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MUMS Theatre Group To Perform Charlie And The Chocolate Factory In April

photo by Marcie Bolton Debbie Malmros -Director, Christine Heagy -Costume Designer and Charlie Buckles -student stage manager.

Tuesday February 28, 2012

By Marcie Bolton

The Middlebury Union Middle School drama is preparing for a performance on April 11, 2012, for two performances of the modern day fairy tale, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.   

    This year approximately 35 students will be participating where all the actors will double as stage hands, in this multi-faceted endeavor. “We have about 3 months from auditions to performance, and only a limited amount of rehearsal time after school, so our time together is intense,” says theater director Debbie Malmros.  
    The MUMS theatre club has really grown into something special these past couple of years.  Historically MUMS has had very few students interested in drama (6-12 in a given year).  Thanks to a variety of things, MUMS has, for 2 years now, had 35 or so students participating in drama.  MUMS band director Catherine Ott and her students will play the music for the performance and Latin teacher Christine Heagy (who has costume design expertise) is helping with costume design.  Art teacher Lisa Maggio MUMS art teacher is the assistant director and is working together with the kids on set design.  Leslie Perrin, dancer extraordinaire, has done choreography with MUMS physical education classes for a couple of years and is helping with the choreography in the drama performance.  Students will also be operating as stage managers and lighting designers.  

    Director of the play Debbie Malmros has a rich background in theater, “I started as a child actress in N.Y.C. at the age of 7.  I was very fortunate to do many television commercials, soap operas, and shows such as Hallmark Hall of Fame, some off Broadway, and I danced the role of Clara in the Nutcracker with the New York City Ballet Company.  Before leaving the theater to get married and have a family, I went to Hollywood to do a Walt Disney movie The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes. Overall I can honestly say that my years in the theater were a wonderful, positive experience. Since theater and teaching young people are my passion I decided to start teaching drama in Pennsylvania, where we lived at the time. I formed a children's repertoire company that performed for charity, in addition to directing several adult productions for community theater companies in the area.”

   Debbie goes on to say, “When my husband and I moved to Vermont 5 years ago, I missed the theater, so when I learned of the opening at MUMS for a drama director it seemed like the perfect opportunity-and indeed it has been! My students are talented, creative, intelligent, but most of all really good people. They are supportive and kind to each other and we work as a team. I believe that theater gives young people a place to be expressive and creative without the fear of judgment, and as portrayed in Glee, a place to belong! The things that students learn in drama, public speaking, confidence in front of a group of people, the ability to improvise etc.etc., which are all skills that will help them in the future no matter what profession they choose, so it's a valuable experience for any student who would like to participate! For those students who would like to pursue a career in theater my advice would simply be if you have the passion and perseverance and follow your dream."  

    Christine Heagy, who teaches Latin at both the high school and middle school levels, began to get into costuming when she went to Allegheny College in Meadville, PA.  Christine says, “I could think of no better way to get paid for work study than sewing in the Costume Shop. I worked there each semester I was on campus (so for seven semesters), eventually working my way up to First Hand the spring of my junior year. While there, I worked under two supervisors who used very different methods in how they designed shows. I learned quite a bit about period costuming, dressing, how costumes reflect the change in a character, organization, and even laundry!”

    After graduating from Allegheny, she attended Lebanon Valley College to become a teacher and took a Theater Performance and Production class.  She designed the costumes for the class’s performance.   “It was so much fun to match clothing to the characters. One character wore dresses with fur-print trims, another wore sequins on each top, and a third wore a crazy plaid shirt. I don't know how much the audience noticed these details, but I sure enjoyed putting the costumes together,” Ms Heagy says.   

    We are so fortunate this year to have several other teachers involved with set design, costuming, music, and choreography, making this year’s show a total "arts department" effort.” Says Malmros.  She adds, “In addition I'm so pleased that the Drama Club has decided to donate all profits from the sale of tickets to charity. I feel it's never too early for young people to get involved in their community and realize that while they're having fun they can help other people!”

    All the proceeds from this year's performance will be donated to a charity of the students' choice.  Depending on which the group decides on, it could go to one such as the Addison County Humane Society or perhaps it will be divided amongst a few different places.  The tickets will be $5.00 each or a donation.  “Whatever a person can afford, or feels comfortable with.”  Ms. Malmros said.  She would be very happy if people came out to see the show and did not have to worry about costs.  

    Look for more detailed information in late March or early April regarding show time schedules.

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