Showing posts with label FSPA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FSPA. Show all posts

Friday, November 8, 2024

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

Thursday, September 5, 2024

FSPA schedules Saturday music sessions

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




Tuesday, August 27, 2024

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)

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!



Friday, August 16, 2024

Open houses scheduled at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts

Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) is excited to host a series of Open Houses for prospective students and families!
Invite a friend to stop by 38 Main Street to tour the facilities, speak with faculty, and explore all of the options FSPA has to offer!
  • Tuesday, August 20
  • Monday, August 26
    • 10:00am-6:00pm

  • Saturday, September 7
    • 10:00am-2:00pm
Open houses scheduled at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts
Open houses scheduled at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts

Thursday, June 20, 2024

BalletFranklin Announces New Director - Russell Clarke

BalletFranklin, the ballet conservatory at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA), is thrilled to announce Russell Clarke as their new Director. 

Clarke was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland. He received his ballet training at the Royal Ballet School in London. During his time at the Royal Ballet School he performed with the Royal Ballet Company in productions that included The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. Clarke joined Ballet Arizona in 2007 and performed principal roles in Don Quixote, Christopher Wheeldon’s Polyphonia, Twyla Tharp’s The Golden Section, George Balanchine’s Movements for Piano and Orchestra, La Valse, La Sonnambula, The Four Temperaments, and Ib Andersen’s Play, 1052, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Mosaik, Symphonie Classique, and The Nutcracker. 
Russell Clarke
Russell Clarke


Clarke received critical acclaim for the role of the Poet in George Balanchine’s La Sonnambula and was praised by the New York Times for the role of Phlegmatic in Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments. Clarke originated a principal role in Andersen’s Diversions, which was seen on the Kennedy Center Stage in June 2010. In Clarke’s final season with Ballet Arizona he originated the principal role in Ib Andersen’s world premiere of Cinderella, which received critical acclaim. After retiring from Ballet Arizona, Clarke went on to direct the Community Dance Academy at Walnut Hill School for the Arts for four years. He is currently an Associate Professor at The Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Professor of Dance at Dean College. Clarke began teaching at FSPA in 2023. 

Current BalletFranklin Director Cheryl Madeux will assume the role of Artistic Advisor for the ballet conservatory program. Madeux received her training at the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts. She has enjoyed a long professional career, dancing with such venerable companies as the Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and principal dancer with the Hartford Ballet under the direction of Kirk Peterson. Madeux performed extensively throughout the United States and Europe and has been coached by such ballet luminaries as Igor Youskevitch and Eleanor D’Antuono. 

BalletFranklin is proud to incorporate American Ballet Theatre’s National Training Curriculum, a high-quality level-based program with age-appropriate technique backed by a comprehensive approach to child development and dancer health. Introduced in 2010 by Cheryl Madeux, who is currently an ABT examiner, the ballet conservatory at FSPA promotes a positive atmosphere of learning while challenging and preparing each student for their goals in the arts.

For more information, prospective students and families are encouraged to visit balletfranklin.com, call 508-528-8668, or stop by the studios at FSPA. BalletFranklin is located at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts at 38 Main Street, Franklin MA.  Follow BalletFranklin on Instagram (@balletfranklin) and Facebook. 

Sunday, June 2, 2024

FSPA Senior Showcase scheduled for June 11 at 6 PM

"Join us on June 11 at 6:00 PM at THE BLACK BOX to celebrate the Franklin School for the Performing Arts Class of 2024!

All are welcome!"

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/ZB4TMtFjcKArqXuw/

FSPA Senior Showcase scheduled for June 11 at 6 PM
FSPA Senior Showcase scheduled for June 11 at 6 PM



Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Children's Museum of Franklin mobilizes to visit FSPA Sunday, June 2

"We can’t wait to open full time in the downtown, but, in anticipation, join us for a family-friendly day in Franklin! We’re “popping-up” at @fspaonline on June 2.
You’re not going to want to miss this one - complimentary FSPA trial classes are available during the Mobile Museum event!"
 
Pre-registration required for time slots -> https://www.childrensmuseumfranklin.org/events
 
 
Children's Museum of Franklin mobilizes to vist FSPA Sunday, June 2
Children's Museum of Franklin mobilizes to visit FSPA Sunday, June 2


Sunday, May 26, 2024

Talking about the FPAC Golf Tournament and other fundraising with Arielle & Alan (audio)

FM #1212 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1212 in the series. 


