Northshore Magazine

Northshore September 18

Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.

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84 SEPTEMBER 2018 PHOTOGRAPHS BY, TOP TO BOTTOM, JEPH ELLIS, ELISE SINAGRA At Clark School in Rowley, local students have the opportunity to express themselves through an expanding performing arts program. By David Thomson FAME IS THE NAME OF THE GAME "I'm gonna live forever. I'm gonna learn how to fly, high." Anyone who turned on the radio in the early 1980s couldn't escape these lyrics from the song "Fame." It was the title song of the hit movie of the same name, which was followed by a long-running TV series and, a 2009 movie remake. Each iteration focused on the lives of students attending the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, New York City. While Rowley, Massachusetts, might not match the bright lights and big-city feel of New York, local students now have a greater oppor- tunity to express themselves with Clark School's expanding performing arts program. Clark School, an independent private school, was founded in 1978 to provide a unique and individualized approach to education. It moved from Danvers to Rowley in 2014, but has always offered drama as part of its yearly curriculum for / I N -D E P T H / both lower and high school students. Drama is just one element of the Clark School arts program, however, which focuses on developing an individual, local, and global understanding of art. Students work on finding their own individual artistic voice by learning techniques in a variety of media, including draw- ing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, and digital photography. Each student works on expanding their skills and improving their art foundation. One particularly interesting class is a yearlong course on video blogging, known as vlogging. "is replaces a typical journalism class and allows students to create a library of YouTube videos for private or public viewing," says Jeff Clark, head of Clark School. "It is an- other way to get kids interested in the important art of storytelling." Performing arts have always been extremely important to Clark, who, after college, per- formed professionally in repertory theatre, in- cluding a Broadway tour, prior to his educational career and founding of Clark High School. "Performing is a terrific way for young people to build confidence and overcome anxiety," says Clark. "Acting, and public speaking, are critical, transferable skills, no matter what career path a student chooses." Enter Nicole S. Gulino, from Middleton. is Masco High School grad, who started perform- ing professionally in shows at the North Shore Music eatre when she was 15, earned a BFA in musical theatre from Point Park University in Pittsburg. She spent time working in theatre in New York and regional theatres around the country before landing the role of Mama Bear in the national touring production of Berenstain Bears. During this time, Gulino would return to Boston often to direct and choreograph shows at Boston Children's eatre. While wrapping up a summer production in Boston in 2015, Gulino and her husband, David, decided they wanted to come back to the North Shore to live. e timing was perfect, as Clark School was looking for a performing arts teacher with the skills to build a larger theatre program. "Nicole is a vibrant, enthusiastic triple threat meaning she can act, sing, and dance," says Jeff Clark is the head of Clark School. Top, the students during a rehearsal. NORTHSHOREMAG.COM

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