Schoolhouse Arts Center presents Miracle on 34th Street

The Rangeley Friends of the Arts opened their 2012 season with a raucous production of the popular Broadway musical, “Once Upon a Mattress.” Opening on the pre-July 4th weekend, the show ran for four successful performances.

Directed by Susan Hamilton, the nimble cast of nearly 30 performers included Zach Durand as the lonely Prince Dauntless, Jaycee Mullen as Princess Winnifred the Woebegone, and Erin Smith as the scheming Queen who devises the Sensitivity test of the tiny pea beneath twenty mattresses.

Sue Downes-Borko was the Music Director, with choreography by Pam Ellis, Susan Hamilton and Erin Smith. The set was designed by Sonja Johnson and Susan Hamilton; Andrea Keirstead was the accompanist.

The music for the play was written by Mary Rodgers, daughter of Richard Rodgers of Rodgers and Hammerstein; lyrics were by Marshall Barer, whose most famous song was the Mighty Mouse cartoon show theme. The original 1959 production of “Once Upon a Mattress” marked the Broadway debut of Carol Burnett, as Princess Winnifred.

The RFA’s summer schedule continued on July 19 with an evening of Spanish Music at Lakeside Theatre, featuring violinist Sarah Geller and her ensemble SEGUE, with award-winning artists, guitarist and arranger Jared Newman and flamenco dancer Eva Conti-Alegria.

Other events for the summer include the ever-popular Diva extravaganza, scheduled for July 26, 27, 29 and 30 at the Saddleback Mountain Lodge; Art in August at the Town Park on August 2; and the RFA Home Tour and Taste of Rangeley on August 7.

In a step toward achieving their long-term goal of a facility with classroom, studio and performance spaces, the Rangeley Friends of the Arts has acquired a 2.7 acre property abutting the School’s property on Loon Lake Road. To introduce the site to the public, the RFA’s “The Arts are Blooming” program will take place on the Loon Lake Road property on August 12, from 2 to 4 p.m.
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Kris Krigle Photo:

"MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET" - Steve Morin from Gorham as Kris Kringle is shown with children from the cast of "Miracle on 34th Street," to be presented at Schoolhouse Arts Center from December 3-19. From left are (top row) Devin Adams (Limerick), Megan Cole (Windham), Gabrielle Libby (Gorham), Sophia Sturdee (Gorham) and Racheal Brown (Gorham); (middle row) Emily Earley (Cornish), Lea Pillsbury (Standish), Ashley McBreairty (Gorham), Maddy Cropley (Standish), Holly Akey (Standish), Naomi DiBiase (Windham), Narissa Libby (Gorham) and Haley Keeffe (Gorham); (front row) Nevin Libby (Gorham), Marissa Hutchins (Cumberland), Aidan Reams (Waterboro), Atticus Slaughter (Naples), Luke Akey (Standish) and Scarlett Akey (Standish). Also in the cast but not pictured are David Hegarty (Limington), Natalie and Renee Laigle (Limington), Alexa Perkins (Gorham), Julia Gallaher (North Waterboro), Sara Jordanhazy (North Waterboro), Ashley Pettengill (Gorham) and Julia Swett (Standish).