THS to Share the Stage with Garage Theatre Group

The Board of Education has approved a collaborative project between  and the Garage Theatre Group on the production of the musical “Hairspray.”

According to the board’s agenda, "Due to budget constraints, the drama and musical at Teaneck High School are produced on alternate school years. This collaboration would provide the opportunity to offer both the musical and drama during 2011-12.”

Any THS student would be able to audition for the December musical, which would take place on the GTG’s stage at Becton Hall at .   

Business Administrator Robert Finger said in an emailed response that the $6,000 student participation fee associated with this joint venture will come out of a school account “earmarked for this type of collaborative program.”

BoE President Ardie Walser said in an emailed response that the district actively seeks joint projects, such as what will occur between THS and GTG, as well as what already has taken place with the high school's .

“The primary reason for the collaboration is that the Teaneck BoE seeks to take full advantage of the underutilized resource of talent and opportunities in our community,” said Walser.

Michael Bias, artistic director of the GTG, said his theater group was thinking about doing "Hairspray" for one of their youth performances this year and then possibly seeing if Teaneck or Hackensack high schools might be interested in partnering for the production. 

"I thought it would be a good opportunity for the high school students to get a chance to work with a professional theater company,” said Bias. “It would be a hybrid production with members of the high school and our Youth Conservatory.”

Ultimately, Bias approached THS when GTG Board President Karen Sacks mentioned this might be the year that THS was forced to scale back its musical due to budget cuts.

Bias scheduled a meeting with Superintendent of Schools Barbara Pinsak and Assistant Superintendent Vincent McHale.

Pinsak said she liked the ideas that Bias and Sacks brought forth and that "our kids will be able to be a part of the stage crew and serve in many capacities."

Bias confirmed that the fee of $6,000 was agreed upon, even though that amount won't cover a lot of the costs that go into putting on a production, such as securing rights to the musical and paying for wireless mikes, sound production, costumes and set design.

However, Bias said having additional students in the production could help with ticket sales.

“Inevitably, the cost factor did come up during our discussion, and we all agreed upon an amount that would help make this possible because we (the GTG) just can’t afford to give a scholarship to everyone who wants to join the Youth Conservatory,” Bias said.

Auditions for the musical would be open to all THS students and students in the Youth Conservatory, which is a year-round acting program offered by GTG. THS students who have knowledge of lighting and stage design also will be invited to help with the production of the play.  

“We’re going to try and include as many kids as possible,” Bias said.

Bias said he couldn’t set a specific number for how many kids from the high school or the Youth Conservatory will make it into the play, but he said whenever there’s been an overabundance of kids, such as with the GTG’s recent “Seussical: The Musical” performance, additional casts are formed and swapped out between performances.

“Alternate casts only make the ensemble stronger,” Bias said. “We do expect from all actors a certain level of talent and commitment. We run shows over two weekends, so it’s good for the high school students to have the experience of working in productions that extend over periods of time.”

Ultimately, Bias said he hoped a relationship between his theater group and THS could become a model for the nation on how groups can work together and find success during economic downturns.

“We’re trying to think outside the box, “he said. “There are not many win-win situations in life, but this project will be a win-win situation for both sides.”