Faith Massoni (left) will play the role of Anne Shirley, and Rocco Massoni will play Matthew Cuthbert. The play runs this weekend and next. (Courtesy photo)
Young thespians at HES have been hard at work rehearsing for the upcoming Superstar Production of the children’s classic “Anne of Green Gables.” By their first performance on Saturday, Nov. 9, the 17 third-, fourth-, and fifth-graders will have devoted over 45 hours to rehearsing the musical.
Kate Hoch founded Superstar Productions in 2003 and has since brought a total of 40 plays to the stage, including “Annie,” “Aladdin,” “Seussical,” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” involving hundreds of children, many of whom have been in multiple productions. At a recent rehearsal, Hoch was a one-woman wonder, cueing up music, coaching kids on lines, taking input from cast members on how a scene might be improved, and most of all, inspiring the students in learning the craft of acting. “Acting is creating something real in imaginary space,” she tells the kids. “If you believe it’s real, then the audience will believe it’s real.” Hoch spends time with each cast member, firmly believing that every child’s performance is critical to the success of the show: “Students in the ensemble are treated with the same amount of respect and care as the leads. Each person’s contribution matters.”
Hoch is assisted by choreographer Edie Hettinger, a performer and dance instructor who has been with Superstar for over five years, and producer Melissa Niland, who is a kindergarten teacher at HES and whose daughter, Brady, is in the cast. Deborah Prince Smith is the accompanist. Parents play a vital role in supporting the production. “All of the parents are asked to contribute in some way, whether it be helping to clear and set up the cafeteria, make props or set pieces, design and distribute advertising materials, or help back-stage, sell tickets, or usher. The parents are truly the backbone of our program,” says Hoch.
Building a supportive, tightly knit cast is essential to all Superstar Productions. All cast members are required to sign a code of conduct where each child commits to “do my best to have a positive attitude, enjoy myself, and be a team player.” Additionally, after a recent rehearsal Hoch asked the students to make sure they went home and got their homework done first so their teachers will be supportive of their students being in the play and so that others would have the chance to do plays in the future.
Parents of cast members appreciate the life lessons being taught in addition to the acting skills. Ken Riddle, parent of Emily Riddle, who plays Mrs. Pye and Sarah Gillis, asserts that “being in the play has helped Emily focus and learn to be patient while waiting for her time in the scene. She has also learned the value of teamwork.” When asked what keeps her coming back year after year, Hoch credits her passion for the lessons that theater teaches children: “Actors must study the play’s period in history and think about what their character’s culture and life would be like. They must think about how their character would feel in specific situations and how their actions affect others. This kind of active empathy can be very powerful and can help students to be more compassionate people.”
“Anne of Green Gables,” set on Prince Edward Island in the late 1800s, is the tale of a young orphan, Anne Shirley (Faith Massoni), who comes to live with Matthew Cuthbert (Rocco Massoni) and his sister Marilla (Meredith Greayer), who have asked for a boy but instead find their hands full with a fiery red-haired girl. With her spirit and determination, Anne wins over the Cuthberts and the townspeople in this heartwarming story of love and family.
Performances are Nov. 9, 10, 16, and 17 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $5 and are available at the door. To buy advance tickets, contact Kim at 978-456-8260. The performance is not appropriate for children under the age of five.
