Broadway Stars Give Boost to High School Theater Co.
Hillsborough High students open 2012-13 season.
Hillsborough High School Theatre is unique in many ways. The group is ranked in the Top 40 theater programs in the country. It is one of the few high school theater groups to give four performances in a school year.
And it is one of the few programs that is self-sustaining; they students continue to perform because of the money they bring in from ticket sales and fundraisers, receiving no money from the Board of Education.
On Monday evening, it provided another unique experience: bringing professional actors and actresses to the theater to perform. Hillsborough Theatre artisitic director BJ Solomon brought five performers to the stage. As a special treat, 2011 Hillsborough graduate Nick Ferrao, presently a theater student at American Academy of Music and Dramatics, also performed.
"This is the second year we have done this event," said Solomon. "We do this to annouce the works we have choosen for this year and to create excitement for our season."
The plays being performed this year are:
- "A Christmas Carol," Nov. 15-17
- "Beauty and the Beast," March 8-16
- Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre," May 10-11
- "Hillsborough Shorts," one act plays directed by students, May 31.
Season tickets are available through www.HHSTheatre.org.
Make sure to check out all the great action from Monday night's event in the photo slideshow above.
Bob Pescinski
9:35 am on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
It is wonderful to see that the HHS theater program is flourishing. My daughter and sons, now graduated, were all involved in one production or another. But it is a sad commentary that an activity that so very many students participate in receives no funding in the school budget.
Bernard Solomon
3:50 pm on Tuesday, September 11, 2012
HHS Theatre does not receive funding for our productions (sets, royalties, lighting, costumes, properties, etc). However, the Board of Education does provide a stipend for me as well as our Musical Director and Set Construction supervisor for the musical. Although additional funding for the arts is always desired (don't we all want more money :)), the Hillsborough community has been extremely supportive and generous. From the businesses that place ads in our programs to individual members that come out and support our productions.
Please do not misinterpret a lack of funding as a lack of support. HHS Theatre is tremendously supported by Dr. Schiff, Mr. Mahmoud, Ms. Bingert, and the entire Board of Education. It would be near impossible to image any other administration being as generous and supportive.
Bernard Solomon, Artistic Director HHS Theatre