This Halloween season, treat your children to a graciously ghoulish original theatrical production at the Bayway Arts Center in East Islip, “Boo! A Musical Adventure.”
From the Our Love Fitz Productions company by husband and wife team Sean and Christine Fitzgerald, familiar Long Island actors and original puppets come to life following the titular character in a journey to understand that it’s “okay to be scared” and friendship and compassion can help overcome self-doubt.
“We wanted to be engaged in theater for a change. The mental health struggles in ‘Boo!’ are coded, but we go through what a panic attack feels like and another main character, Boo’s best friend Ellie is referred to as ‘twice exceptional’ but can be recognized by even by a young audience as neurodivergent,” said Christine Fitzgerald.
The actors were hand-picked for their roles based on being “good humans first, great artists second,” according to Christine.
Dedicated to casting an assorted set of actors, Christine said, “The casting was very deliberate to include different backgrounds.. You see quite a spectrum of people.”
As a youth minister for over a decade, Christine grew to have a deep understanding of how children and teenagers may be reticent to speak about mental health issues and in wanting to create more original family theater expanded upon Sean’s concept of Boo, the ghost afraid to be scary, who has a trusted adult help him through his mental health episode. Sean’s own feelings of doubt and fear of failure limiting his actions directly inspired the central character’s journey.
Although geared to children, Boo! also confronts quasi-villains like the Coach, who while not purposely hurtful, embodies the hurtful characteristics of unattuned grown-ups. Chompers, the actual villain of the piece, eventually realizes his maladaptive actions are a result of unpacked trauma.
Working with musician Mike Leucci, Christine and Sean determined the sound of Boo! with numbers like “Scary Being Me” taking inspiration from “Dear Evan Hansen” where it may sound serious, but not alarming according to Christine.
“Mike is a virtuoso and magnificently gifted,” said Sean.
Steve Corbellini, a performer and fourth grade teacher said of playing Chompers, “Boo! has been one of the most meaningful theater projects I have had the joy of working on…it teaches powerful lessons about accepting differences, managing big emotions, and understanding oneself.”
A portion of the ticket proceeds will go to Patchogue-based company Don’t Toss the Bouquet,’s non-profit Angel Baby whichprovides gratis preservation of funerary floral displays in resin for families that have lost their children.
Tickets are $18 and can be purchased at baywayartscenter.com or (631) 581-2700.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here