AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services
With rehearsal for Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church’s upcoming musical “The Secret Garden” underway Sunday afternoon, there was continual motion in the sanctuary. Directed by David Merrill, the singers, dancers and actors transitioned from scene to scene fairly smoothly. However, scenes involving choreography generally required additional run-throughs.
Merrill, who is Woods Church’s Music and Art Director, chose “The Secret Garden” as this year’s musical production. His wife Elysia, the show’s choreographer and assistant director, filled us in on why the show was chosen and spoke about the complicated business of producing the musical in the open setting of the sanctuary. There is no “backstage” to speak of. Just a narrow vestry with stairs leading up to a small balcony.
“Having staged ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ last year, we were trying to think of what show would be appropriate for this space,” Elysia said. “We’d basically come to the end of our biblically-based productions and were out of ideas when David remembered “The Secret Garden”, a favorite musical of his family. We listened to the score and realized the show was perfect for this space. The music is classic in nature and the themes are very familial – about togetherness and longing and finding your place in the world after tragedy.”
“The Secret Garden” musical is based on a 1911 novel of the same name by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It premiered on Broadway in 1991 with script and lyrics by Marsha Norman and music by Lucy Simon.
Woods Church’s production of the beloved show will be presented over two weekends – from March 8-10 and March 15-17 – and has a cast of 55 with an additional 23 people working behind the scenes.
The main character, Mary Lennox, an orphan whose parents died while the family lived in India, will be played by 11-year-old Grace Gavin. David Merrill is making a rare appearance as an actor in the role of Mary’s reclusive uncle, Archibald Craven. Mary’s friend Dickon will be played by Mathew Walter. Scenes between Mary and the mystical Dickon, who has a healing nature and a green thumb, recur throughout the musical.
Archibald’s son Colin, believed to be crippled, is being played by a young girl, Tabitha Popernak. Woods Church was able to borrow the vintage wheelchair used in the production from The Children’s Theater of Annapolis.
There is more choreography in this production than one might normally see. Musical interludes and dances have been designed to create the illusion of “spirits” and to keep the show moving along since there are no blackouts.
Restless, the spirits appear as a storm begins causing the characters to abandon the garden and seek shelter.
Spirits of much-loved family members appear from time to time and….. 
…at the approach of a storm, leave the garden.
Casting for “The Secret Garden” was not limited to congregation members but open to actors from the across the community. Because of the vast amount of talent the production attracted; the number of cast members was expanded.
In order to represent animals in the show (as in the original novel) puppetry was added to the dance segments. Puppet-master Trishelle Weed came to Woods Church and hand-built puppets representing a crow, a fox, a butterfly, a robin and others used during the musical sequences to keep up the fantasy. Further magic is created through innovative lighting.
Fortunately, the dance and storm sequences and Secret Garden scenes chosen for Sunday’s rehearsal ran smoothly and were completed in timely fashion. But then the focus shifted to the necessity of changing the set between scenes.
The group of actors-turned-stagehands assigned to this task had no backstage in which to store their props. Thus arose the need for them to appear in costume in the role of house attendants including maids, butlers or the healthcare team while manhandling props from the back of the sanctuary and up the aisles to the altar area.
At the first trill of the lively soundtrack, seven members of the team began shifting the scene away from the secret garden by emptying the stage and bringing panels and props forward to represent a bedroom.
Six other members of the team, who appear as nurses or healthcare workers, marched out on cue. They proceeded to the back of the sanctuary and began rolling one of two large black “floats” up the center aisle. The floats were originally built by set builders Pete Bishop and John Dawson for “Jesus Christ Superstar” last year. However, the float the six were working with would be used as a bed for Colin.
A small audience of parents and helpers watching the rehearsal were surprised and delighted to spot retired Severna Park High School Drama Department head/Rock ‘N Roll Revival director Angela Germanos among the actors staying in character as healthcare workers while making Colin’s bed. It’s great to find Germanos still involved in local theatrical productions.
At long last, the lights dimmed and young Colin, (i.e. Tabitha Popernack) arrived on the scene in his wheelchair with an attendant played by Tabitha’s mother Angela. (Tabitha and Angela have been practicing at home every night the realistic transfer of the ailing Colin from wheelchair to bed.)
The set changeovers were rehearsed again in their entirety to the same music and were achieved more confidently.
While set change practice continued, impromptu costume fittings were going on at the back of the sanctuary. With 55 cast members to dress, fittings have been taking place whenever the cast members get together.
The set change completed, David Merrill appeared at Colin’s bedside and performed a moving solo as his son slept, bidding him an emotional goodbye before leaving for Paris. His performance drew tremendous applause from those watching.
Filled with song and dance, “The Secret Garden” will be performed from 7:30 to 9:30 pm on March 8, 9 and 10 and again on March 15, 16, and 17. Tickets are $15 and may be ordered online at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church (woodschurch.org). Just scroll down to The Secret Garden.
Jing Ying Institute’s Self-Defense Workshop for Teen Girls & women this Sunday
A reminder that Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi is offering an excellent Self-Defense Workshop for Women and Teen Girls this Sunday, February 18 from 2 to 4 pm.
During the Chinese Lunar New Year, the institute is offering the self-defense workshop at a reduced price as a service to the local community. Owner Nancy Greer tells us 100% of the proceeds will go to The Bernie House, an organization that provides long-term transitional housing to a family made homeless by domestic violence.
The cost is $25 and you may register for the workshop by visiting Best Martial Arts Program in Annapolis, Severna Park (jingying.org).
Applications for AAUW Scholarships now available
We just received news from Catherine Crowley of the American Association of University Women of Anne Arundel County that applications for the organization’s Women to Women scholarships are now available. The AAUW is always trying to find ways to reach women in the county who might not be currently in school but are ready to go back to improve their skills and education. These awards are not just for young women just out of high school but also for older women who had to put their education on hold. The scholarships are funded by proceeds from AAUW’s annual book sale.
The American Association of University Women gives out $10,000 or more each year in scholarship awards to Anne Arundel County women who are pursuing higher education at 2yr/4yr colleges or trade schools. The purpose of the Women to Women awards is to improve the access for county women to careers through education and training. Applications are due by March 22nd and interviews will take place in April. The application can be downloaded at http://annearundelacounty-md.aauw.net/scholarships .
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.
