Students from Briarcliff High School’s Drama and Visual Arts programs are collaborating closely to bring to life a unique play set within a museum and poking fun at its artists and visitors alike. Playwright Tina Howe’s comedy, Museum, will have audiences laughing at the antics and stories of the people passing through a contemporary modern art museum.
“Museum brings a unique comedic twist to a day at the museum, during which students, tourists, museum guards and the artists, among other noteworthy characters, interact with and respond to the works of art on display,” says Museum producer Ian Driver. “We invited our high school art students to help design an authentic museum experience for the audience by creating and displaying their own work in the lobby and auditorium. Our actors will enhance this sense of atmosphere as they personally welcome the audience with appetizers and drinks prior to the “opening.”
“The Visual Arts Department was invited to participate in the presentation of the play Museum by creating artworks inspired by the production, and our students took to this extracurricular project with great enthusiasm,” says Briarcliff High School art teacher Roxanne Ritacco. “They researched the types of artwork that would fit with the play’s theme, learning about Modernist art movements such as Minimalism and Conceptualism in the process.” She added that this collaboration “provided a creative and educational opportunity for a true merging of the arts at BHS, weaving together the departments of drama, visual arts, literature, and history.”
Museum is performed in a black box theater setting, where the audience is actually seated on the stage, closely surrounding the actors on three sides. The costumes are as eccentric as the characters wearing them, and these talented actors will have the audience laughing throughout!
The performances will take place in the Frances G. Wills Auditorium at Briarcliff High School on November 22, 23 and 24 (times below).
November 22 at 7:30pm
November 23 at 2:30 and 7:30pm
November 24 at 2:30pm
All tickets are $15 online at www.showtix4u.com. For questions about tickets, contact briarcliffticketsales@gmail.com.
Please click on the link below to view our promotional video for the Fall Drama, Museum, at Briarcliff High School:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXq_a57XN6U
Filmed and edited by Samantha Simpson
Written by Jillian Agona and Charlie Driver
Starring Charlie Driver and Russell Francis
Directed by Samantha Simpson and Mr. Driver
Equipment and advice by Ms. Mandel
We hope to see you at the show!