The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear! "Elf" opens tonight at 7:30!

The costumes are ready, the makeup is applied and all hats and beards are in place!

The curtain is about to rise on the Burlington High School production of Elf, The Musical.

"It's the story of Buddy the Elf", a young orphan "elf" who mistakenly hears that he is actually a human. With Santa's permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Faced with the harsh realities that his father is on the naughty list and his half-brother doesn't even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New Yorkers remember the true meaning of Christmas.
 "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!" Filled with whimsical songs, Elf is a true crowd pleaser, complete with scenes full of department store Santas and elves who take to the dance floor in true chorus line fashion, high kicks and all...it's really a sight to see! 

And of course, what would Elf be without Santa Claus!



It's a family event you just don't want to miss. Performances begin tonight at 7:30 pm and continue December 7, 13 and 14 at 7:30, with a matinee performance on December 15 at 2:00 pm (nearing sell-out status so get your tix today!).

Tickets for Elf, The Musical are available at www.BurlingtonTheatre.com, 781-A-FUN-TIC and at the door, ranging from $10-$15. 

Fogelberg Performing Arts Center, an accessible venue, is located at 123 Cambridge Street, Burlington MA, on the campus of Burlington High School.

"Elf, The Musical" crew members are making it happen!

The exceptional crew of BHS' "Elf, The Musical"

Where would our beloved Elf be without the help of his invisible friends? 

No, no, lol, we don’t mean more elves; we’re talking about the BHS stage crew that takes command of all the spectacular scenery, lights, sound, costumes, props and more! Totally comprised of students, they are the specialists behind the scenes, performing their tasks with exceptional skill! 

Work proceeds in the green room as 

students work on set pieces

So let’s have an extra egg nog and tip our hat to the following BHS students who have contributed so much time to this production of “Elf, The Musical!”  

Stage Manager: David Kolifrath 

Assistant Stage Manager: Madelyne Gooltz 

Prop Manager: Dilan Churchill 

Prop Crew: Nayva Garg, Rosylnn Moe, Olivia Stevens 

Booth Chief: Ethan Sehr 

Light Tech Asst: John Mirra 

Flies: Alex Johnson, Tyler Nordan, Nolan Woods 

Projections: Paul Fauller 

Sound Techs: Badr Hakim 

Sound Tech Assistant: Sigfie Moody 

Spot Light Operators: Maddie Doherty, Timothy Russo 

Costume Assistants/Makeup: Makaila Gnerre, Lindsey Lavoie, Annabelle Wiley 

Running Crew: Brianne Abruzzese, Gina Accardi, Fiona Bell, Seamus Bell, Doug Edwards, Adam Cabuzze-Luecke, Sean Gallagher, Joe Machado, Kasper McIninch, Julia Papasodoro, Ben Shih, Joe Varghese, Cooper Visco, Audrey Waisnor.

"Elf, The Musical" crew just elfing around!!!

BHS presents “Elf, The Musical” on December 6, 7, 13 and 14 at 7:30 pm and December 15 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $10-$15 and available at www.BurlingtonTheatre.com and 781-A-FUN-TIC. Performances take place at the Fogelberg Performing Arts Center of Burlington High School, 123 Cambridge St, Burlington MA.

Santa's coming...I know him, I know him !!!!!

Burlington High School is thrilled to announce that it will present the modern holiday classic, Elf, as this year’s much anticipated musical. Performances will take place December 6, 7, 13 and 14 at 7:30 pm and December 15 at 2:00 pm in the Fogelberg Performing Arts Center of the high school.

Based on the 2003 blockbuster holiday film starring Will Ferrell, Elf is a whimsical story about Buddy, a young orphan who mistakenly crawls into Santa's bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised unaware that he is actually a human until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa's permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Faced with the harsh realities that his father is on the naughty list and his half-brother doesn't even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Leading the cast as the ever-animated Buddy The Elf is Lucas Vaudo. He is joined by Isabella Gill as Jovie, Luis Villalta-Santana as Walter Hobbs, Katie Clifford as Emily Hobbs, Ryan Brown as Michael Hobbs, Josh Derome-Taylor as Santa, Rachad Mensanoui as Store Manager/Mr. Greenway, Caroline O’Callaghan as Deb, Cam Noonan as Chadwick and Jensine Wagner as Matthews.


