Richard D. Russell » Katrina the Shrew

The Daily Record covers “Katrina the Shrew”

Richard D. Russell — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 17:33:26 +0000

Joey Moschella and Julianna Scerbo

In early July the Daily Record of New Jersey featured an article about Katrina the Shrew, focusing on my collaborator Emily Thompson-Schweer. There’s more updated Shakespeare to come from the two of us, but for now, here’s a link to the story:

http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011307130004

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Acclaim for Katrina the Shrew

Richard D. Russell — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 20:24:05 +0000

The Daily Record of New Jersey posted 25 pictures from last week’s production of Katrina the Shrew. Click here for the pictures (the link will open in a new window).

As I mentioned in a previous post, I wrote most of the music for Katrina the Shrew, with book and lyrics written by Emily Thompson Schweer. Emily teaches fourth grade G & T in the East Hanover School District, and one of her projects is SALAD — the Student Actors’ League of Arts and Drama.

I’m pleased to share word that SALAD is an award winner this year of the “Promising Practices” program of the Character Education Partnership. The CEP is concerned with developing good character in schools, and SALAD was cited for its mission of creating a school community and integrating the curriculum. There is more information at the CEP website by clicking here.

Congratulations to Emily!

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Katrina The Shrew premiere

Richard D. Russell — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 23:10:32 +0000

Katrina the Shrew premiered this past June 2 at the Central School of the East Hanover (NJ) School District. This musical adaptation of the Shakespeare play, The Taming of the Shrew, was adapted by Emily Thompson Schweer (book and lyrics) and I wrote most of the music for the evening’s songs. (Emily had already written two of the songs, which I arranged.)

Emily is the G & T teacher at this school, and every year she presents a musicalized adaptation of a Shakespeare play. The performances are presented by her 4th Grade group, the Student Actors’ League of Arts and Drama, also known as SALAD.¬†I’m delighted to be joining her for the first time in writing music. I was very impressed by the huge number of students who participated–all of whom rehearse during lunch recess or after school.

Here are several pics from the show.

Padua School of Arts

Alexandra Altonjy, pianist, with Emily Thompson Schweer and students

The cast performs the title number

The cast performs, “That’s the Way to Deal with a Shrew”

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“Katrina the Shrew” to premiere June 2

Richard D. Russell — Fri, 13 May 2011 12:44:03 +0000

In something of a departure, I’ve recently written several songs for Katrina the Shrew, a musical modernization of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew.¬†While I’ve always been quite interested in musical theater, in this case the musical is written to be performed by the Fourth Grade class of the Central School in the East Hanover School District of New Jersey. The premiere performances are June 2.

The script is by “Willa Shakeschweer,” the nom de plume of Emily Thompson Schweer, who teaches at the school. Emily also wrote the lyrics to the show, while I contributed the music. I’ve collaborated with Emily before in several performances at In Mid Air Productions.

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