Muse Machine 2004-2005
What is the Muse Machine?
Check out the National Muse Machine website: http://www.musemachine.org/
The mission of the Muse Machine is to enhance the lives of young people by providing them with opportunities to experience and value the arts.
The FMS Muse Machine is part of a program of the Arts Partnership of Greater Spartanburg. (www.spartanarts.org) Members can purchase low-price tickets to mainstage plays and concerts all over Spartanburg. We invite professional dancers, actors, musicians, and other artists to perform for our school. We also get to participate in behind-the-scenes workshops and other activities exclusive to members.
Muse Machine at FMS
Muse Machine will meet twice a month, unless rehearsing for a play. During those meetings we will play improvisational theatre games, rehearse for upcoming performances, have guest artists, and have workshops based on members' interests. The advisor is Mrs. Leah Wren, the FMS drama teacher.
Congratulations to this year's Muse Machine officers
President: Emily Porterfield
Vice-President: Jasmine Rogers
Secretary: David Seay
Next Meeting: Tuesday, January 25th from 3:30 until 5 PM!
Muse Machine Membership $10.00
Upcoming Out of School Performances
$5.00 per show (you can choose to attend none, or all, or anything in between!)
| The Converse Opera Theatre and the Greater Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra present La Boheme, Saturday, January 29th at 7:30 PM at Twitchell Auditorium. |
| The Spartanburg Youth Theatre presents Tom Sawyer, Friday, February 4th at 4:30 and 7 PM, and Saturday, February 5th at 10:30 AM at the David Reid Playhouse. |
| The Music Foundation of Spartanburg presents The Greater Spartanburg Philharmonic with Byron Stripling, Trumpet Wednesday, February 16 at 7:30 PM at Twitchell Auditorium. |
| The Spartanburg Little Theatre presents a Carol Burnet autobiography: Hollywood Arms, February 25-26 & March 4-5 at 8 PM, and Feb 27 & Mar 6 at 3 PM at the David Reid Playhouse. |
| Ballet Spartanburg presents The Amy Marshall Dancers Saturday, February 26 at 8 PM at Twitchell Auditorium. |
What's going on this year?
The FMS Muse Machine was invited to participate in this year’s A Dickens of A Christmas celebration in downtown Spartanburg. This was the 11th year for Dickens which was held from 6-9 p.m. on Tuesday, November 30th. We staged a live action scene for a window, depicting Victorian life as toys found under the tree Christmas morning. We were assigned to perform in the window at 111 Main Street. When we were setting up, the students were worried about Ballet Spartanburg performing right across the street. They thought they would not be able to compete for an audience. However, the exact opposite happened. We had little children standing and watching us for what seemed like hours! The students were so pleased to entertain and to have such a big crowd. I think this will become a tradition for the Fairforest Middle School Muse Machine!
In December, you might have seen the FMS Muse Machine Christmas Tree on display at the Spartanburg County Arts Center. The members made all their own decorations and traveled to the Arts Center to decorate their contest entry. The tree looked beautiful! Although we were not one of the winning trees, I believe the hornets did a fabulous job! Winners were based on how many votes the trees receive, so get out next year and vote for next year's Muse Machine tree!
The PTO Winter Concert was a huge success! The FMS Performing Arts departments showed true talent in front of an audience which the large gym could not contain! The Muse Machine performed an original work entitled, Where has that Pesky Elf Gone? The audience was in stitches while the actors did their "thang!" Interestingly, with the exception of just a few, the cast was also busy performing with either the band, chorus, and orchestra. Thank you to Mrs. Morrow, Ms. Dial, Mrs. Kuntz, Mr. McDaniel, and Mr. Wenger for letting the actors wear their costumes during their other performances. It helped relieve some of the stress involved in running back and forth between performing groups. What a testament that a talented individual is usually multi-talented!
January's artist visit will be provided by artists from FBN Productions: Pianist Frankie Deal and Soprano Pegi Roberts. They will come to FMS Thursday, January 13 during 1st period. Here is their website: http://www.operaforkids.org/
In February, we will be traveling to the Spartanburg Youth Theatre to see Tom Sawyer. One of our own Muse Machine members has landed a lead role in this production! Way to go, David! We can't wait to see you on stage!
If you would like to perform on stages other than at FMS, see the following websites for audition information:
Spartanburg Youth Theatre
http://www.sparklenet.com/youththeatre/
Greer Children's Theatre
http://www.greerculturalarts.com/index.html
Greenville Area
http://www.greenvillearts.com/html/entries___auditions.html#
South Carolina Children's Theatre
www.scchildrenstheatre.org
Greenville Little Theatre
www.greenvillelittletheatre.com