Dance ensemble members and featured assorted roles include Katie Surabian (co-choreographer), Grace Visco (choreographer assistant), Maeve O’Callaghan, Erin O’Neil, Madison Bairos, Georgia Doherty, Vittoria Rodrigues, Cathy Chang, Colleen McMakin and Julie Surabian.


Vocal ensemble members and featured assorted roles include Alexis Rigolini, Sydney Hovasse, Avah Brehm,  Caroline Sciaratta, Seema Risman, Theo Visco, Allison Irwin, Maya Pandit and M.E. Gendron.


Children’s ensemble includes Olivia Bunten, Ben Parillo, Sadie Floyd, Aaran Fitzgerald, Lexi Gill, Tayah Fulciniti, Sofie Grossman, Isabel Barnstein, Steven Noonan and Jad Abouzahra.

Creative staff includes John Middleton-Cox (Producer/Music Director), Warren Scott Friedman (Director/Choreography Supervisor), Katie Ames (Assistant Director), Peter Waldron (Set Designer), Greg Jutkiewicz (Light Designer). Also, Johnny Cagno/Fantasy Factory Costumes (Costume Designer), David Kolifrath (Stage Manager) and Madelyn Gooltz (Assistant Stage Manager).

Elf, The Musical is sure to make everyone embrace their “inner elf!” Ticket prices are $10 for senior citizens and students, $15 for adults. Tickets can be purchased at BurlingtonTheatre.com or by phone at 781-A-FUN-TIC (781-238-6842). Burlington High School, an accessible venue, is located at 123 Cambridge Street, Burlington MA.

BEST presents Disney's FROZEN JR!

It is with great excitement that Burlington Educational Summer Theatre (BEST), the region’s premiere summer educational theatre program, announces it will be presenting Disney’s enchanting modern classic, Frozen JR, with performances on July 26 and 27, 2019. 

Based on the 2018 Broadway musical, Frozen JR brings Elsa, Anna, and the magical land of Arendelle to life, onstage at the Fogelberg Performing Arts Center of Burlington High School. The show features all of the memorable songs from the animated film, with music and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, plus five new songs written for the Broadway production!

A story of true love and acceptance between sisters, Frozen JR expands upon the emotional relationship and journey between Princesses Anna and Elsa. When faced with danger, the two discover their hidden potential and the powerful bond of sisterhood. With a cast of beloved characters and loaded with magic, adventure, and plenty of humor, Frozen JR is sure to thaw even the coldest heart!

BEST is a summer program that cultivates an interest in theatre and performance for the elementary and middle school age group. The program strives to give young students a solid basis of experience and knowledge in theatre arts so they can grow and develop as performers. Entering its second decade, past shows have included Annie Jr (2009), Alice in Wonderland and Little Shop of Horrors (2010), Willy Wonka Jr (2011), Aladdin Jr (2012), The Little Mermaid Jr (2013), Cinderella (2014), Seussical Jr (2015), Shrek Jr (2016), The Lion King Jr (2017) and Legally Blonde Jr (2018).

Returning to BEST for the fifth year as Artistic Director is Warren Scott Friedman. He is joined by Thomas Hardy as Choreographer, Steve Black as Music Director and Peter Waldron as Scenic Designer and Technical Director. John Middleton-Cox, Executive Director of the BEST program, has rounded out the staff with junior and senior counselors who possess a talent for mentoring, share a passion for theatre and education, and have distinguished themselves in the performing arts.

The BEST production of Disney’s Frozen JR will take place on Friday, July 26 at 7:00 pm and Saturday, July 27 at 2:00 pm. Reserved seating tickets are $10-$15 and can be purchased online at BurlingtonTheatre.com and at the door. All performances will take place in the Fogelberg Performing Arts Center of Burlington High School, located at 123 Cambridge Street, Burlington MA.

Mamma Mia!, BHS Theatre, Reflections

Burlington High School’s production of Mamma Mia! is infectious!

