By Joyce DeWallace, Contributing Writer
Shrewsbury – “The Edge of the Nest,” a musical comedy, will be presented at the Shrewsbury Oak Middle School auditorium by Sherwood Middle School students Friday, Dec. 12, and Saturday, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m. A large cast of almost 70 fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-graders has been rehearsing since mid-September, meeting twice a week after school on Mondays and Wednesdays. According to Director Nathan Colby, “The show has lots of little skits and it allows for many parts. It has singing, dancing and solos. The kids are exposed to many aspects of musical theater.”
The production features many humorous scenes through all stages of human development from infancy through the teens. The high-flying adventure explores the rites of passage associated with childhood from screaming babies to toddlers in the terrible twos, squabbling siblings, the angelic middle years from five to 10, then the angst of teenagers experiencing acne, part-time jobs and driver’s education.
Producer Nancy Freeman advises all family members to attend. “Parents, grandparents and anyone who has been there and done that will get a kick out of this show,” she said.
Colby has had to juggle many hats lately to bring this production to the stage. While herding the exuberant cast and molding them into a cohesive unit, he also has been building scenery and scavenging along with other trash pickers for furniture for the sets. His favorite places? The Salvation Army, resale shops and the Savers Store.
Since the school has very limited storage, the scenery is built in stages and stored in the theater. Students help with all phases of the work.
Colby has just finished performing as the dramatic, cape-flinging Herr Drosselmeyer, the clock and toy maker in the Ballet Arts Worcester production of “The Nutcracker” at the Hanover Theatre. He also played the role of Mother Ginger, sliding a huge oval hoop skirt across the stage hiding the little clown children who emerge to do their dance. Colby has been working as an actor, theatre educator and technician in the Worcester area for the past 10 years.
“In theater, you’re pressed into doing everything,” he said. “The theater department is part of the performing arts department and has grown exponentially in the last few years. A small number of very dedicated people put their hearts and souls into these productions.”
The six shows produced during the school year are based on what the students are learning in their theater classes.
Another key staff member is the musical director for the show, Deb Bonneau. She teaches American musical theater in the sixth-grade allied arts music classes and directs the fifth- and sixth-grade choruses. Her job is to help the rambunctious middle-schoolers learn to sing all the right songs at the right time in the right places.
Tickets will be available at the door or can be preordered by emailing [email protected]. General admission is $8 per person; $5 for students and seniors.