Since its inception in 2010, the Central Magnet School Theater Department has executed remarkable plays and musicals. This month is definitely no exception. The school year of 2012-2013 is a year of firsts. It marks the first graduating senior class, the first show to be directed by a student and the first show to be accompanied by a full orchestra.
March 21-24, students from the Central Magnet School theater and orchestra will perform the world renowned musical, The Secret Garden.
“This is our biggest and most challenging show to date. We are teaming with our band and strings programs to create the first student orchestra. I am so proud of each and every student and how they have risen to the occasion. The student performances, both acting and instrumental, will not disappoint,” states Fine Arts Teacher Tara Winton.
As a member of the first graduating class, senior Madison Tracy has been a part of the arts program since its start.
“I am so grateful for the many opportunities I have been blessed with and theater is one of them. I have always had a passion for music. In my sophomore year, I auditioned and received a role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I loved it so much that I continued to participate throughout my high school experience,” explains Madison. This month Madison has a key role in The Secret Garden. She admits, “Previous productions like Joseph and Footloose were both really fun and light-hearted musicals. We all had a blast putting those together. But this year, The Secret Garden is a very serious and touching story so it has been extremely rewarding trying to capture the true spirit of love and loss displayed by my character, Lily Craven.”
Throughout all of the musicals presented at Central, Madison and her peers have grown both as actors and as young adults. Madison says, “What I love about musical theater is that I get to use a gift that God has given me to tell a story and convey a message through song. I am extremely grateful for Mr. David Winton and Mrs. Tara Winton, the theater and musical directors, who have dedicated so much of their time to making this wonderful arts program possible.”
The Secret Garden, an enchanting classic of children’s literature, is reimagined in brilliant musical style following the 11-year-old Mary Lennox, orphaned in India. Mary returns to Yorkshire to live with her embittered, reclusive uncle Archibald and his invalid son Colin. The estate’s many wonders include a magic garden which beckons the children with haunting melodies and the “Dreamers”, spirits from Mary’s past who guide her through her new life. The Secret Garden is a compelling tale of forgiveness and renewal sure to entertain all ages.
The Secret Garden runs March 21-23 at 7 p.m. and March 24 at 2 p.m. in the Central Magnet School auditorium. Student tickets are $5 and adult tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door.
Central Magnet School is located at 701 E. Main St., Murfreesboro.
Central has also qualified as one of 30 national finalists for NBC’s SMASH Make a Musical contest.
Central Magnet School was awarded a Broadway Junior ShowKit. The kit includes the rights to perform a musical, two master classes with iTheatrics’ New York-based master teachers, a local project advisor, two teacher stipends, and a $3,000 technical theater fund. Central’s original structure was built in 1848. Primarily a location for education for thousands of Rutherford County residents, just three years ago Central was converted to the County’s only 6-12th grade academic magnet school.
To vote for Central, visit makeamusical.org/smash-make-a-musical/meet-the-schools.
For more information on Central’s theater program, or contact Tara Winton at wintont@rcschools.net.