Opening night was exciting and thrilling, and Saturday night was a carbon copy. At the risk of sounding like we’re bragging, we witnessed over 1,000 audience members jump to their feet dancing and shouting for more! WOW! Of course, the cast and crew obliged with three “encore” numbers and sent them on their way with smiles on their faces and memories of a night filled with sheer theatre enjoyment.

We were asked by an audience member on opening night if and how our productions have changed through the years. The answer is complex and includes the realities of venue changes and resulting limitations, fluctuating budget constraints, and the progress of technology and the digital age.

There is one thing that has not changed over time; the theatre family at Burlington High School has been home to thousands of students, a place where they could return to after school and feel the familiarity of other kids who work as a team to produce something pretty amazing without judgement.  Every student who has entered the theatre wing can tell you that it is a place of acceptance and tolerance, no matter who you are.

For 53 years running, the Burlington High School music department and drama club have been bringing successful musicals to our stage, beginning in 1963 with a production of Oklahoma. Since then we have been to high places with Once Upon a Mattress (1979 and 1989, starring Amy Poehler in the latter) and  to the Emerald City in The Wizard of Oz (2009, with munchkins from the ranks of our elementary and middle school levels); we’ve asked, “How are things in Glocamorra?” in a magical Scottish village in Brigadoon (1966 and 1992), and pondered the age old question, “comedy tonight?” in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1983).

In more recent years we witnessed blockbuster Broadway musicals, some still on the Great White Way or in national touring companies, that introduced casts in the range of 100 students or more, including Jekyll and Hyde (2005), Les Miserables (2007), Beauty and the Beast (2011) and Titanic (2010).

Moving on to answer that question posed on opening night, we can offer the following:

·         Sets are a big part of theatre magic--their design, build and movement has changed, keeping current and reflecting trends in the theatre world.

·         Voice amplification has moved from stationary group mikes to complete sound systems, digital boards and wireless mikes for all principal and secondary cast members. 

·         Lighting is so much more than a few gel coverings on can lights and is now designed not only for affect but also to create mood and influence emotion.

·         Backstage monitors are now used in multiple locations as tools for cast, crew and orchestra members to be on their marks and follow the music director.

·         Ticketing is now handled through an event organization and can offer insight into sales and provide marketing information needed to forecast or report tickets sale.

·         Publicity has progressed from mimeographed copies of flyers and programs to digitally based news outlets and social media, while still maintaining print media and word of mouth.

On another note, visuals have been amazing, the talent is career-making and the dancing is nothing less than aerobic! Setting all that aside and looking backstage, we have witnessed a small army of folks working feverishly on cue to place a set, dress a bed, place a pea, fly a nanny and sink a ship. The stage manager runs that show and in each and every musical that goes up at BHS, it has been a student (with professional guidance) at the helm. And those lighting and sound crews? Also student operated.

Stage crew has grown, too. Students who work backstage are now part of a sponsored club at BHS that offers an alternative to being onstage as a performer. Some take the step and audition after gaining a bit of courage and self-confidence while watching from the wings. There is opportunity for everyone.

Now, back to the show currently onstage at Burlington High School. Mamma Mia! returns this weekend to finish its run on March 29 and 30 at 7:30 pm and March 31 at 2:00 pm. Performances take place in the Fogelberg Performing Arts Center of Burlington High School, located at 123 Cambridge Street.

Get ready to kick up your heels and rock out to the music onstage. Tickets range from $10-$15 and are currently available on BurlingtonTheatre.com, 781-A-FUN-TIC and can be purchased at the door on the day of the performance.

PLEASE DON’T WAIT…the second weekend ALWAYS sells fast. Best bet for great seats are Friday and Saturday night (3/29-3/30); limited seats are available for the matinee on March 31^st.

Thanks for coming and for supporting all we do in the arts at Burlington High School.

Mamma Mia! tech has arrived and this show is rockin'!

It's Tech Week at Mamma Mia!  What is tech week?

Perhaps the photos we took at tonight's Mamma Mia! tech rehearsal can shed some light on the subject! We've come a long way in the past several years and it is astounding how many pieces of technical equipment and computers we are now able to utilize to bring a show to life!

