All Pawtucket All The Time

Some cast members of the student written and produced play “Not Strictly Shakespeare” (from left to right): Tim Flannery ’10 (West Warwick), Nick Corey ’13 (Scituate), Gaston Touafec ’13 (Providence), Matthew Sullivan ’12 (Cranston), Ward Pettibone ’10 (Providence), Graham Duff ’10 (East Greenwich).

(Warwick, RI – March 17, 2010) On Saturday, March 13, 2010, the Rhode Island Theater Education Association and the New England Drama Council announced that Bishop Hendricken High School and its play “Not Strictly Shakespeare” was awarded the state championship to advance to the New England Drama Festival.  The Bishop Hendricken production competed alongside 13 other high school drama programs. The 82nd annual RI Drama Festival was held at South Kingstown High School with over 350 students from around the state in attendance. Over the course of the two day Rhode Island Drama Festival, high school theater students and their directors gathered to share, collaborate and support the arts in our high schools. Three professional artists/arts educators adjudicated the festival and offered feedback to the school after each performance. They also selected the top two winning schools and awarded All-state acting awards. 

Bishop Hendricken High School performed in the Drama Festival with an entirely student created production titled “Not Strictly Shakespeare.”  It was created by 34 students in the Drama Arts Academy at Hendricken. The students wrote a plot outline and then divided up writing responsibilities for creating the script. Two student directors supervised the process of writing.  Each student took a hand in crafting costumes for 30 different characters that appear on stage. The class worked together to create the set required to transport the audience to “not strictly England, 1589.”  Alex McKhann ’10 of Rumford and Billy Cavanagh ’10 of Warwick served as student directors. 

Mr. Brian Cordeiro, Director of the Arts and Drama Program Director at BHHS states, “I am so very proud of the young men from the Bishop Hendricken High School Drama Arts Academy. They embodied all the best characteristics of what we hope to see in the Hendricken Man. They worked together, challenged themselves, were gracious, humble and in the end, proud not just in themselves but for each other. Our entire arts program celebrates this extraordinary achievement as a remarkable milestone in the first year of the Arts Academy at Bishop Hendricken.”

In addition to the state title for the school, two Bishop Hendricken seniors, Daniel Holmes of West Warwick and Graham Duff of East Greenwich, received All-State Cast Awards, which are presented to exceptional acting performances in a production.

“This experience was incredible,” states McKhann. “We all worked so hard together to create this production. I am so proud of my friends and classmates who worked as an ensemble to create this production.  Winning the state title is an honor and an affirmation that great things can come from young people.”  

“Not Strictly Shakespeare” and its company of students and faculty will now advance to the New England Drama Festival in Falmouth Maine during April 15-17.   Productions from each New England State will be presented and discussed in a showcase of the best student theater from 2010.  Bishop Hendricken High School will offer a performance of its award winning production at BHHS at some point in April. 

Bishop Hendricken High School is a Diocesan, Catholic, all-male, college preparatory school, conducted by the Congregation of Christian Brothers, located at 2615 Warwick Ave, Warwick, RI 02889. Established in 1959, Bishop Hendricken has a history steeped in traditions of service and excellence in all areas. Bishop Hendricken’s mission is to strengthen every community member’s relationship with God through cultivating the whole person: heart, mind, soul and body. For more information about Bishop Hendricken, call 401.739.3450 or visit us online at www.hendricken.com.