The MacDuffie School presents 'My Fair Lady' spring galaDate: 3/23/2009 SPRINGFIELD -- The MacDuffie School will present "My Fair Lady," the musical based on George Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion," on April 3 at 8 p.m. and April 4 at 2 and 8 p.m. A special spring gala on April 4 will feature a dinner and silent auction from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets for performances only are $12 in advance or $15 at the door. Ticket options for Saturday include the performance, silent auction and dinner at $40 per person or $70 per couple, or dinner and silent auction at $25 per person.
Performances will take place in the newly-renovated Sally Fenelon Young Auditorium on the MacDuffie campus at One Ames Hill Drive in Springfield, and funds raised will be used to complete the renovation.
The musical's cast and crew include over 50 boys and girls in grades six through 12, a quarter of the school's student body, from Springfield and surrounding communities, as well as international students from countries including China, Korea, Germany and Ethiopia. Though many of the students are seasoned performers, some are making their main stage debut.
"This is a very big show, with over 300 costumes and a very complicated set design, and we have an outstanding, diverse cast," said Director Ted Lyman, an attorney by day, who has volunteered his time as the producer or director for over 90 main stage productions at the MacDuffie School for the past 27 years. "Everyone may be familiar with 'My Fair Lady,' but the diversity of performers in the MacDuffie production makes it one you won't see elsewhere!
Lyman and the play's producer, Arts Department Chair Denise Boutin, have worked together for over 20 years at MacDuffie.
"We wanted to offer something uplifting and positive to the community, especially during these tough economic times," said Boutin. She said some of the challenges include perfecting British (and Cockney) accents.
"It was very hard for some of our students from the Pacific Rim to wrap their arms around the British accents," she said.
"Last spring we did 'Oklahoma!', and it was very successful," said Boutin. "We're hoping for a repeat success with this exciting, lavish production that showcases our multi-talented student body here at MacDuffie!"
For more information or to purchase tickets, please call Hannah Zahn at 734-4971 or e-mail her at hzahn@macduffie.org.
The MacDuffie School, located at One Ames Hill Drive in Springfield, is a rigorous college preparatory school whose mission is to foster in all students the intellectual habits of mind, high ethical standards and respect for diversity required for becoming morally responsible and effective individuals in their personal lives, careers and in their communities and beyond.
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