By the time the cast members have learned all their lines, songs and blocking, it's time to add the magic of lights, sound, set, costumes and orchestra...all in just a couple of rehearsals. And it takes nearly an army of students backstage, in the booth and sometimes in the rafters to get it all right! Throw in a few professionals who assist along the way and, oh man, what a show! Lighting cues are all entered, sound checks are run, props are placed, projections are set, music is rehearsed, and that is all before the actual rehearsal begins!

It is a long road from the early days of auditions to opening night but Mamma Mia! will finally arrive this Friday evening, March 22, at 7:30 pm in the Fogelberg Performing Arts Center of Burlington High School. 

Mamma Mia! at Burlington High School. Got tix?: BurlingtonTheatre.com, 781-A-FUN-TIC and at the door but we advise purchasing in advance . . . tickets are flying!!!

MAMMA MIA! opens this Friday (3/22/19)!

One week from tonight the curtain goes up on Burlington High School's spring production Mamma Mia!, the rockingest musical in the history of the Fogelberg Performing Arts Center! They don't call the phenomenon a "Juke Box Musical" for nothing! 

Mamma Mia! cast members preparing for preview performance for school committee

An enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, Mamma Mia! combines the timeless songs of ABBA, one of the most commercially successful acts in the history of pop music, with Catherine Johnson’s feel-good tale of family and friendship that unfolds on a Greek island paradise. Among the timeless ABBA hits in the production are "Dancing Queen," "Knowing Me, Knowing You," " The Winner Takes It All," "Super Trouper" and the title song, "Mamma Mia."

Tech and stage crew members keep the BHS magic happening!

Don't hesitate … Mamma Mia! tickets are moving fast! $10-$15. BurlingtonTheatre.com and 781-A-FUN-TIC. 

Poster by BHS freshman Benjamin Kirabo

"Mamma Mia!" is ABBA-solutely delightful!

Excitement is “The Name of the Game” when the music of ABBA hits the stage in Burlington High School’s spring musical, Mamma Mia!, March 22-31, 2019. All performances take place in the Fogelberg Performing Arts Center of Burlington High School.

An enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, Mamma Mia! combines the timeless songs of ABBA, one of the most commercially successful acts in the history of pop music, with Catherine Johnson’s feel-good tale of family and friendship that unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they had last visited 20 years ago. It’s a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget!

Mamma Mia! is packed with ABBA hits with music and lyrics by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Anderson. The juke box musical rocks over 20 favorites including “Dancing Queen,” “Knowing Me, Knowing You,” “The Winner Takes It All,” “Super Trouper,” and the title song, “Mamma Mia.”

Caitlin Shea 

Leading the Burlington cast as the mother/daughter duo are Caitlin Shea and Isabella Gill as Donna and Sophie Sheridan. They are joined by Jessy Goober as Tanya, Isabella Alessi as Rosie, Luis Villalta as Sam Carmichael, Nathaniel Trofimow as Bill Austin and Josh Derome Taylor as Harry Bright. Also featured are Julie Surabian as Lisa, Jensine Wagner as Ali, Lucas Vaudo as Sky, Rachad Mesnaoui as Pepper, Cam Noonan as Eddie and Douglas Edwards as Father Alexandrios.

Isabella Gill

Select Dancers are Gina Anastasiades, Gaia Arno, Isabella Floyd, Mikaila Gnerre, Colleen McMakin, Alexa Meehan, Maeve O’Callaghan, Erin O’Neil, Maya Pandit, Rayna Parry, Kayla Santiano, Katie Surabian and Grace Visco. 

Select Singers include Katie Clifford, Paul Conti, Erica Czerwinski, Madelyne Goolts, Julianna Grossman, Julia Hovasse, Erin Kerr, Piper Ladd, Hannah MacNeil, Anna Matthew, Caroline O’Callaghan, Hal Outerbridge, Nicole Perry, Alexis Rigolini, Ashwini Shinde, Maya Tillem, Kathryn Woodilla and Nadia Zaganjori.

Vocal Ensemble members are Minh Chu, Lily Algery, Oluwamayowa Ariyo, Jolie Atwood, Saemus Bell, Anika Bharatan, Cathy Chang, Katelyn Conley, Paige Devereaux, Ryan Devereaux, Sean Gallagher, Sydney Hovasse, Brooke Hovasse, Alison Irwin, Courtney Magnarelli, Sophia Meimaris, Sarah Owens, Grace Rakes, Levi Theirrien and Daniel Thornell.

