye Lynn Mercer in 1985 to serve the region’s performing arts students and has evolved over the past 40 years into the premier performing arts school in the MetroWest area of Boston. 

In 1991, the non-profit FPAC was launched by Mercer to produce shows, bringing together professional performers, emerging artists, and students. FPAC opened THE BLACK BOX in downtown Franklin in 2014 and became an Actors’ Equity Small Professional Theatre in 2021. The company now boasts an impressive network of Broadway performers and New York-based professionals who frequently perform and teach in Franklin. 

As the Broadway in Franklin sponsor, Dean will also be integral in bringing FPAC’s exciting roster of Broadway professionals to Franklin, who will participate as performers, master class instructors, and mentors for young artists.

“We are fortunate and grateful to have FPAC and FSPA located just steps away from our Dean campus and have enjoyed decades of friendship with Raye Lynn and her excellent performing arts organizations,” said Mark D. Boyce, interim president of Dean College. “Our students have often been cast in FPAC productions, and this formal partnership will just expand on the experiential learning we can provide for these talented, young artists.”

The Dean/FPAC partnership will provide the following benefits to students in Dean’s Schools of Performing Arts:

• students will receive credit toward their requirements and gain professional experiences to prepare them for careers in the performing arts
• complimentary and/or discounted tickets to FPAC performances
• a reciprocal relationship for sharing costumes and properties
• opportunities to attend auditions for FPAC’s season of shows
• Dean students who are cast will have the chance to perform with the company while maintaining their academic schedules
• and participation in master classes offered as part of FPAC’s Artist in Residence programs.

“Our mission has always been to provide superlative training, quality entertainment, and outstanding performance opportunities for professionals, students, and emerging artists,” said Mercer. “By partnering with Dean College, the Franklin Performing Arts Company will gain talented and dedicated young performers who will benefit from hands-on experience in the industry. Our company appreciates the support of Dean College, and we’re enthusiastic about this valuable partnership.” 

Dean College is a private, residential New England college grounded in a culture and tradition that all students deserve the opportunity for academic and personal success. A uniquely supportive community for more than 150 years, Dean has woven together extensive student support and engagement with exceptional teaching and innovative campus activities. Our graduates are lifetime learners who thrive in their careers, embrace social responsibility and demonstrate leadership. This is The Dean Difference.

Shared from -> https://www.dean.edu/news-events/story/dean-college-announces-partnership-with-award-winning-performing-arts-organization/

Dean College (@DeanCollege) posted at 2:44 PM on Tue, Feb 25, 2025:
We're excited to partner with the esteemed Franklin Performing Arts Company to continue to enrich the experiences of our performing arts students at Dean. Read on to learn more: https://t.co/esXXYZ2nvX https://t.co/K9Xntv5j6J
(https://x.com/DeanCollege/status/1894473540180529616?t=D04KQ-3g3PHyhwk3nn_zPg&s=03)

Raye Lynn talks about the FSPA 40th Anniversary & the FPAC season underway at THE BLACK BOX (audio)

FM #1308 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1308 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with Raye Lynn Mercer, founder and director of the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) and Artistic/Executive Director of the Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC). We had our discussion in the Franklin TV & Radio Studio on Wednesday, October 23, 2024.

 

Our conversation covers 

• 40th anniversary of Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA)

• Franklin Performing Arts Company’s new season

• Fundraising efforts (The Gala, Culinary Cabaret, Golf Tournament, etc.)

• The role of arts & culture in the Franklin economy

The recording runs about 39 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1308-fspa-40th-the-black-box-season-10-23-24/

--------------

Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) -> https://www.fspaonline.com/ 

Visit Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) online at -> https://fpaconline.com/ 

The audio recording mentions: 38 Years at 38 Main -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/09/raye-lynn-mercer-shares-some-stories-of.html 

Fun pathways with Raye Lynn & Susana Cordon -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/09/talking-about-fun-pathways-at-fspa-with.html

-------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Raye Lynn talks about the FSPA 40th Anniversary & the FPAC season underway at THE BLACK BOX (audio)

"How to Audition Workshop!" at FSPA on Sunday, Oct 6

Free "How to Audition Workshop!" 

 

"Join FSPA Director @rayelynnmercer this Sunday, October 6th for a How to Audition Workshop! #fspa #franklinschoolfortheperformingarts #franklinma #franklinmassachusetts"

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DAlaBd2R9n_/

FSPA schedules Saturday music sessions

FSPA schedules Saturday music sessions

"Hey Franklin and local friends, if your kids are into music and looking to be taught, as well as be inspired, check out the flyers below.

As a season sponsor of FPAC, I am incredibly proud that they are expanding their youth offerings."

Ted Cormier-Leger, Realtor
Suburban Lifestyle Real Estate (Franklin)
617.686.1265

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/C_gMRoeAeic/

Franklin School for the Performing Art's (FSPA) shares a new video touting the school (video)

Check out Franklin School for the Performing Art's (FSPA) new commercial! Created by John Fitzhenry (FSPA Class of 2024, Syracuse University Film Class of 2028)

Franklin School for the Performing Art's (FSPA)

NOW ENROLLING for our 2024-25 40th Anniversary School Year! Make FSPA your performing arts home! ALL students of the arts from 18 months to 18 years and beyond are welcome at 38 Main Street whether it be 1 day a week, or 6! The Franklin School for the Performing Arts provides high quality training in all facets of music, dance, and drama. We invite you to discover YOUR FSPA!

Visit us at 38 Main Street in downtown Franklin, call 508-528-8668, or check out our website FSPAonline.com for more information!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by FSPA (@fspaonline)