Fred! The Musical Still Inspires After 40 Years

[FULL STORY]

As I reflect on this past fall, I am grateful for many wonderful conversations and experiences with Newman alumni. Being asked to serve as Newman’s next Head of School is a tremendous honor, and with this role I have the opportunity to participate in the lives of our alumni beyond our campus. Over the past several months, I have attended bar mitzvahs, weddings, and birthday celebrations – each meaningful and unique and often attended by many Newman families. Now myself a grandfather, I enjoy immensely reminiscing with generations of alumni and am fascinated by the experiences they remember most vividly from their years at Newman.

 

 

Click here to view an album and slideshow from the event.

 

 

Friends from New Orleans were invited along with Sherry’s classmates, many of whom made the trip to Boston for the celebration. Guests gathered at the Cutler Majestic Theater, strictly following the instructions to arrive early. The guests called out to friends and huddled enthusiastically in small groups asking the question of the night, “Does Sherry know?” At exactly the appointed hour, the room fell quiet and event organizers said, “She’s here. She’s here.” Sherry walked in with Alan and the answer to the question was abundantly clear. As Sherry’s eyes met friends and family in the room, she was indeed surprised, but she had no idea that her own work and that of her friend Diane was about to be performed by students and faculty from the Boston University College of Fine Arts Schools of Theatre and Music.

 

Sherry soon took her seat next to her husband, the lights dimmed, and a narrator introduced Fred! The Musical to Sherry’s complete surprise and delight. “Yale Forget Her” is the opening number of the musical, and I am still humming the tune happily as I remember the evening. Please take a moment to view the clip below from the evening:

 

 

The musical was wonderful and the celebration afterwards continued to exude the warmth and camaraderie of the evening. While it was a surprise for Sherry’s birthday, and a wonderful one at that, it was equally a spectacular gift for all of us attending and participating. Newman was proud to be an important part of the special evening.

 

My wife, Dara, and I, who have attended many theatrical productions and choral concerts at Newman over the years, often marvel at the power and capacity of Newman students to create. Fred! The Musical is a wonderful example of this type of talent, imagination, and fortitude. Many years later, the audience appreciated the many meaningful messages and lessons within the play, some clearly evident and some more subtle. The play transcended time in such a seamless fashion, a compliment to the playwrights. Young people in the right context inspired by teachers and friends have the potential to create and achieve in ways that truly are extraordinary and magical. We hope to re-produce the musical at Newman in the near future and expect that it will inspire a new generation of students to understand what is possible.

 

Thank you to Sherry and Alan for an incredible experience that continues to inspire me and many others who attended the birthday celebration. The final song is “Don’t Go Fred!” – and that’s exactly how I feel about that evening. I want to keep reliving it and fortunately I have a forum for doing so by sharing the experience with our alumni. Please enjoy the final number from Fred! The Musical in the clip below.

 

I look forward to many more special evenings and moments, large and small, in the coming years with Newman’s alumni. Please stay in contact with us, and do not hesitate to share the important milestones in your lives.

 

Sincerely,

 

Dale M. Smith