FREEDOM ON THE 3RD OF JULY Cast Explodes With Talent, Positive Energy
“Loved People Love People…. Hurt People Hurt People: Anger; put a “D” on top of that: DANGER.” Insightful lines like these filled the lyrics of Freedom on the 3rd of July, the original musical produced and performed by the Teens Together Summer Theatre Ensemble, this past summer at the West Pullman Park Cultural Center. A tightly-constructed script and a complex, sung-through score, demanding intense focus and musicality from the cast, helped make this summer as fulfilling as it was challenging. I was delighted to return to West Pullman for a second summer as a Teaching Artist and Performer.
Alyssa Sorresso, Program Manager and Show Director, and I welcomed several new artists to the program. Akeya Harper joined the team as Choreographer and Performer. Myron Silberstein made his MTW debut as Composer and brought along his colleague, John Swenson, as Musical Director. Brandi Rose provided live keyboard accompaniment to rehearsals and performances.
Silberstein’s asymmetrical, brassy score had wide-open chords and meter changes almost every measure! The overture reminded me of Hector Berlioz or Igor Stravinsky. The music would have been difficult for professional performers to learn and perform. However, the teen performers, most with no musical background or experience, rose to the challenge. The cast mastered the music and artfully communicated the complicated characters and emotions of the story through the lyrics.
“We had twelve rehearsals before the first performance,” explained Sorresso. “I needed all of the Teaching Artists to set high expectations for the cast. I counted on participants who were in the program last summer to set a high standard of behavior and work ethic for the entire group. The kids absolutely rose to the challenge. All of us - cast and teachers - left exhausted everyday. It was wonderful to see the teens really dig in and decide to learn this music. Every performance was better than the one before it.”
Freedom on the 3rd of July explored how people deal with emotional pain; how some attempt to lock it away, but eventually take it out on other people. The show examined and explained the deepest tenets of the Music Theatre Workshop philosophy: Look at life as a series of choices; make a decision to stop the cycle of violence and negativity; positive choices produce a positive life.
The cast embodied that philosophy. In the course of the summer, I watched as each individual made personal choices to learn the music, develop their characters and embrace the choreography. More importantly, every one of them also chose to become a part of the team that would make the show spectacular. I really enjoyed being a part of Freedom on the 3rd of July. I was proud to be onstage with these performers.
