Colleagues,
We are pleased to share wonderful news from Keefe Regional Technical School in Framingham. Keefe Tech School Principal Shannon Snow said the school once had "a lovely theater program" years ago, but it faded away after the teacher who led it retired.
But now it has returned stronger than ever and providing students the opportunity to participate in the arts.
David
“ Keefe Tech thrilled to revive theater program”
“We need creative thinkers.”
Ruth Thompson Wicked Local
Keefe Regional Technical School has revived its theater program after a long hiatus, driven by student interest and teachers like Erin Rettino.
- This weekend’s production of "Beetlejuice Jr." involves about 40 students and showcases collaboration among various vocational departments.
- Keefe Tech aims to empower students to run the program like a professional theater company, fostering skills like problem-solving and teamwork.
FRAMINGHAM — Keefe Regional Technical School Principal Shannon Snow said the school once had "a lovely theater program" years ago, but it faded away after the teacher who led it retired.
“We’ve been looking for someone to take it over,” said Snow, who is in her 14th year leading Keefe Tech. “Reinstating the theater program has been based on student interest, and the kids are interested.” That "someone" is Erin Rettino, fine and performing arts teacher at the vocational school that serves students in grades 9-12 who are from Framingham, Natick, Ashland, Hopkinton and Holliston. She believes the arts are an important part of any school’s curriculum, and that’s why she’s taken a role in reviving Keefe’s theater program.
She said the response from students has been overwhelming.
“We had so many kids who wanted to be part of this production,” Rettino said of the school’s upcoming performance of “Beetlejuice Jr.” “The school is serious about building up the arts program and having an arts option for students.”
Keefe production gets contributions from several vocational departments
"Beetlejuice Jr.," which will be performed Friday and Saturday at Keefe, is the school’s second production this school year — Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” was produced last fall and was well received, Rettino said.
Rettino, who has performed professionally since she was a child, teaches theater, as well as speech and debate at Keefe. She said the arts are key in the development of social and emotional skills. “Theater is a unique art,” she said. Between cast and crew, there are about 40 students involved in "Beetlejuice Jr." “It’s a big ensemble piece,” Rettino said. “There are a lot of people coming together to make this work."
Being a vocational school has its advantages. Keefe’s theater department works with multiple programs and departments, including design and visual communications, carpentry, culinary and cosmetology. So much goes on behind the scenes, and it’s just as important as what we’re watching on stage, said Snow, the principal.
“A lot of our vocational programs help make the sets and paint and decorate," she said. "It’s a school community effort.”
That said, it’s not often a technical school has a theater program, Rettino said.
“The hope is to train these kids to be able to run this like a real theater company and give them more ownership,” she said.
Student actors say theater is ‘fun,’ ‘rewarding’
Manuel Contreras, a sophomore who plays Charles Deetz, said he is “very glad” the school reinstated its theater program.
“It might be an overlooked extracurricular activity, but in my opinion, it is also one of the most rewarding,” he said.
His parents, who are fans of the original “Beetlejuice” movie released in 1988, really wanted him to audition, he said. He enjoys the role he has but would have been happy with any part because it would allow him to act and perform.
Gabriella Amuti, a junior who plays Lydia Deetz, said being in the performance is “fun and a great creative outlet.”
“I enjoy the role because she is very dramatic, like me, and she’s also one of my favorite characters,” she said. “Just being a part of this whole thing is fun. My favorite aunt also loved this movie, and I would have wanted her to be proud of this.”
Reinstating the theater program offers students different opportunities, Snow said.
“I never want kids who come to Keefe Tech to be missing out on anything," she said. "We don’t want them to have to give up things they have a passion for. We are training students to be problem solvers, creative thinkers, to communicate and work well in teams, and I think theater really lends them to it. The world needs so many creative thinkers.”
‘We want to show everyone what we can do’
Jason Ricardo, a Keefe social studies teacher who is a co-adviser/co-director for the production, said the arts are "an integral part of public education."
"It is imperative that they are part of Keefe’s curriculum, after having been all but dormant for several years,” he said.
“It has been a genuine pleasure to help helm this club for the kids," Ricardo added. "They are passionate, enthusiastic and just a lot of fun to work with. Giving them this creative outlet has proven to me that students need to be exposed to all forms of fine and performing arts at all levels of the K-12 experience.”
Students said they’re thrilled to be part of a theater program and want to share their enthusiasm and effort with an audience.
“People should come out and see the show because it’s the first musical our school has ever done, and we have worked, and are still working, hard to leave a lasting impression," Contreras said. "It can only get better from here."
Amuti agreed. “It’s just a great show, and we’ve worked really hard on it to make it as magical as possible," she said. "It’s also special since it will be our first musical and we want to show everyone what we can do.”
“Beetlejuice Jr." is a school-appropriate version of the Broadway version of "Beetlejuice." It runs about 90 minutes.
Keefe Tech will present "Beetlejuice Jr.” at 7 p.m. on Friday and 2 p.m. on Saturday in the school auditorium, 750 Winter St. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. They can be purchased by visiting gofan.co and typing in “keefe.”
Chapter 74 Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education
LEARNING THAT WORKS FOR MASSACHUSETTS
David J. Ferreira
MAVA Communications Coordinator
DavidFerreira