June, Is the One Place Where Be Adapted for Musicals

~'~ "",,' ........ '.'1. -ii; / [ \ .~, " ... " ::. ~ I~ .. 1 I I Presenting: ','1 .". 4 ....• The performing arts at Townsend Harris , . " ',,'" ·Have they been forgotten? Alexandra Beller There's no place for threepeople to dience with limited size potential. Townsend Harris, student support Dance, Karate, Body Building and ,by .T he limited space may be a do anything. Basically, we then Alex Whitten, a Townsend Harris is vital. Susan Chiu, a frequent au :''.,,"A s aH urnam..ties high a full time environmental enrich have to put everybody in larger junior who yearns for a more spa dience member, said, "The fact ment," Mr. Boulanger said, "Until problem for some, but others find school, we deserve better perfor- groups that may not be specifically cious place to dance, said of the that the audiences at Townsend that day though , we'll just have to it a blessing. Scenery artist , JII.lIIlce facilities!" Anna Azrieli, a what they want." Talent Show, "It doesn't even come Harris performances are usually continue to make do with what Stephanie Helmeyer remarked that veteran actress at Townsend Har close to giving us a place to per in Townsend Harris, "it is easier 'to A good example of this is close to capacity is an indication we've got." ris, declared vehemently. "After form, One night a year.does not a the students have faith in the per draw the backdrop because there is Townsend Harris' lack of any With all of the technical diffi all," she continued, "there's more performance program make." It formers," Anna Azrieli, who is one about one-third th~ stage space that Dance department, elective or , to education than Latin and Phys may not be close enough, but it is of the performers, does not share culties to overcome, it sometimes we usually have to"cover." As are. Enrichment. "We have only one f~d ~as i er ics. The arts are an integral part of the best that Townsend Harris stu Susan's sanguine view of student seems wondrous that Townsend sult, artists it to add performance space, usually re education and the only way to dents will get until the new build support of the arts. "The students," Harris puts on a single show all more details anet$end a lot of served for the play or Sing or the leaIll'about them is by experienc ing is ready. she said, " have a great lack of in year. Ms. Blechman, and Mr. time on each set Of course, things Talent Show," explained Mr. iJigthem fully." terest because they know what Davis have both found ways to aren't always eliSy for the scenery ~e Is it true that nothing will im r Anna is not alone in her opin Boulanger." also only have one we're up against and so they feel compensate for the limitations in makers either. Katen Lemmey, gym, which cannot be divided and prove the perfonnance conditions ion. Many students at Townsend that Townsend Harris perfonnanc herent to the small building. who also helps 'in' creating the is overcrowded as it is. Therefore,' at Townsend Harris until the Harris have raised the same ques es can never be as good as those at "We've adapted to what we have," "scenes behind the scenes," said we had to put the dance school is at Queens College? Yes tion: Have the performing arts some other high school." A lack of explained Ms. Blechman. "Gener that the one hard thing about mak Enrichment in a regular classroom. and no; The lack of facilities won't t~at been forgotten amidst the academ support from the students may not ally, we fmd really good plays, ing the sets is they "have to , Even with all of the desks pushed change until the school is moved to th~ ics? Certainly, Townsend Harris only manifest itself in audience usually very funny, that don't re work while Drama Club is aside, there was simply no room to the college, That is true. Mr. Bou has exhibited an exemplary aca turnout, but also in the limited in quire a lot of props and scene practicing, so ipaking noise and move. Also, they couldn't perform langer, who coordinates all of the demic record. Winning the honor terest in performing itself. "The changes or anything really elabo using a lot of space is impossible." because the stage was taken up by performance activities, said, "Un- rate." Mr. Davis added, "It's very ' ary title of School of Excellence students don't pet !imlllTP.n on hv th p. H l:a v ;n n t~ n~/?"rl'n,",,?" th?"C' ?" ~. ,,}I 1""'''~'''''''15 "'---- ways and we