The Franklin School for the Performing Arts Celebrates Silver Anniversary in the 2009-2010 Season

The Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) will celebrate the school's silver anniversary in the 2009-2010 season. "Twenty-five years of excellence in the arts" is the theme for a year-long celebration in recognition of FSPA's history, successes and ambitious plans for the future.

Under the direction of founder Raye Lynn Mercer, FSPA opened in the fall of 1985 bringing the disciplines of music, dance and drama together under one roof, offering professional training to students serious about the arts as well as to those who enjoy the arts for recreation. The commuter line from Boston offered the opportunity to bring Boston based artists and teachers out to Franklin and the faculty was built to include talented instructors from the Boston and greater Franklin areas. "I am very proud of the tenure of so many of our teachers. Our instructors are invested in the FSPA community and the attrition among faculty is very low," notes Mercer.

Kellie Stamp has been an instructor of dance since 2001. She remarks, "I feel so fortunate to be on staff at FSPA. The faculty here is unparalleled and unlike any with whom I have worked. Extremely talented professionals, they are committed to providing quality instruction while bringing a personal love of the arts to every class. Having the opportunity to collaborate with such a dedicated faculty makes FSPA a truly unique place to work."

"We opened on the second floor at 38 Main Street and from the start offered classes at all levels in all three departments," reflects Mercer. The school has grown steadily and we continue to expand programming, increase opportunities and grow enrollment. FSPA immediately drew students from other communities and our demographic now includes families from nearly 50 surrounding towns. I think the most impressive part of our growth through the years has been the increasing level of involvement of most of our students. Although we have many students who enjoy one class, it is now the norm for a student to be involved in more than one program and multiple classes each week.

According to Jocelyn Jones, 11, of Franklin, "FSPA is like my second home. I'm here so much and know a lot of people, so it makes the experience of taking classes or doing shows even more fun."
Mercer maintains, "I am most proud of the community that has developed around FSPA. Students have a safe and nurturing environment in which to grow up and they are surrounded by peers who enjoy the same things. Many families share experiences in our programs, productions and travel."

Anne McGillis of Franklin has two children enrolled at FSPA. She comments, "FSPA is a wonderful place for families to be involved together. Whether we are watching a performance, participating in a show, or volunteering backstage, we can all have fun and be part of the community. As a parent, I love the relationships my children have made with children of all ages who are supportive role models and create a caring and nurturing environment."
Alumni of FSPA are matriculating in the country's best colleges and conservatories including Harvard, Georgetown, Oberlin, NYU, Eastman, Rutgers, Connecticut College, Penn State, Syracuse, Hartt School of Music and University of Miami. Many are succeeding in stage careers and others have taken their valuable performing arts experience into a variety of college programs and careers.

Meghan Trahan, FSPA Class of 2004, graduated from Shenandoah University in 2008. She comments, "I learned that success is when opportunity and preparedness meet. As I strive to continue my career in musical theater I will constantly draw on what I learned at FSPA."
The school's associate Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) was established in 1991 as a production and presentation organization. FPAC is a non-profit theater organization offering outstanding opportunities and quality entertainment for the Metrowest region. Company shows feature professional artists, community performers and students of the arts in a positive, collaborative environment.

"Being a part of an FPAC production on stage with extremely talented performers and a live orchestra is as professional an experience as you could ever hope for while being in high school," says 17-year old Ali McCurdy of Medfield. One of my favorite memories is when dancing the role of Clara in The Nutcracker, I performed the father-daughter dance with my real dad. It was a fantastic moment for us to share."
Activities at the school include extensive programs in instrumental music and voice, all disciplines of dance, acting and musical theater. Special ensembles offer exciting opportunities for students to perform and travel. Electric Youth, an international touring ensemble, features students trained at FSPA. Electric Youth, accompanied in performances by an 8-piece band of professional musicians, is currently preparing for an eighth European tour in Summer,2010. Mercer remarks, "It is a thrill to see how our musical theater program has developed. It began with one class of 8 students I taught on Saturday mornings in 1985. Now we have hundreds participating in musical theater and our students have been featured in shows throughout the Boston area and abroad, at DisneyWorld and in national tours of Broadway shows including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Showboat, Evita and The Producers.

The New England Center for the Performing Arts was incorporated in 2002 as the effort to develop a regional performing arts center in Franklin began to take shape. A capital campaign is currently underway to raise the funds to build a state-of-the-art facility for arts education and presentation. The location for The Center is a 13-acre site on Route 140 in Franklin, one mile from Route 495 Exit 17. The complex will be the future home of FSPA. Chairman of the Board of Directors is Bill Buccella of Franklin who notes, "It has always been Raye Lynn's vision to offer FSPA's programming to as many students as possible. In our new facility we will extend the FSPA experience to so many more families in the region with programming reaching underserved youth, seniors, and students with special needs. We have an exciting opportunity to provide a unique model for arts education."
The school's Silver Anniversary will be celebrated at events throughout the year including a season kickoff party in September, a New York City weekend in January and the annual Spring Gala in May, as well as at all school performances throughout the year. Further information regarding the Franklin School for the Performing Arts is available by contacting the school's office at 38 Main Street or by visiting the website at www.fspaonline.com.

 

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