Search

Showing posts with label Musical. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Musical. Show all posts

Friday, May 2, 2025

WHS graduate dazzles in leading role in new Broadway musical

By Ed Pierce

Robyn Hurder is a shining example of someone who has worked hard to achieve her dreams and is now dazzling audiences in a starring turn in a hit Broadway musical in New York City.

Robyn Hurder, a 2000 graduate of Windham High School,
is the star of the new musical "Smash" which debuted on
Broadway in April. She started taking dancing lessons at
a young age and expressed a desire to appear on Broadway
stages as a young girl.
PHOTO BY MATTHEW MURPHY AND PAUL KOLNIK   
Growing up in Windham, Hurder leads the cast of the new musical “Smash” that opened at the Imperial Theatre on April 10. It’s a role that secures her place in Broadway history after years of performing in the cast of 22 Broadway shows and receiving a Tony Award nomination in 2020 for her part in “Moulin Rouge.”

Hurder graduated in 2000 from Windham High School and is a former member of the Windham Chamber Singers and studied dance at the Maine State Ballet.

Her mother enrolled Robyn at age 7 in a dance studio in Scarborough. She says that she liked the tap and ballet lessons there but by age 8, she wanted out to spend time playing with her friends from school. Robyn’s mother was adamant that she continue her training in dance, and when the dance studio added jazz dance that spring, her interest in choreography intensified.

When she saw the musical “CATS,” Hurder says she figured out her life’s path.

“I’m that girl – who saw ‘CATS’ and said, ‘I’m gonna do that for a living.” she told Dance Magazine in 2020.

Dr. Richard Nickerson, the director of the Windham Chamber Singers, said Hurder was a special talent.

“There are some students that, from the moment you meet them, you know they are destined for greatness,” Nickerson said. “Robyn was one of those students I knew that she could do whatever she set her mind to.”

He said that Robyn was no different in high school than she is now and that's one of the things that makes her unique.

“She is as genuine a person as you will ever meet,” Nickerson said. “She has a positive energy about her that lights up a room. She always worked incredibly hard yet never complained. She is the kind of person that everyone wants to be around because she always makes you feel like a better person. I remember her singing voice, but what really sticks out in my memory is her laugh. She truly loves life.”

According to Nickerson, while Robyn is what he calls a triple threat for acting, singing, dancing, he believes that her greatest strength is her personality.

“She works in an industry that is extremely competitive, yet has remained positive,” he said. “That's not to say that she hasn't had struggles. She hasn't let those struggles define her. It has been inspirational to watch her hard work be rewarded.”

RSU 14 Superintendent of Schools Chris Howell had Hurder as a student when he taught Biology at Windham High School.

“She was a fantastic student who worked really hard in my class to be successful in mastering the content,” he said. “It has been exciting to follow her career over the years and see how far she has gone with her talents.”

After graduating from WHS, Hurder attended the University of New Hampshire for two years before moving to New York City and auditioning for Broadway shows. In 2003, she landed a part in a national tour of “Starlight Express” and her professional career was off and running.

She was a member of the original Broadway cast of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” in 2005. That was followed in order by parts in productions of “Spamalot,” “The Wedding Singer,” “Chicago,” “Grease,” and “A Chorus Line.” During a tour of “A Chorus Line” Hurder married her castmate and Broadway actor Clyde Alves.

By 2010, Hurder was a veteran performer and appeared in 12 more productions over the next decade before originating the role of Nini in “Moulin Rouge” at the Al Hirschfield Theatre on Broadway in 2020. That performance earned Hurder her first Tony Award nomination for Best featured Actress in a Broadway Musical.

In her next role, she won a Chita Rivera Award for Dance and Choreography as Outstanding Dancer in a Broadway Show when she appeared as Neil Diamond’s second wife, Marcia Murphey, in “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical” in 2023.

She’s also appeared in dramatic roles on television in such shows as “The Equalizer” and “Fosse/Verdon” and been interviewed on “CBS Sunday Morning with Jane Pauley,” “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” and “Late Show with David Letterman.”

Now she is currently starring as Ivy Lynn, who plays actress Marilyn Monroe in the new Broadway show “'Smash.”

