WARWICK — Summer Stage at Bishop Hendricken is proud to present “Bring It On The Musical” as its 20th Anniversary Mainstage Production from August 1-4 at the Dr. Daniel S. Harrop Theater on the campus of Bishop Hendricken High School.
“In many ways, the ‘Bring It On’ story mimics the story of our arts program here at Bishop Hendricken,” said Peter Mancuso ‘15, Director. “At the heart of it all, this is a story of a group of people from different backgrounds and situations coming together to create something out of nothing. The Summer Stage program was created all those years ago because a group of young people loved theatre and loved each other, so this story really captures the tradition of that Summer Stage spirit that we honor during this anniversary year.”
“Bring It On The Musical” follows the story of Campbell, Truman High School cheer royalty who has her sights set on a senior year to remember and a shot at Nationals, until she’s unexpectedly redistricted to the neighboring hard-knock Jackson High School. Despite having the deck stacked against her, Campbell befriends the school’s beloved dance crew, and along with their headstrong and hardworking leader, Danielle, manages to form a powerhouse squad for the ultimate competition.
“If you haven’t heard of the title or its preceding film, make no mistake: this is a production full of show-stopping moments,” said Mancuso. “We’ve pulled out all the stops to ensure that audiences are dazzled, from brand new lighting effects, high-flying cheer routines, authentic hip hop, and more. We’re all learning and evolving, and it’s remarkable to see the students’ growth from our first rehearsal to opening night.”
As part of the 20th anniversary production, the cast, crew, and band of Bishop Hendricken’s production participated in a service project addressing issues affecting teenage mental health, including anxiety, depression, bullying, stress and more.
“We really wanted to focus on the issues directly facing our students,” said Mancuso. “It’s a two-pronged problem - not only are these incredibly powerful issues confronting teenagers today, but they are unfortunately rarely talked about or done so with a stigma or taboo. Our goal is to bring awareness to these problems is a meaningful way to engage our students in a healthy dialogue about their own mental health.”
Summer Stage at Bishop Hendricken has partnered with the Mental Health Association of Rhode Island (MHARI) to raise awareness for issues impacting teenage mental health. At each performance, donations for MHARI’s local initiatives to raise awareness and provide resources for those struggling with mental health challenges will be collected.
Following the production’s opening performance on Thursday, August 1 at 7 p.m., audience members are invited to a talkback regarding teenage mental health, the high school experience, and “Bring It On The Musical” with Laurie-Marie Pisciotta, Executive Director of MHARI; Peter Mancuso ‘15, director of the production; and other community members.
Additionally, in an effort to perform random acts of kindness and reach fellow teenagers who might be struggling, the company organized its own “post-it run,” leaving encouraging notes in restaurants, coffee shops and parks across the state. Cast members also performed skits and presented on the impact of bullying and social pressure for Bishop Hendricken’s summer theatre camp.
The production features a cast, crew, and pit band of nearly 100 students from Catholic, private, and public schools from across Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
The production will feature a four-show run, with performances August 1-4: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7 p.m.; and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase online at: www.hendricken.com/boxoffice. Tickets can also be purchased by calling the Box Office at (401) 739-3450, ext. 147. The Box Office will be open for ticket sales two hours prior to each performance.
