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Requiring few props, an open space, and only two actors, Knighthorse Threatre Company stormed Bay Shore High School in April 2009 with its original adaptations of several plays by William Shakespeare, including “McBeth,” Hamlet” and “Romeo and Juliet.”

Knighthorse was formed by Tyrus and AMy Lemerande in September 2003. The husband and wife acting duo met while performing with Shenandoah Shakespear’s Brave New World Tour in 2002-2003. “We believe Shakespeare was meant to be seen,” noted Ty and Amy, who graduate with Masters in Theater Arts from Penn State and Trinity Conservatory in Rhode Island, Respectively.

Lighting up the stage with an inner brightness, Amy and Ty displayed their great understanding of the bard with fluent productions of his familiar works, The couple interacted well with the audience, involving students in lessons, such as a live version of iambic pentameter with 10 volunteers.

View more photos of Knighthorse in Bay Shore here >>

Mike Millan, Bay Shore Alumni (Class of 2007) and Hartt School of Music (Class of 2011), returns to Bay Shore High School to work with students on musical theater repertoire and inspire future musicians.

Mike has recently been featured in the Sister Act National Tour (2013-2014) and in the hit off broadway show “Piece of my Heart” (2014)

Many thanks to the BSSAEF (Bay Shore Schools Arts Education Fund) for this wonderful opportunity and for the BSHS Drama Department and Mr. Bilella for organizing this event.

On Wednesday, October 7, 2015, orchestra students at Bay Shore High School and Middle School had the opportunity to meet internationally-renowned cellist Mark Summer.

A founding member of the Turtle Island String Quartet, Mr. Summer is particularly known for his percussion and pizzicato techniques, as well as his improvisational ability. He showcased those talents while performing for students during interactive assemblies.

After meeting with larger groups of high school and middle school musicians, Mr. Summer conducted a workshop with two High School seniors, Brianna Acevedo and Estefan Perez. During the hour-long session, he listened to pieces the two young cellists had prepared and offered advice and feedback.

Bay Shore School Arts Education Fund honors memory of founder Murray Barbash by taking 180 students to see August Wilson’s autobiographical “How I Learned What I Learned” at the Signature Theater.  Actor, Ruben Santiago-Hudson will talk to students after performance.

Eighteen years ago, Long Island philanthropists, Murray and Lillian Barbash took 700 Bay Shore High School students to see the acclaimed Broadway production of Emily Mann’s  “Having Our Say,” a two person play that told the story of the barrier breaking Delaney sisters.  The field trip inspired the Barbashes to found the Bay Shore Schools Arts Education Fund (BSSAEF), a not-for-profit which brings high quality cultural arts programs to Bay Shore’s diverse student population.

For years Murray Barbash talked about taking the next generation of Bay Shore students to the theater.  Barbash died this past March….just a few months before the Signature Theater announced its 2013/14 season, which included Wilson’s autobiographical “How I Learned What I Learned.” The BSSAEF Board and Bay Shore Faculty agreed that the play would be perfect for a young audience and contacted Signature to discuss the possibility of buying out the theater for a performance.  And so, on December 5, 180 Bay Shore high school students will make the trip to Signature Theater to see “How I Learned What I Learned.” The trip will be dedicated to the memory of Murray Barbash, a theater lover who was a particular fan of the Signature Theater.  For some students, this will be their first New York theater experience.  The BSSAEF hopes it will not be their last.

Review: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/25/theater/reviews/how-i-learned-what-i-learned-at-signature-center.html?_r=0 

HOW I LEARNED WHAT I LEARNED: Co-conceived with and directed by Todd Kreidler, in collaboration with and featuring Tony Award-winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson. This solo show, featuring Ruben Santiago-Hudson, shares August Wilson’s personal stories about his encounters with racism, music, love, violence, and life-changing friendships as a young poet in Pittsburgh’s Hill District. Directed by the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright’s long-time collaborator Todd Kreidler, August Wilson’s How I Learned What I Learned charts one man’s journey of self-discovery and what it means to be a black artist in America.

