5 Questions with Saratoga Springs schools’ Candace Calvin

Every week across the country there are challenges to school programs and frequently it’s the arts that are targeted.

I was curious about what is going on in the rehearsal rooms and stages of the Capital Region, and I was lucky enough to be approached by Saratoga Springs’ Maple Avenue Middle School, which is producing the 1994 Alan Menken/Howard Ashman musical “Beauty and the Beast.”

It may have run 1,500 performances on Broadway, but you have six chances to catch it at Maple Avenue Middle School in Saratoga Springs. Here’s my surprising interview with one of our heroes on the front lines of arts education, Candace Calvin.

Question: How did you get started in theater?  

Answer: When I taught first grade I made plays out of picture books and let my students perform them for their parents. Eventually I directed musicals such as “The Music Man,” “Oklahoma!” and “Annie” (junior versions) at (Saratoga’s) Dorothy Nolan Elementary School.  

Q: What were the auditions like? What were the hardest decisions to make? 

A: Our auditions are done online. Students submit a script-reading audition and a singing audition. They all do a great job and it is fun seeing their talent and personalities.  Callbacks are done in person. Casting decisions take time and the music directors work with me to make the decisions. We are fortunate, being a large school, we have many talented students. This year we have about 65 students in the cast and crew.  

Q: Why is “Beauty and the Beast” a great show for the middle-school student, both to perform and attend?

A: This year I let the students select the musical. They worked as a group to narrow it down to three possible shows and then voted. They felt pretty strongly that they could do a good job on the show and loved the music and the story. I agreed with them. The music is beautiful and fun. There are many great roles and a very large, active ensemble. We chose to double cast many leads to give opportunities to more students. With six performances, each lead gets three shows in their lead role. When they are not in their lead role they are part of the ensemble.   

Q: If someone were to ask you to justify the theater program in the school, what would you say is its greatest value to the students, the school and the community?

A: Being in a theater program is a wonderful experience where students develop life skills they will use whether or not they continue with theater as they grow. Students develop confidence in being in front of large groups of people. They learn responsibility and commitment as they each do their part to create the performance. Just as with a sport, the students must work together as a team to be successful. In addition, students in a theater program develop a large group of friends that they often maintain throughout their school years and even into adulthood.  

In our program we are fortunate to have a large community that supports the students.  Parents help to build sets, paint, help with props, ticket sales and so many other things.  This year we had wonderful help from the theater department at Skidmore College.  Many businesses in the Saratoga area sponsor our productions. Our shows are well attended by our school and community.

Q: What is a play that changed your life and how?  

A: One of my own children worked in professional theater from the time she was 8. I did not have a background in theater, but I found myself spending hours in theaters watching her rehearsals. I found it interesting to see how different directors approached their work, and how sets and costumes were designed and then created. While helping my daughter I also learned about auditions, preparing sides, learning monologues, preparing a book of songs ready for different auditions and callbacks. When she was 11, she and I, as her chaperone, spent about 10 months on the national tour of “Annie.” Watching Martin Charnin direct was an amazing experience for me. He would add a beat after a word or a tip of a head and completely change the scene. I met many actors, musicians and crew members who were passionate about theater, and learned about touring. So I would say all the plays that my daughter was in, and especially “Annie,” helped me to successfully create theater opportunities for students at Maple Avenue Middle School.

Several area schools are having trouble recruiting people to direct, choreograph and produce their school shows. If you love theater, are creative and would like to be part of a rewarding activity, consider applying at a school in your area. The students need you.  Come see our show, maybe we can inspire you to join in and keep theater programs in schools. 

“Beauty and the Beast” will have performances from Feb. 2-10, Friday and Saturday nights at 7 p.m. and Saturday matinees at 1 p.m. at Maple Avenue Middle School’s Trombley Auditorium (515 Maple Ave., Saratoga Springs). Tickets are available at the door.