Change in Middle School Theatre Producing Award-Winning Results

Last year, students at Walsh Middle School had the option of taking theatre classes during the school day, as well as participating in an after-school drama club. The town’s other two public middle schools did not have the same options.

So this year, Framingham K-12 arts coordinator Donna Wresinski was able to “integrate theatre into the school day, as well as after-school” at all three public middle schools.

The change means award-winning theatre across the district at the middle school level.

Framingham’s three middle schools were nominated for a total of 24 Massachusetts Educational Theater (MET) awards, including two nominations for best production. Only 5 middle schools were nominated for best production across the Commonwealth.

And last week, Walsh Middle School won for best production and Fuller and Walsh Middle school won a total of 8 awards.

“It was an unbelievable night for Framingham,” said Wresinski.

This was the first year all three middle school had entered, she said. Previously, own Walsh had entered into the MET awards.

“I finally had the right people in all three schools,” said Wresinski.

At Walsh, theatre is under the director of Sheron Doucette.

And now at Cameron, theatre is under the direction of Diana Blue and Teri Shea oversees theatre at Fuller Middle.

“They teach theatre during the day,” said Wresinski. “And they oversee, the after-school productions.”

She said about 24 middle schools entered the Massachusetts Educational Theater awards, and that Framingham had two out of the five nominations for best production is “incredible.”

“It speaks to where we are going,” said Wresinski.

This year, every seventh and eighth grade student at Walsh, who does not take band or orchestra, takes drama for a class, explained Wresinski.

And this year at Fuller, 7th and 8th grade students had the choice of taking theatre, as an elective like band or chorus, for a total of 30 classes.

“Next year, all three grades (6-7-8) will have the option,” said Wresinski, about the programs at Fuller and Cameron.

During the Massachusetts Educational Theater (MET Awards) Framingham High teacher Chris Brindley was one of the master of ceremonies.

Brindley and Blue choreographed the opening number for the June 15 awards, featuring all the students nominated for an acting award, said Wresinski.

“They rehearsed for one night in Framingham,” and performed You Can Stop the Beat from the musical Hairspray,” said Wresinski.

Framingham students, including Madilyn Spear nominated for her role of Pinocchio in Shrek at Walsh, danced in the opening number at the Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston.

Since both Walsh and Fuller were nominated for best production, a duo from Walsh and a trio from Fuller performed one scene from their musicals Shrek and Once On This Island before the sold out crowd in Boston.

For Walsh, Emily Dupcak as Donkey and Johnny Ruiz as Shrek performed.

For Fuller, Grace Beaudet as TiMoune performed with dancers Dana Goldberg and Sonnet Shea.

And if you missed Framingham Patch’s report om the awards won last week, here is a summary:

Fuller Middle School won for Best Lighting Design and Execution, Best Sound Design and Execution, and Best Dance Ensemble.

Walsh won for Best Set Design and Execution and for Best Stage Management (Nick Amico)

Walsh also won two acting awards.

Amanda Fawell won for Best Featured Actress as Gingy

Jessica Landes, Michelle Moran, and Caitlyn Doucette won Best Specialty Ensemble for their roles of Fiona in Shrek.

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Photos supplied to Framingham Patch from Rob Dupcak and Teri Shea.