“We are thrilled to have the students from Bay Shore attend a performance of August Wilson’s HOW I LEARNED WHAT I LEARNED. Being able to have student groups attend productions at Signature Theatre is a large part of the reason we developed the Signature Ticket Initiative, our groundbreaking ticket subsidy program that provides $25 tickets for all shows. This New York Premiere by one of America’s most noted playwrights is a very special show for us, and we feel confident the students will have a lot to discuss after learning how August Wilson became the man that he was.”  David Hatkoff, Director of Marketing and Audience Services

SIGNATURE THEATRE

The Pershing Square Signature Center

Direct: 646-388-8117 www.signaturetheatre.org

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January was quite a month…we are all just catching our breath from a whirlwind of cultural activities…all funded  by the Bay Shore Schools Arts Education Fund (BSSAEF).

From Broadway to Bay Shore: Musical Theater Residency

On Monday, January 9 over 100 choir and drama students listened to visiting musical theater pros Bill Daugherty and Deborah Tranelli explain in story and song how the issues of race and racism have been dealt with in musicals.  The hour-long program featured songs spanning the entire 20^th century including numbers from The George White Scandals, Showboat, Fiddler on the Roof, Cabaret and Avenue Q.

The singers were accompanied by pianist, Doyle Newmyer. The afternoon Q&A session gave students the opportunity to discuss vocal technique with these seasoned performers.  Daugherty and Tranelli will return to Bay Shore in February for an afternoon of vocal coaching.  Students who are preparing for the spring musical, and/ or NYSSMA are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity.

Electrify Your Strings: Mark Wood Rocks the House

January 9 was also the first day of a week-long residency by the “Pied Piper” of electric strings, the charismatic Mark Wood.  Wood performed assemblies in both Gardiner Manor and South Country and worked closely with string players from the Middle and High Schools.  The residency was capped off by an extraordinary concert the evening of Jan. 12, 2012.  With string players ranging from ages 9 to 18 on the stage, in front of the stage and filling the aisles, one would have thought that Bay Shore had become a school of performing arts.  The auditorium was packed with parents, siblings and friends of the performers…all cheering wildly after each number.

First Annual BSSAEF Dance Benefit and Choreography Contest

Finally, on Saturday January 21, Bay Shore’s  talented dancers took the stage for the first annual BSSAEF Dance Benefit, featuring the District’s  first student choreography contest, performance by the High School Dance Team, the Fosse Project, coached by guest artist David Bushman, himself the former Dance Captain of the National Tour of the hit musical Chicago, the virtuosic break dance troupe IVANROCKS,  and even a number performed by a brave and enthusiastic group of teachers.

Providing a bit of historical context, BSSAEF chair Susan Barbash presented a selection of film clips from Hollywood’s greatest Movie Musicals.  The audience delighted in the performances of Bill Bojangles Robinson, Shirley Temple, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon.  But the gasps of amazement and loudest cheers went to the incomparable Nicholas Brothers who were featured in two film clips. Following the film portion of the evening, all eyes were on the five finalists of the first annual BSSAEF Choreography Contest.  Every number was unique….and when it came time for the audience members to text in their votes, the choice was difficult.

First Prize was awarded to duo, Arje Brothers and Remington Peters – who are actually aunt and nephew.  Second Prize went to another family act, sister and brother  Joy and Jordan Norris. Soloist Boris Diaz went home with Third Prize.  All finalist including break dancers  Moses Narvate, Chester Costales, and Allen Iracuente and  merengue  dancers  Cindy Flores, Nicole Stahler, Sebastian Guzman and Andres  Cabrera  were awarded membership to the Great South Bay YMCA.

Choreography contest winners and the talented performers shared the stage for the final bows…an exciting end to an amazing month….

Please consider this….the Bay Shore School District has a long history of supporting the arts. However, in these times of economic stress, every school district has to watch every penny it spends.  This is why groups like the BSSAEF, Music Sponsors and Theater Sponsors are so important to the cultural life of our students. You do not have to be as rich as Bill Gates or Warren Buffet to be a benefactor.  Any contribution you make…whatever the amount…will benefit our children and our district.  Please support the organizations that support cultural arts in the Bay Shore Schools!