Bucks County Playhouse hosted its first-ever full student matinee on Oct. 20, at 11 a.m. Students from seven middle and high schools from throughout the region attended a special performance of the Playhouse’s production of Evita, followed by a talk-back session with members of the cast and educators from the Playhouse. The matinee was sold out.
“Ever since I arrived here at BCP five years ago, it has been my dream to be able to bring students from across the region to the Playhouse and experience the amazing artistry in their own community. This special performance of Evita was for them, and we are thrilled they are here,” said Michaela Murphy, Bucks County Playhouse director of education.
The Education Program of Bucks County Playhouse offers a wide range of programs, including classes, workshops and performance opportunities designed to infuse quality arts education programs into the community. The largest beneficiary of the program’s work are area students through unique initiatives, like a multi-day Student Theater Festival (now in its 55th year), the Playhouse Youth Company, The Bucks County Playhouse Institute for Educators, and the Bounce Residency program with the Morrisville School District. The student matinees are the latest offering in a growing program that has a direct positive impact on area students.
The schools attending the Oct. 20 performance included:
– Pennsbury High School, Yardley
– Morrisville Intermediate School, Morrisville
– Delaware Valley Regional High School, Frenchtown, New Jersey
– Carl W. Goetz Middle School, Jackson, New Jersey
– Central Bucks East High School, Buckingham
– Burlington County Institute of Technology, Medford, New Jersey
– Lawrence High School, Lawrenceville, New Jersey
The rags to riches story of one of the world’s most charismatic and controversial political figures received a new look in an intimate production at the Playhouse, 70 S. Main St. in New Hope. With lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Webber and music by Tim Rice, Evita was reimagined for the Playhouse stage by director Will Pomerantz and choreographer Marcos Santana. Evita was presented in association with Bay Street Theater.
The revival, which wrapped up Oct. 30, takes a fresh look at the life of the former First Lady of Argentina Eva Peron. The icon’s rise and fall is revisited through the eyes of her supporters, who have clandestinely gathered in a tango club 10 years after her death to celebrate her life. The classic score features some of Webber and Rice’s biggest hits, including “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” and “Another Suitcase in Another Hall.”
