Glee kids ready for their time to Shine

More than 60 students will have the opportunity to create their own musical production this week as part of Bermuda Glee.

The production, Shine, will be held on Sunday at The Berkeley Institute Cafeteria from 2pm and 7pm.

The show is entirely produced and written by students.

Seldon Woolridge and Shoa Bean of Troika Bermuda are facilitating the programme with the sponsorship of The Argo Foundation. 

Steve Huntsman will direct the final production on Sunday.

Bean said the kids are in workshops all week gearing up for the main event.

“They are working together to make the production come together in literally five days.

“They first met on Saturday where they had workshops to put together some pieces.

“Today was their first day together in their groups.”

Dedicated

She continued: “We have some very dedicated kids. They show great potential when it comes to talent.

“We can’t wait to see what happens when they come together.”

Woolridge said most of the students will be on stage but there are some who are working behind the scenes doing technical theatre and assisting.

“It’s a great variety. It should be a good interaction amongst them as they collaborate to do this
production.

“They have all been given a stimulus to work from and then they go into their groups and they make it happen.

“They come up with their own scenes, their own dances, their own songs. The teachers just facilitate them and help them create their piece.

“Steve will piece it all together and make it cohesive.”

Woolridge said the aim is to make it into a complete show.

“We have divided the three groups into different scenes.

“Steve is basically working on the opening and closing of the show and those pieces are ensemble pieces where all the students are involved.”

Bean added: “I don’t think it’s ever been done before.”

At the workshop on Saturday, the students watched the film version of Fame, Woolridge said.

“From that, they were able to pull themes that were apparent in the movies like working hard, talent, recognition, determination so the setting is as if they were in a performing arts school and it’s based on that.

“We used the movie as a stimulus for the inspiration for the content.

“Certainly, they’re going to come up with their own ideas in their groups.”

He continued: “We have so many kids with different creative ideas, you don’t want to inhibit them but with the framework that we have, it’s hopeful that there is some sort of direction in terms of where they need to go.”

Asked how he is going to bring the production together, Huntsman said: “I’m going to pull this here, pull that there so that it all works together with group one and group two and group three.

“It’s going to be a challenge for everybody.

“The kids are talented. I got to work with them for two hours on Monday morning and I was really impressed with the talent level and their ability to step back and make some choices and jump out of their comfort zones.

“Putting up an ambitious idea like this in such a short amount of time forces you to use your discipline.

“At the end of the day, it’s your butt on the line.”

Speaking on the students’ dedication, Woolridge said: “We start at 9am but the kids are there at 8am stretching.

“This is their passion. They will do whatever they can to ensure that Sunday is a great product for the community to see.”

Bean thanked the Argo Foundation for their sponsorship of the programme and handing over the reins to Troika Bermuda.

“We certainly are humbled by the fact that they thought of us but we also want to thank them for the contributions and for creating such a programme for young people.”

Tickets for Shine are $20 in advance at www.ptixbm and $25 at the door. Patrons are $40.