never could really involved in the programs, more pend upon more than just student cumstances is very telling of llie facilities that the-Drama depart must conquer. f th d d f ul T warm up or have any space to programs might be made available. support. Administrative support, nature 0 e stu ents an ac ty. ment faced did nothing to prevent he crime is that Townsend move around." Despite the limita- "It's up to the students," Mr.Bou- too, is crucial. Most students and Dr. Largmann said, "We have them from putting on a top-notch Harris students are bursting with tions, Dr. Largmann remarked that langer explained. "If enough stu- teachers feel that, as Sera Congi learned to work under less than performance. Faeing hardships has potential but have few places to the administration "is trying to get dents want it, we can try to get it says, "there is no lack of adminis- ideal conditions and it probably brought the performers together in . vent their talents. The culprit, as Mrs. Agin to come back and teach for them." trative support." The arts, they btings out the best in us. Consider- a very tightly bonded and deter usual, is limited space. Townsend dance again if she can work it into What can you expect when agree, are not getting short- ing how we do under adverse con- mined group. When asked about Harris' 29' x IS' x 15' stage is less her schedule. " changed compared to every other ditions, it leads me to feel that we how they had overcome the diffi than half of the average 65' x 45' x you attend a Townsend Harris per- would mount spectacular perfor- M . h Mr W 1 ~? S ~ 1 d th aspect of Townsend Harris; the ef- culties they faced in mounting this 35' stage of most New York high USIC teac er " a ter rormancet orne lee ,as oes e fects of Townsend Harris' handi- mances if we had real facilities to year's production of Harvey, the sChools. Generally, high school au- Davis elaborated on the lack of Drama adviser, Ms. Harriet Blech- work with." "all f th -" caps are just more apparent in the Drama Club decided to demon ditori bo b k space. "Because space is so limit- man,th at 0 e perrormances T itonums ast a generous ac - h bee d d thev conti performance programs. Mr. Bou- he performers themselves strate instead of merely answering. stage area, dressing rooms, an or- ed, there's no place to practice. We ave n goo an ey continue 1 bo ed "Th dmi They fell into their own hair-rais don't have that luxury. There is no ' to be good." Sophomore Karen langer e a rat: e a inis- diisagree a b out th e effi ects 0 f the chestra pit or attic, and a prop/cos- tration does as much as they can l' .tat' S C . ing rendition of "America the time during the day when a musi- Lemney thinksthat "the perfor- imi Ions. era ongi, a tume storage room. Townsend with what they've got. Townsend T d H . id Beautiful," complete with disso · cian can go and rehearse. Wonder- mances at Townsend Harris are ownsen arns actress, sal , Harris is devoid 0 f these 1uxunes. Harris is like that circus car where "Th 1 k f f ili all nant harmony and all. As the • ful music escapes us because we just as good as those at any other e ac 0 ac lues ows us to ~e audience space is incapable of , they keep trying to fit more and tr t h . Drama Club hummed the last • don't have' the space;", school." Mr. Davis, however, sees concen a e on our c aracters in- hosting the entire student body, not more clowns into the car. We have , d fAn ' bili dying notes, Ms. Blechman stood " S the limits ofhis facilities as a great- stea 0 props. actors a I ity tQ,mention parents. < ince small interest groups are all of the clowns that we can fit up, and speaking for all of them, ' M hindrance to a good performance. depends upon how well he impro- :~ . ainly, what all of these tech- impossible, students are forced to "Acoustics are horrible in the cafe- right now, at least until we get a vises, which we have certainly had declared, "We're Americans; we ni~al problems translate into is no blend into the majority interests. In torium and so our performances bigger car...or a bigger building." to do." Her positive outlook is by settled the prairie; we can do any thing!" sniall interest groups, no musicals, .other words, the closest a dancer don't sound as good as they could," Everybody at Townsend Harris no means shared by all of the per- and less fulfilled potential.

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