The Broadway musical “Smash” with music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman is based on the 2012-2013 NBC television series “Smash” created by Theresa Rebeck. It includes songs from the TV series and original songs written for this new production. Like the television series, the musical follows the creation of a musical about the life of actress Marilyn Monroe.

Nickerson and his wife saw “Smash” last week and he said it is outstanding.

“Robyn's performance was unlike anything I've seen,” he said. “Her performance filled me with an enormous amount of pride.” <

Friday, November 4, 2022

Feed Me: 'Little Shop of Horrors' to open at WHS

By Masha Yurkevich

COVID hit us all a lot. It struck workplaces, schools, shopping malls and the list goes on, but perhaps where it was most felt was in the theater industry. Since the pandemic, it has been difficult for the theater program at Windham High School to get its wheels rolling again. But as time goes by and everyone is slowly adapting, so is the theater program. This November, they will be staging the musical, “Little Shop of Horrors.”

Starting Nov. 11 and running through Nov. 20, Windham
High School will stage 'Little Shop of Horrors,' a musical
about a new talking species of plant named 'Audrey II' and
based on the hit Broadway show and film. Tickets will be
on sale at the door only. COURTESY PHOTO 
It's about a plant nerd who finds a new species which starts fulfilling all his wants and desires, but with an unexpected twist for the end. The production is based on the hit Broadway musical and 1986 film “Little Shop of Horrors” and it is rather campy, a blend of gospel, rock, sci-fi, Greek tragedy, and 1950/1960s pop culture.

The musical is led by director Rob Juergens who has been at the Windham Middle School for the past 20 years. Before Juergens first started directing, he used to build sets and work backstage.

“There is a huge gratification gained from watching something you helped build be such a huge part of a show,” says Juergens, who has served as director for the past 14 years.

He said that directing a show means he’s responsible for the overall vision of the production, Juergens said.

“There are so many other pieces that others bring, costumes, set, lights, props, music, choreography, etc.,” he said. “My real job is to take all this creativity and inspiration and weave it all together.”

Liam Yates is part of the cast and plays the voice of Audrey II — better known as The Plant.

“This year I also have the honor of being the assistant (student) producer of the show,” says Liam. “My favorite part of the show is the plant itself. The props look absolutely amazing, and our puppeteer really brings Audrey II to life.”

Yates is a senior and has been part of Windham High School's theater program for four years now.

“I'm thrilled to see the number of underclassmen involved with this show,” says Yates. “COVID took a big hit on the performing arts, and I'm glad to see the Windham High School Theater Program has a very bright future.”

Sophie Koutalakis, a senior at Windham High School, has been part of the theater programs since her freshman year and plays the role of Audrey in this musical.

“My favorite part is the song ‘Git It’,” says Koutalakis. “All of the first act has built up to this one song, and our Audrey II sounds wonderful. I’m only onstage briefly during this song, but it is a fun scene to get to act in.”

Koutalakis says that this show has been very fun to work on because the horror-comedy aspect makes it so fun to play around with.

“For me,” says Koutalakis, “getting to develop Audrey’s character has been such an awesome experience, and I love getting to work with my peers every week to put together an amazing show.”

Little Shop of Horrors will be presented at the Windham Performing Arts Center on Nov. 11, Nov. 12, Nov. 18, and Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. and on Nov. 13 and Nov. 20 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $12 for children, students, and seniors, and $14 for adults.

For Juergens, he says his favorite part is watching everything come together. He enjoys watching the students grow into their parts and become a character.

Juergens said he is also very grateful for Heather Platti , Jen Chasse, Mychelle Koutalakis and everyone else who helps put the show together.

“They are my amazing producers,” says Juergens. “Without them, I am helpless,” he said.

For more information about Little Shop of Horrors at Windham High School, call 207-893- 0909. <

Thursday, January 23, 2020

“Mary Poppins Jr.”: Performance practically perfect in every way

Ava Lamkin as Mary Poppins
By Emma Bennett
           
Windham Middle School’s production of “Mary Poppins Jr.” not only showed us the hard medicine of deeper underlying themes, it treated us to a large spoonful of talent. The troupe brought an adaptation of the Disney classic straight to the stage. The audience was blown away, not from the winds in the East, but from the extraordinary talent illuminating the stage on their opening night. The winter storm that canceled school, bringing inches and inches of snow, couldn’t stop the show from going on.

