Longtime Bromfield teacher Martha Brooks stepped in this fall to keep the school’s drama program on track after the last-minute resignation of former teacher George Kendall. On very short notice, Brooks found herself teaching two sections of middle school introduction to theater, acting, advanced acting, tech theater, and TV production. And she is currently working on an all-grades production of “Les Miserables” to be presented in early December.
Director Martha Brooks accepts a gift at the end of “Three Ghosts,” in 2012. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz)
Brooks has spent her entire 18-year teaching career at Bromfield. She recalls being recruited by Michael McGarty, who taught drama at the Bromfield School for 36 years. After she took part in several shows that he directed, McGarty asked her to lead the Bromfield middle school drama program. Brooks welcomed the opportunity.
“I’ve always believed everything happens for a reason … ,” Brooks says. “Opportunities present themselves. … And when they happen, you’ve got do it—step out on faith.”
A few years later, Brooks began teaching a digital arts class. Gradually, she says, she expanded that one course into a curriculum including graphic design, animation, computer-assisted design, digital photography, web page design, and even interior design. She expected to teach digital arts classes again this year, along with a new course in TV production using the Harvard Cable TV studio.
And then came Kendall’s sudden resignation. The Press interviewed Brooks about the changes to the school drama program by email because of her busy teaching and rehearsal schedule.
The Press: How much warning did you get about this change and the new classes?
Brooks: I had almost no warning. I learned of the opening on the Thursday before the formal opening of school the following Wednesday. As it turned out, I had only two days before classes started to write course syllabi and to plan lessons.
An all-school ‘Les Miz’
The Press: You are doing “Les Miserables” with a cast from grades 6 to 12. Is this something that has been in your mind for a while, or an inspiration from the moment of crisis?
Brooks: Funny you should put it that way. Inspiration based on moments of crisis is the story of my life!
Inspiration based on crisis? Yes and no. Doing “Les Miserables” with a whole-school cast is right for the drama program for many reasons. First, I listen to what the kids want to do—musicals, big ones. I often say, “You show me a program that doesn’t do musicals, and I’ll show you a program that is dying.” Second, we are in a “building year” in the high school program, making a large-scale musical almost impossible [for the high school alone] to do. Third, we are still in the process of filling the position of middle school drama director with just the right person to continue the momentum we’ve begun. I don’t want “my” middle school thespians to miss out on anything because of this change.
But even if all those reasons weren’t there, I’d still want to do a whole-school musical for the positive experience it gives all the kids, big and little. The middle school actors learn from the older ones. The high school kids benefit from the mentoring, and they all learn to work as a team. … Most community programs have adopted this wide age-range format. It’s fiscally responsible, and the kids love it!
Greater than sum of parts
The Press: For all these reasons, you could say that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. We have more than 50 kids in the cast! That’s a testament to how popular this really is!
Brooks: We are doing “Les Miserables” on Dec. 4 and 5 at 7 p.m., and Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. at the Cronin Auditorium at the Bromfield School. Mike Hoffman is our music director, Melissa Lynch is our choreographer, Jenn Massoni is our producer, and Beth Drummey is our costumer. Especially with something as challenging as “Les Mis,” you need a really good team, and mine is exceptional!
The Press: How do the shows tie in with the course work, or are they extracurricular?
Brooks: Both the Bromfield Drama Society and the Bromfield middle school productions are open to all students. They are extracurricular. That said, I do take advantage of the opportunity (the “teachable moment”) to use “Les Mis” for lessons (for those students who happen to be in my middle school and high school drama classes) on everything from character development to directing techniques such as blocking [planning actors’ movement on stage], to theater vocabulary. In addition, kids in my acting class who are not in the production can see the show and witness the curriculum they’ve been learning put into action.
Old directions
The Press: What are your longer term plans for this year? Will Harvard be taking part in the state drama festival?
Brooks: Gosh! I’m doing well to know what I’m doing next week at this point! We will be installing a new middle school director as soon as possible, and that person will do at least one spring production. In the past, the spring show was made up of two one-act plays, one of which is taken to festival. The spring production is open.
We’re already committed to hosting the METG [Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild] Middle School Festival here in the spring. The senior high will also participate in the METG High School Drama Festival in February.
The Press: Will there be more outdoor Shakespeare productions?
Brooks: I like the “in the park” aspect, but it may not be Shakespeare.
The Press: Are you thinking about new directions for theater at Bromfield?
Brooks: As far as “new directions,” I’m thinking more of “old directions”! I learned everything I know about theater from working with Michael [McGarty] for more than 20 years. My ultimate goal is to return to the formula that established this theater program as one of the best in the state during his tenure.
With my appointment as teacher of theater arts and director of the Bromfield Drama Society, precipitated by George Kendall’s resignation, we are working hard to fill the resulting digital arts position as well as the middle school drama position, which have both been made vacant by my shift.
In my professional life, I am many things—a musician, an artist, a designer, an actor, a director—but what is most fulfilling to me is the role of teacher. Sharing and connecting with the kids, that’s what keeps me going. Michael and I have had several graduates who have made theater their careers, many more who have used what they learned on our stage to good advantage in other endeavors. It’s always a pleasure to hear their stories. While many of my peers are focused on retiring, I’m looking forward to the future and this new opportunity.