The production of “Mamma Mia!” is directed by Warren Friedman, a New York transplant well respected for his work with the Burlington Educational Summer Theatre audiences and across the country for his work with youth and community theatre groups. He is joined by John Middleton-Cox as music director, Leanne Reardon as choreographer, Peter Waldron as set designer, Kim Cook as costume coordinator. This year's poster artist is BHS Freshman Benjamin Kirabo.

Performances of Mamma Mia! will run March 22, 23, 29, 30 at 7:30 pm, and March 31 at 2:00 pm. Tickets range in price from $10-$15, and are currently available at BurlingtonTheatre.com and 781-A-FUN-TIC (781-238-6842). All performances will take place in the Fogelberg Performing Arts Center, an accessible venue, located at 123 Cambridge Street on the campus of Burlington High School.

Take a chance on me: Freshman creates artwork for BHS "Mamma Mia! "

Collaboration of the arts is a fine-tuned instrument at Burlington High School, coming to life each year with the design and implementation of the poster artwork for the annual spring musical. 

With Burlington High School’s spring musical Mamma Mia! on its way to record ticket sales, several BHS art students in Keith March Mistler’s Digital Publishing course have worked with anticipation and excitement on a competitive assignment to become the designer of this year’s poster.

Freshman Benjamin Kirabo’s artwork has been chosen for this year’s Mamma Mia! poster. Eleven students competed for the honor by watching the movie version of the musical, analyzing thematic elements, and creating sketches and inspiration boards with imagery, fonts and color schemes. 

The client (producers of BHS’ Mamma Mia!) provided guidance and critiques for the students who then refined their original concepts. Final designs were submitted and the one best suited to the production was chosen. Following a few tweaks to the design, Kirabo produced eight different formats of the poster for printing in a variety of sizes and applications. This is the first year a freshman has won the competition.

Students in Mistler’s course create graphics and logos for the school and the community on Mac desktops with Adobe Illustrator software, a real-world application of the skills they learn in the classroom. The poster assignment is a favorite of the students. It has a competitive edge because the chosen design has public visibility.

“I try to teach my students how to be skillful learners who inquisitively seek knowledge and want to learn,” comments Mistler. “Working with the music department is a wonderful experience for students, as this project allows them to interact with real-world clients, learn how to give and receive constructive criticism and apply that knowledge to their own designs, refining and reflecting.”

Benjamin Kirabo’s winning poster graphics will soon be seen around town in signage, at a variety of local retailers and in all digital publicity. It will also appear on the playbill cover and t-shirts for the cast and crew. All eleven poster designs from the digital publishing competition will be on display in the lower library of the high school during the Burlington High School 46th Art and Fashion Show.

Performances of Mamma Mia! will take place March 22-31, 2019, in the Fogelberg Performing Arts Center of Burlington High School. For information and tickets visit BurlingtonTheatre.com and 781-A-FUN-TIC.

Freshman Benjamin Karibo, poster artist

MAMMA MIA! How can I resist you!

The music of ABBA is about to take Burlington by storm when Burlington High School presents the smash hit musical, Mamma Mia! March 22-31, in the Fogelberg Performing Arts Center. 

An enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, Mamma Mia! combines the timeless songs of ABBA (one of the most commercially successful acts in the history of pop music, ruling the charts from 1974-1982) with Catherine Johnson’s feel-good tale of family and friendship that unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter’s quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother’s past back to the island they had last visited 20 years ago. It’s a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget!

Mamma Mia! is jam-packed with pop tunes by ABBA members Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Anderson. The juke box musical rocks over 20 hits including “Dancing Queen,” “The Name of the Game,” “Knowing Me, Knowing You,” “The Winner Takes It All,” “Super Trouper,” and the title song, “Mamma Mia.” 

Mark your calendars! Tickets for Mamma Mia!, ranging in price from $10-$15, will go on sale soon, available at BurlingtonTheatre.com, 781-A-FUN-TIC (781-238-6842) and at the door.