This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Alan Mercer, Operations Director of THE BLACK BOX, and Arielle Hardy, Director of Development for FPAC. We met to record this conversation in the Franklin TV Studios on Thursday, May 16, 2024.  

We talk about 

  • FPAC golf event June 10

  • Importance of fundraising to augment income

  • Expansion of FPAC from a regional theater to include equity performers 

The conversation runs about 20 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Arielle and Alan. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1212-fpac-golf-outing-fundraising-05-16-24



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


FPAC Golf outing June 10 -> https://www.fpaconline.com/events.php?id=1747 


FPAC support options -> https://www.fpaconline.com/pages.php?pname=fpac_support_us 


THE BLACK BOX page  ->  https://www.theblackboxonline.com/ 



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


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


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


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


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"


Wednesday, April 3, 2024

FSPA: Don’t miss the 2024 Disney Showcase - 2 performances on April 6

"Don’t miss the 2024 Disney Showcase on April 6th at 2 PM and 7 PM in @theblackboxfranklin! 
Featuring:
  • CenterStage
  • Broadway Light 
  • Broadway Bound 
  • Starstruck
Tickets are available at https://www.fspaonline.com/events.php?id=1665!

FSPA: Don’t miss the 2024 Disney Showcase on April 6
FSPA: Don’t miss the 2024 Disney Showcase on April 6

Friday, October 6, 2023

Did you hear Talk Talk Boom's episode with Clay Rice Thompson? (video)

In this episode, Raye Lynn Mercer, the founder and director of Franklin School for the Performing Arts and Franklin Performing Arts Company, chats with Broadway star Clay Rice Thomson, who's currently starring in Moulin Rouge on Broadway. 
He has performed in shows such as Newsies, Matilda, King Kong, and Moulin Rouge. They talk about Clay’s experience from his Broadway debut in Newsies, his experience working with different directors and choreographers, his advice for aspiring performers, and his involvement with the Franklin School for the Performing Arts. 

Recorded at FPAC’s THE BLACK BOX theater in Franklin, MA.


Thursday, September 28, 2023

Escape Into Fiction coordinates with FSPA for a Mermaid Story Time - Oct 7

"Coming Soon!!!

Mark your calendars for this fun collaboration with @fspaonline for a Mermaid Story Time.... as they prepare for their big production, we want to show our community support!

Feel free to let your little ones dress up in their favorite Mermaid character costume!"


Escape Into Fiction coordinates with FSPA for a Mermaid Story Time  - Oct 7
Escape Into Fiction coordinates with FSPA for a Mermaid Story Time  - Oct 7

Monday, September 11, 2023

Talking about the fun pathways at FSPA with Raye Lynn and Susana (audio)

FM #1058 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1058 in the series. 


This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Raye Lynn Mercer, founder and Director of the Franklin School for Performing Arts, and special guest FSPA alum Susana Cordon. We recorded this in the Franklin Public Radio Studio on  Thursday, June 1, 2023.  

Yes, this sat in the archives for a while due to some unforeseen events that held up the publication. Aside from the future view, now in the past, the pathways talked of still apply.

Susana tells her amazing story following her path through FSPA to Carnegie-Mellon and is looking forward to an exciting year with a performance in Violet (with FPAC), an alumni show with the Electric Youth European tour this summer, fall semester in Wales, followed by final semester and graduation in 2024. Definitely a commencement of whatever her future holds for her. 

We cover a lot of ground in about 34 minutes with Raye Lynn and Susana. 

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1058-fspa-fun-pathways-06-01-23

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


Tickets for Violet are available -> https://www.theblackboxonline.com/events.php?id=1597 


Susana was quoted in a article about Carnegie-Mellon https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/carnegie-mellon-university-school-of-drama-star-factory-patrick-wilson-susan-tsu-john-wells-myhala-herrold-purnell-center/


FPSA post about Susan’s acceptance at Carnegie-Mellon

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/05/fspa-senior-accepted-to-prestigious.html


Original conversation with Raye Lynn as we spend 38 minutes talking about 38 Main St and the evolution of FSPA to FPAC, THE BLACK BOX, et al …

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


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"


Susana in the FPAC production of Tartuffe at THE BLACK BOX
Susana in the FPAC production of Tartuffe at THE BLACK BOX