MSA Theater Arts Presents "Candide"
May 18-20 and May 25-27 in the Performing Arts Center

The Marin School of the Arts Musical Theater class will present the brilliant and lyrical musical theater experience “Candide” at the Novato High School Performing Arts Center on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 18 - May 20, and May 25 - May 27. The show begins promptly at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12.00 (Adults) and $6.00 (Seniors/Students). Advance tickets are highly recommended as the shows are expected to sell out.

The musical “Candide” is adapted from Voltaire’s classic novel of 1759 with a score composed by Leonard Bernstein. Set in the age of Enlightenment, the story follows the hero, Candide, on a picaresque journey from Germany to Holland and Portugal, to Uruguay and Surinam in the ‘New World,’ and back to Europe. Along the way, he encounters wars and earthquakes, the Spanish Inquisition and pirates, and searches for his love, Cunegonde, while trying to remain true to the philosophy espoused by his beloved teacher, Pangloss, that he should always remain optimistic, for everything is for the best.

Voltaire’s satirical comedy playfully skewers such ‘enlightenment’ institutions as tribal and religious warfare, the aristocracy, and the Inquisition, while Bernstein’s rich, dynamic score delivers such tasty musical treats as: “Glitter and Be Gay,” “Bon Voyage,” and “The Best of All Possible Worlds.” The show will be performed by the Musical Theater class of the Marin School of the Arts at Novato High School, under the direction of David Sinaiko and Musical Director Carri Abrahms. The orchestra is made up of members of MSA’s instrumental music program, conducted by Garrett Michaelson. The cast features Corey Powers as Candide; Sarah Rivas as Cunegonde; Zac Schuman as Voltaire/Pangloss; Courtney Eggert as Paquette and Atlee Feingold as Maximillion.

“Candide” Book Adapted from Voltaire by: Hugh Wheeler
Lyrics by: Richard Wilbur
Music by: Leonard Bernstein
Additional Lyrics by: Dorothy Parker, John Latouche, Leonard Bernstein, Lillian Hellman and Stephen Sondheim

All performances will be held at the Novato High School Performing Arts Center, 625 Arthur Street. To purchase advance tickets, call the Marin School of the Arts at 892-7915 or Gayle McCoy at the Novato High School office at 898-2129.

“Celebration to Share” fundraising event on May 7

The public is invited to come to a celebration and meet the next generation of authors, painters, filmmakers and videographers at the home of Larry and Victoria Heiges in Tiburon. The “Celebration to Share” event will be held on Sunday, May 7, 2006 from 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 pm. The afternoon will showcase the work of the talented high school students of the Marin School of the Arts (MSA) at Novato High School. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door for $35 (Adults); $5 (Students); or $75 (Muse Donors). Complimentary beverages and appetizers will be served.

Featured at the event will be original artworks, performances of creative writing works, and screenings of video/film productions. Live jazz music will also be performed by some of the MSA music students.

According to Carina Strano, MSA Visual Arts Instructor, "The Heiges' home, with its lovely rooms and stunning views, provides a fitting backdrop for the talents of these students. I think the public will be amazed that the work they are seeing was actually created by 15 to 18 year olds. Their talent far exceeds their years," she adds.

Artwork will be available for sale at the event to support the school's program. Marin School of the Arts (MSA) at Novato High is the only public school performing arts program in the North Bay that combines a college-preparatory-level visual and performing arts curriculum with the benefits of a traditional high school. Currently, 200 students attend MSA and are pursuing one of the following areas: vocal or instrumental music, musical theatre, drama, dance, creative writing, video and film, and visual arts. Forty of these students live outside the Novato Unified School District including the Southern Marin towns of Tiburon, Fairfax, San Rafael, San Anselmo, and Sausalito. Students also travel from Sonoma County to take advantage of this unique program.

The Heiges' son, Max attends Marin School of the Arts as a senior, and is studying and painting in Visual Arts. Max, who transferred from Redwood High School, will attend Dartmouth in the fall.

For more information, and to purchase tickets, contact Karen Barry at 415-892-3938. All proceeds benefit the MSA Creative Writing, Visual Arts, and Video programs.

Marin School of the Arts Jazz Band Wins
Command Performance at Santa Cruz Jazz Festival!

Two MSA Combos Earn Unanimous Superiors;
Students Earn Eight Outstanding Musicianship Awards

An elated group of jazz musicians from the Marin School of the Arts Big Band took the top award at the Santa Cruz Jazz Festival this past weekend, the largest jazz festival in Northern California. Competing against over 75 schools from Eureka to Fresno, Marin School of the Arts Big Band won a coveted “Command Performance” with nearly perfect scores from the three judges.

Two of the three MSA combos earned Unanimous Superior scores as well; the third combo received a Superior and Excellent score. Eight individual awards were also given to MSA students for Outstanding Musicianship by the International Association of Jazz Educators. Three MSA students received two special recognition certificates each: Joey Schneider for Trumpet; James Harmon for Guitar and James Perdelwitz for Tenor Sax. Erin Greenwell received one award for her vocals in the combo performance; Leah Bowden also received recognition for her drum solo in the Novato High School band.

Mark Peabody, Founder of Marin School of the Arts said, “"This is the first time in my 35 year career as a music teacher that I've been able to work so many talented high school students in one band. MSA has attracted some of the top musicians in the North Bay, resulting in a whole new standard of excellence among high school students. It’s exciting and very rewarding to see these students shine -- even the judges at the Santa Cruz Jazz Festival were amazed by them", says Peabody. He added, “In fact, the judges noted that since the band's performance was already college-level, they were unable to come up with any constructive criticism to help them improve. They said they rarely see high school bands that are this exceptional.”

The MSA Big Band performed Cerulean Sky composed by Fred Sturm and Evidence by Thelonius Monk, arranged by John Clayton. Both are considered to be highly complex, challenging arrangements, especially for young musicians. Three small group combos from Marin School of the Arts also performed and received top scores. MSA Jazz Combo II and Combo III both earned Unanimous Superior scores; MSA Combo I earned a Superior and Excellent for performances by students on their second instruments. The groups featured: Combo I - Nick de Ryss (piano), Ali Rucker (flute, sax), Nick Grinder (bass); Combo II – Erin Greenwell (vocals), James Harmon (guitar), Seth Honig (bass); Combo III – Joey Schneider (trumpet), James Perdelwitz (tenor sax), Nick de Ryss (drums), Jason Mauch (bass), and James Harmon (guitar).

Next up for MSA is the Reno Jazz Festival on April 28 through 30, which attracts over three hundred bands from 7 states. Garrett Michaelson, MSA jazz band instructor, believes that the students will be well-prepared. “At Reno, we’ll face our toughest competition yet. This festival is the largest in the Western United States and the level of performances is unsurpassed. This year, I believe MSA will rank up there with the best,” he adds. Last year, MSA received “Unanimous Superior” scores from the judges, but did not earn a Command Performance.