PRESS RELEASE: NOVEMBER 25, 2024
Florida School of the Arts presents “The Old Is New Again!”
The Florida School of the Arts Musical Theatre Vocal Company will present its fall concert on December 8.
The Florida School of the Arts Musical Theatre Vocal Company will present its fall concert Sunday, December 8 at 2:30 p.m. Under the direction of Russell Franks, FloArts has prepared a dynamic celebration of musical theater through the ages. Featuring show-stopping numbers like “Anything Goes,” “Big Spender,” “Too Darn Hot,” and “Don’t Stop Believing,” this high-energy performance reimagines timeless classics alongside contemporary favorites.
The concert promises an unforgettable afternoon of music, movement, and storytelling with innovative choreography by students Alexis Brockway, Makari Nealy, and Jasmine Bruce.
The concert is free and open to the public and will take place on the FloArts main stage located on the Palatka campus of St. Johns River State College.
According to Franks, Vocal Company is a required course for all FloArts musical theatre majors and focuses on the development of the skills necessary to function as a member of a musical theatre ensemble at the professional level, including sight-reading, choral harmonization and choreography. “At every stage, the students are pushed to assimilate new material as quickly and accurately as possible and then execute that material at the highest level of which they are capable,” said Franks.
Musical Theatre Vocal Company students include Jasmine Bruce, Val Caamano, Isabella Casillas, Tucker Garrett, Mara Gonzalez, Alinas Goudie, Amanda Lopez, Andrew McClellan, Raina Moffat, Alexandra Pierre, Aloni Ramsey, Rose Roberts, Grace Roy, Greg Schuknecht, Kylie Stecher, Joellie Tucker, Israel White, Jalen Hardy
According to Franks, “The students in this program receive an incredibly immersive education far beyond simply learning to perform in shows. The most important element in any staged production, film, concert or musical event is collaboration, and singing in an ensemble is an excellent way to teach the students the importance and difficulty of intense collaboration,” Franks explained. “Not only do they have to listen for their own part in the music, but they also have to listen to each other and develop understanding of how their part fits into the whole to create unity within the piece.”
FloArts is part of the academic and administrative structure of SJR State and awards associate degrees in acting, dance performance, musical theater, stage management, theater technology, graphic design/new media and studio art. For more information, call (386) 312-4300 or visit FloArts.
The Musical Theatre Vocal Company will present timeless classics alongside contemporary favorites.