The director, Suzy Cropper, took the time to interview amid all the hustle and bustle happening backstage before the show. Cropper, who’d been a musical director for Windham Middle School for many years, was ecstatic to be able to direct the first production of Mary Poppins Jr. that Windham Middle School had ever seen.

“I have loved it. It’s been fun working with the kids,” Cropper said with a smile. “And it’s been fun to see their creativity come out as we work through scenes and come up with ways that are able to tell our story.”

https://www.potentialreleased.com/reiki-for-youAccording to Cropper, several weeks ago, they took time during rehearsal to learn more about the Edwardian Era in 1910 - the period in which the musical is set. They learned about class distinctions, the contrast between rich and poor that is sometimes overlooked and overshadowed by gleam and glamor. It’s plain to see that the character development from it has paid off.

“I’m so proud of this cast and this wonderful show that they’ve put together,” said Lucy Hatch, assistant director. “I love seeing stuff come to life. It’s very different from being onstage.” Hatch’s history with the director stretches way back to third grade when she’d attended Mainstage Academy, a musical theater school run by Cropper. Hatch still has music lessons with her.

The energy backstage was invigorating as cast members shared their thoughts moments before opening. A strong unspoken unity projected into the audience as if from one big family.

Ava Lamkin, graced with the leading role of Mary Poppins, expressed the same sentiment. “My castmates are really sweet. When somebody’s sad, they’re really uplifting. We all just got along really well. It didn’t matter who we were because, once again, Mary Poppins taught us how to be kind.”
Sixth grader Anna Lane, who played a park stroller and a honeybee, shared, “Everyone’s really nice and supportive with each other, trying to help people out with their lines, their makeup, and their hair.” Her first show with Windham Middle School, she’d also done shows with Windham Center Stage, Gorham Arts Alliance, and Schoolhouse. She’d been inspired into acting very young with Mainstage.

https://www.windhammaine.us/BusinessDirectoryII.aspx?lngBusinessCategoryID=26Among some of the first timers who’d never been on stage before, Karly Day and Braedyn Bean expressed their experiences. “I’ve had a lot of fun with my friends and I love dancing and singing. It’s just been really cool seeing it all come together,” said Day. All these years, she’d been watching plays, thinking she’d love to be in one and decided to finally try out.

 Braedyn Bean, trying out with some encouragement from his mother, has had a great time. “I might do a lot more plays in the future, but I think it’s good to start and progress.” With the role of a policeman, he had only one line, but he was proud that he had received a speaking part.
Among the many great scenes, we were captivated by the choreography in 

“Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and impressed with the actors using ASL. Also, be sure to purchase a light-up wand at the concession stand at intermission and join the actors during a special moment of the play! Each purchased wand is used to support Maine Inside Out, a nonprofit organization collaborating to hold theater programs inside Maine’s juvenile correctional facility and youth developmental centers. Truly inspiring!

Another highlight of the night was seeing Mary Poppins fly! Bert, played by Molly Platti, even did front and back flips in mid-air. Flying by Foy is the company responsible for sending characters flying across the stage. Bryce Cropper, the person in charge of ropes, stated, “We double check everything to make sure everything is safe.” This definitely made the show that much more special.
The night ended with much well-earned praise from the audience. “I’m blown away, I really am,” said an audience member on the way out the door. “I would say it was above expectations,” said another. Kim McBride, assistant principal at the middle school, thought “it was fabulous from start to finish.” Proud father Chuck Lomonte shared, “I thought the show was absolutely exhilarating.”

A number of WMS and WHS individuals should be recognized for their time and effort in putting this show together: C.J. Payne (sound and lighting designer), Jason Lanoie (set designer), Tricia Murray (costume designer), April Monte (choreographer), Diane Hancock (music director), Karen Lane (producer), family volunteers working behind the scenes, and many others. Also, understudies worked hard to learn their parts and stood by in case they were needed.

The show, as a whole, was completely enjoyable - “practically perfect in every way!” There really is only one word to describe it: supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.