2010 Dinner Theater Production

Thurs. & Fri., April 8 and 9, 2010

Tickets for the dinner and show will go on sale

Friday, February 12, 2010

When in Rome . . .

Book by Martin A. Follose

Music and lyrics by Bill Francoeur

When in Rome, do as the Romans do… slip on a toga and charge like a lion into this dazzling musical! "Left the checkbook in the chariot, your Caesar Card at home? Don't worry, we've got lay-away!" Your audiences will really love the tongue-in-cheek humor Bill Francoeur delightfully weaves into the 10 songs in this side-splitting musical comedy. Peasant thieves Gladius (you could say he's a dorkus supremus!), Minimus (his friends call him Mini) and Julia sneak into the royal palace disguised as handmaidens. Gladius is smitten with the beautiful princess and simply must catch another glimpse of her. They are promptly caught in a hilarious scene, almost becoming lion food until the princess gets an idea. She must marry soon, but almost all the senators and other men of the city, except the repulsive Senator Altilis, are away at war. If she can't find a suitable match, her father has decreed she must marry the last gladiator standing in the upcoming games! That's the last thing this intelligent but headstrong feminist leader wants! And Senator Altilis is deviously plotting to get her out of the empire's affairs by moving the date of the gladiator games up, thus burdening the princess with having to plan her dreaded wedding. This is where Gladius comes in! The princess schemes to train Gladius to compete in the games so she can avoid marrying Brudis, the brainless brute favored to win. The only hitch? Gladius has to win! That's easier said than done, as the princess realizes once the training begins! This masterful, eclectic musical will knock your togas off with songs like the peasants' comical "I Could Be Royalty," the Broadway style "Rome Wasn't Built in a Day," the muses' rousing "Last Gladiator Standing" and Gladius's hysterical "I'm Gonna Die."

Grade 8

Dinner Theater Program Description

2009-2010

Main Street Middle School, Montpelier, Vermont

225-8644

Dinner Theater at MSMS began originally as a theater program during the school year of 90-91 integrating the music, art and technology education departments. They held their performances at Montpelier City Hall. In its fourth year, the family consumer science department joined in adding the restaurant portion of the program now involving all of the eighth grade class entirely in this creative endeavor. Since the addition of dinner theater the shows have all taken place at Montpelier High School. This year marks the 20th year of theater and 17th year of dinner theater.

Although the MSMS music department is no longer a part of this program, a director is hired each year to direct the show and works closely on all aspects of the theater production with art instructor - Mr. Aja, and family consumer science instructor - Mrs. Farrar. The director this year is an accomplished director who we were very fortunate to have available to us, Charlene McManis.

As a start to the program, all students are exposed to several play options and the class as a whole determines the final selection. Readings and auditions take place, a cast is selected and then students (not in the cast) select between the theater arts and dinner theater departments. The FCS department begins by operating a test kitchen to determine a menu for our guests. Once determined, restaurant management & planning begins to make this event a fun filled, real life experience for both our guests and the students. Students in theater arts take on all aspects of theater production as outlined below.

While working on life skills during the program students are also working on Vermont Standards in the areas of problem solving, teamwork, dependability, productivity, dedication, artistic problem solving and development of elements, forms, & techniques in the arts.

Click here for the Grade 8 Dinner Theater Curriculum Objectives