News Release
June 2, 2011
Brampton students team up with World Vision to engage the global village through story and song
70 students from St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School in Brampton are aiming to change the world, and change themselves, through the performance of a new musical story about the global village, called The Other Side of the River.
The musical is an allegorical exploration of global issues of relief, development and justice, and is described by the creators as, the Prince and the Pauper meets Romeo & Juliet.
The workshop production, running June 2, 4, 10, 11, involves 40 triple-threats, twelve dancers, and ten world drummers. It features 14 worldpop songs from the west coast tandem of Glen Barkman and Brandon Foreman. Foreman tours with the band Santa Clara, whose single was featured on the TV show, Degrassi in February. Worldpop choreography is by rising young artist, Esie Mensah, musical direction by Jeanine Noyes, and coaching by the arts faculty of the high school. Other students are building sets, working backstage, designing costumes
and posters and painting a large mural.
Book & Lyrics are by Dennis Hassell, whose most recent play with music, The Glory Man, premiered in San Diego in October 2010. The screenplay version is being optioned by a movie producer. Hassell says, “The energy of these youth is astounding. They have seized with ‘glee’ the music and the dance – and the joy shines through.”
Vice-Principal Leslie Marchand, an alumni of the school she now helps lead, adds, “to originate a new musical is a terrific educational opportunity, but to explore the issues in the story, to journey to the other side of the river, is life-changing.”
World Vision Canada, the country’s largest relief and development organization, has commissioned this new stage musical about world issues, and is partnering with students in the Aquinas Arts program to bring it to life. Youth, parents, educators, media and the public can explore the project at the Facebook page, “The Other Side of the River.”
World Vision is inviting feedback from educators and the general public at this developmental phase of the musical. The long term goal is to make this allegorical musical freely available to schools and other groups across Canada, so that youth can share with their communities a positive vision of the world.
Those who would be skeptical about school productions might remember that a group of ordinary teenagers in their school once produced the first musical of an unknown young composer. The 1968 show was Joseph & the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, and the unknown composer was Andrew Lloyd Webber.
The Other Side Of the River runs at 8:00 p.m. on June 2, 4, 10, 11 in the main auditorium of St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School, 25 Corporation Drive, Brampton. Parking is free. Complimentary tickets can be ordered online, at www.TOSOTR.eventbrite.com. Seating is limited: first come, first served. Facebook: “The Other Side of the River.”
St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School is part of the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and serves a diverse student population of over 2,100, including close to 400 students enrolled in its specialty arts program.
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Media Contact: Leslie Marchand, Vice Principal, Arts, St. Thomas Aquinas S.S.
(905) 791-1195
leslie.marchand@dpcdsb.org