When Karen Oster, Middlesex Community College’s Chair of Performing Arts, was looking to expand her successful theatre arts program, she turned to the Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) – a community partner “just down the road.” Sharing a mission of equity and access, the organizations are working on a variety of collaborations, including the sold-out MRT Summer Stage for Youth.
“It has always been our mission to provide a fun and exciting environment for kids to explore theatre arts, and while we encourage creative growth, we promote teamwork and a true ‘company” mentality,’” Oster said. “We set a high standard for quality in the productions. We believe children of all ages are capable of magnificent things, and there are no limits to their creativity in the theatre arts. The partnership with MRT means we can go further with this wonderful legacy that has served families for years.”
“We are so proud to partner with MCC, Karen and the team to create lasting memories for young artists in our region,” said Courtney Sale, MRT’s Nancy L. Executive Artistic Director. “This collaboration allows MRT the opportunity to serve more families than ever before. And it deeply aligns with our mission to engage community partners and expand programming for youth. A win-win for our region’s families!”
The MRT Summer Stage for Youth is a three-week summer theatre program hosted at MCC’s Richard & Nancy Donahue & Family Academic Arts Center in Lowell. Students will act, sing and dance, finishing their time with a full production of the musical “Newsies, Jr.”
“We set a high standard for quality in the productions. We believe children of all ages are capable of magnificent things, and there are no limits to their creativity in the theatre arts. The partnership with MRT means we can go further with this wonderful legacy that has served families for years.” - Karen Oster, MCC's Chair of Performing Arts
Directed by Oster, the production will feature professional lights, sets and costumes.
Now working full-time at MRT as the assistant lighting and sound supervisor, recent MCC alumna Rhiannon Downer will return to the college to design the lights for the summer program. Downer credits her success to working hands-on with Oster and Peter Waldron, the former Manager of MCC’s Academic Arts Center and professor who passed away.
“I’m very thankful for the opportunity to work with MRT and gain knowledge through them, and I’m so grateful Karen asked me to design ‘Newsies’ this summer,” Downer said. “It has been a huge opportunity for me since I want to be a designer in the long run and having this experience will take me far in my career. Without Karen and Peter’s support and dedication to teaching, I don’t think I would have made it to where I am today.”
Both Oster and Sale agree that the partnership offers a strong career pathway for recent graduates from the college’s theatre program. While studying, students get access to working on professional experiences and networking opportunities, while MRT has a pool of skilled and qualified candidates ready to begin their careers.
One of these opportunities for students was MCC’s involvement in MRT’s production of “Red Riding Hood” produced by Allison Gregory this winter. At MCC’s Academic Arts Center, the production put on 20 matinee performances for Massachusetts young students in kindergarten to second grade who visited with their schools. MCC students had the chance to understudy and work behind the scenes for a number of these performances.
The college and MRT also partnered with faculty and students from UMass Lowell (UML) who helped design and build the scenery for “Red Riding Hood. The partnership between the three organizations provided families and educators across the state with more access to the performing arts.
“Before I arrived at MRT, we served approximately 1,500 students a year,” Sale said. “We served 1,800 students alone with ‘Red Riding Hood,’ making the total number of students served 3,800 this year. Not only did this partnership double our impact to students, the performances acted as a pre-literacy component for early readers, which was a huge resource for educators. The turnout was amazing.”
Serving the community, as well as Middlesex students, is what Oster’s goal is with the summer program and overall partnership with MRT. Both Oster and Sale are excited to build upon their collaboration in the future, including adding a second summer production and year-long opportunities.
“Being able to be involved in the Theatre for Young Audiences was incredible,” Oster said. “We want to create a training program for young people where they can go from their elementary or middle schools and come through this performing arts community, from MCC then onto MRT. The possibilities are endless."