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Framingham's Fine and Performing Arts Department Initiates a Celebrity Series to Lead Students in Live Workshops

 

  Framingham Public Schools
Robert A. Tremblay, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools

Rochelle Santos
Media and Communications Office
73 Mount Wayte Avenue, Suite #5
Framingham, Massachusetts 01702
Telephone: 774-388-7121

Framingham's Fine and Performing Arts Department Initiates a Celebrity Series to Lead Students in Live Workshops

May 12, 2020 (Framingham, MA): In this time of remote teaching and learning, the arts teachers of Framingham Public Schools are finding creative ways to make the 'remote' aspect more exciting. Yesterday the Fine and Performing Arts (FPA) Department kicked off a series of live workshops that will bring celebrities to our students via a virtual platform. Once a week all art students and teachers will be invited to attend a "workshop" with a professional in the arts field. These workshops will include live, interactive participation followed by a Q&A with the "visiting artist". The department has lined up Broadway performers, voice over artists, film actors, and even a casting agent who is an FHS graduate!
 
Thanks to a longtime professional relationship and friendship, Ms. Sheron Doucette (Theatre Teacher at Walsh Middle School) was able to coordinate the FPA's first interactive experience in the series featuring Judine Somerville. Ms. Somerville was an original dynamite in Broadway's Hairspray and then again when Hairspray Live was produced for television.  Ms. Somerville's live workshop yesterday included 45 minutes of teaching original choreography and then a Q&A for students and teachers. 
 
"We are very excited to start this series," said Donna Wresinski, Director of the Fine and Performing Arts Department for Framingham Public Schools. "Virtual engagement is an opportunity to bring artists and events to our students that they might never otherwise see. We may not be able to bring our students to LA, New York, and London, but through this experience, we can bring them to our kids. Professionals have been extremely generous with their time and expertise. We are very grateful and look forward to the weeks and visitors to come!"
 
The Department is still seeking celebrities to join the series. If readers have "six degrees of separation" from someone who might be interested in being a part of this series, please contact Donna Wresinski, Director of Fine and Performing Arts for the Framingham Public Schools.

About the Fine and Performing Arts Department
The award-winning Fine and Performing Arts Department of Framingham Public Schools challenges students creatively and academically, approaching all art forms with hands-on learning that inspires a life-long passion for the arts. Within well-equipped art studios, theaters, music rooms, dance labs, and classrooms students explore a wide variety of arts techniques and approaches. All students develop an appreciation for the fundamental and integral tenets of all the art forms and create their own artistic voice to prepare them to be a contributor to the world's cultural economy. Follow Framingham Public Schools Fine & Performing Arts (@FraminghamFPA) on Facebook and on Instagram. 

About Framingham Public Schools
The mission of the Framingham Public Schools is to educate each student to learn and live productively as a critically-thinking, responsible citizen in a multicultural, democratic society by providing academically challenging instructional programs taught by highly-qualified staff and supported by comprehensive services in partnership with our entire community. For news, updates, and announcements, follow Framingham Public Schools (@FraminghamPS) on Facebook, Twitter, and (@framinghamschools) on Instagram. You can also join the conversation using #FraminghamSchools.

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Rochelle Santos
rsantos@framingham.k12.ma.us