The Culture of Waltham - Theater

When I was a kid, I went to the theater twice - once to see my cousin Maia in the Sound of Music at the . She played one of the Von Trapp children. and once in downtown to see "Annie." 

Thus began my life long love of theater.  When you think of going to the theater, if you're like me you think of Waltham. I admit, there are theaters in Boston, but you can see fantastic work right here without leaving the city limits!

-: Currently, the Hovey Players are performing Private Lives written by Noel Coward and Directed by Ronni Marshak   Friday, May 13 – Saturday, May 28.

The Hovey Players do wonderful plays.  My favorite part is that they give back to the community.  What more can you ask for in a community group?  A hand-up to the next organization pays it forward, so to speak.  They do it through their “... successful Hovey Gives Back program, which allows each director the opportunity to help raise awareness for a charitable organization of his or her choice. The designated organization for Private Lives is the American Red Cross.  Audience donations will go towards relief efforts for the victims of the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami.  Visit them at www.redcross.com,” their Web site reads.  How cool is that? You go to the theater and they help save lives.  I can dig that.

Then there's my favorite, the , but I’m biased. Currently, the Reagle Music Theater is performing Ballroom With A Twist at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 15.

"This ground-breaking show, starring a rotating roster of celebrity hosts and fabulous young dancers from So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing With The Stars and High School Musical, pushes the boundaries of ballroom dance, infusing it with the energy and intensity of the latest "hip-hop" styles,” their Web site reads.

Here's the synopsis of Reagle’s history taken straight from their Web site: "Reagle Music Theatre was founded in the summer of 1969 as an outlet for talented high school and college students by Robert J. Eagle, a Waltham Public Schools teacher and administrator, who received a grant from the to support a summer theatre. The superintendent of schools thought this was a good use of the empty school theatres, and he arranged the rent-free use of the theatres, the Robinson and the Crawford.

In subsequent years, because no grant funds were available, the players embarked on an endless round of bake sales, car washes and auctions in order to support the summer theatre. During those early years, as the group became better known, people from other communities joined. From the outset, Reagle’s purpose has been to produce the most professional productions possible, while providing unique educational, recreational, and entertainment opportunities for its members. Even in 1969, careful research was done on the original Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel, and a full orchestra was engaged in order to reach the standard established by Mr. Eagle." 

Robert Eagle, his amazing staff, and an outrageous number of volunteers put on many great shows throughout the year. 

You might not know all the ways in which Reagle gives back to the community.  First, every winter hundreds of Waltham and local children audition and participate in "It's Christmastime."  Kids have fun and get the chance to sing and dance.  My son has found a love of theater I never previously guessed he had.  They also offer a children's summer theater program.  Reagle actors also work with the English Department to offer "Shakespearean Actors in the Classroom."  Reagle actors perform Shakespeare with our children and make these works fascinating rather than obscure or old. 

There are so many layers of what these Reagle performers do for this community along with their enrichment of our cultural offerings.

We're so blessed to also have two universities in town that have excellent theatre choices as well.

-The Spingold Theatre Center at Brandeis University "The creation of the Brandeis Theater Company, an ensemble-based group of actors, designers and directors drawn from the students, faculty, staff and professional guest artists of the theater arts department breaks new ground in the training of theater students.  The company produces challenging, forward-looking programming that promotes multiculturalism and artistic achievement,” their Web site.

"We want to train students on a professional model," professor Eric Hill said on their Web site. "Medical internists are not trained in a classroom, and theater artists should not be either."

-At Bentley University you can enjoy "The Bowles Series includes theater-based performances offering a taste of the cultural arts to the Bentley community and beyond. Additionally, two student productions by the theatrical honor society Alpha Psi Omega are included in the Bowles line-up,” their Web site reads.