EMMY AWARD WINNER TO DIRECT LOCAL PROJECT

MIDDLEBORO —Middleboro native Andrew Osborne is returning to his hometown to direct A HOLIDAY SPECIAL an original movie written by Osborne. On Wednesday, November 11th, 2009, from 9:00AM-5:00PM, Andrew will shoot the movie at various locations in Middleboro. “In honor of Veteran’s Day, school is closed on November 11th. We thought it was the perfect time to invite students to be part of a movie. Working with Andrew gives people the opportunity to experience a day on set and build their resume at the same time.” –Lorna Brunelle, Artistic Director, The Burt Wood School of Performing Arts.

Osborne to direct local movie project

The Harvard-educated director and filmmaker was a comedy writer for The Harvard Lampoon as well as an arts reporter for The Harvard Crimson. Upon graduation, he moved to Los Angeles where he studied improvisational acting at the famed Groundlings Theater with the likes of Lisa Kudrow and Patrick Bristow. Mr. Osborne has since directed numerous independent films as well as written films for theatrical distribution as well as for video/DVD release. Most recently, he has been a featured writer and director for several original productions, has developed an MTV project and has collaborated on independent feature films and theatrical pieces. Mr. Osborne is also a writing, acting and filmmaking teacher with past and current classes at UMass, Tufts University Experimental College, Quincy College, The Cambridge Center for Adult Education, Brookline Adult & Community Education, Boston Casting Inc., and The Burt Wood School of Performing Arts. In 2008, Osborne won a daytime Emmy for his work as a writer on the hit show CASH CAB.

Bait Shop Productions, in conjunction with The Burt Wood School of Performing Arts, has collaborated on several ventures including the national competition, The 48-Hour Film Project. Their 2009 entry SOX POCK won BEST OF BOSTON, Best Use of Prop, Best Use of Song, Best Comedy, and local actress Ellie Osborne won Best Supporting Actress. All past entries (2006 SHOE, 2007 FARM FORCE, 2008 DE ZOMER KAMP, 2009 SOCK POX) can be accessed on You-Tube. Osborne has teamed up with The Burt Wood School for the past five years to direct a movie as part of their summer arts festival. Past projects include: Rhinoceros (2004), Assassin (2005), Most People (2006), "3:15" (2007), THE PROTECTORS (2008), and MIDAFTERNOON (2009). A HOLIDAY SPECIAL will model The 48 Hour Film Project in that actors will be assigned roles the moment they arrive on set, and the project is a short film.

The movie will air on December 13th, 2009 at 2PM and 5PM in the grand ballroom of the Middleboro Town Hall.
The screening will preceded the Burt Wood School’s performance of A CHRISTMAS CAROL.
The cost to participate in the project is $75.00. To register for this event, call Maureen Whalen at 508-946-1071.

The Burt Wood School of
Performing Arts
Proudly Presents
A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Directed by Matthew Bruffee
Middleboro Town Hall Grand Ballroom
December 13th, 2009 2PM & 5PM  General Admission $15.00 adults,
$10.00 children under 16
508-946-1071

The Burt Wood School of Performing Arts cast of A Christmas Carol takes a break from rehearsal to pose for a cast photo. The show is December 13th, 2009 at 2:00pm and 5:00pm at the Middleboro Town Hall.
Click here for more information and photos from the production...

Cast Members of The Burt Wood School of Performing Arts production of A Christmas Carol prepare for the upcoming production. (L-R) Kristen Pettey of Taunton "Ghost of Christmas Future", Abby Wheeler of Marion, "Ghost of Christmas Present", Cameron McDonough of Bridgewater "Ebenezer Scrooge", and Heidi Fiore of Taunton "Ghost of Christmas Past". The Kathryn Shultz Miller adaptation of this holiday classic opens December 13th, 2009, at the Middleboro Town Hall in the grand ballroom. There will be a 2pm show and a 5pm show.
Tickets are $15.00 for adults and $10.00 for children under the age of sixteen.

Scrooge is visited by three ghosts.

For more information call 508-946-1071. Click here for photos from the production...

Click here for more photos from the production...
Click here for photos from the December 13th play!

Ten year old Lily Jeswald of Lakeville, will appear as "Holly" in the show.

 

New York Producer/Director to Direct A CHRISTMAS CAROL

The Burt Wood School of Performing Arts in Middleboro is pleased to announce that Matthew B. Bruffee will be directing A CHRISTMAS CAROL this fall. Middleboro native Matthew B. Bruffee has devoted his life to the magical world of the Performing Arts. He studied Theatre, Dance and Visual Art at Hofstra University receiving his BA in '85 followed by an MFA in Performing Arts Administration from Brooklyn College in '91.

Based in New York City for the past 25 years, he is an Actor, Director, Producer, Administrator and all round Arts & Events Specialist. He has worked for the following companies in New York: Carnegie Hall, Trisha Brown Dance Company, City Center Theatre, Bay Street Theatre Festival in "The Hamptons", Broadway Cares fundraising program Dancers Responding to AIDS, Cortez & Company Contemporary Ballet/NY, Thomas Martin Events, Bette Midler's New York Restoration Project, Jack Morton Worldwide, in Las Vegas for Production Group International, in Boston for Executive Travel Directors, and in New York for Empire Force Events.

New York Director/Producer to Direct Local Play

He has also worked for MIT Sloan School of Management and Kennison Associates here in Boston. He has had the privilege of working with many celebrities, but his favorites will always be Julie Andrews, Lauren Bacall, and Bette Midler. He currently resides in Middleboro, is a Board Member and Resident Director for Nemasket River Productions. He directed NRPs' 2008 summer production, Beth Henley's "The Miss Firecracker Contest" and just finished directing Clare Boothe Luce's "The Women" for NRP this spring 2009. He recently was a judge for the 2009 Burt Wood Idol and New Bedford's Got Talent programs. In August of 2009, his unique eye for costume design colored the stage of The Burt Wood School of Performing Arts production of THE WIZ.

On Tuesday, October 20th, 2009, from 4:00PM-7:00PM, Matthew will be holding auditions for A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. This Kathryn Schultz Miller adaptation of the Holiday classic will be performed at the Middleboro Town Hall in the grand ballroom on Sunday, December 13th, 2009 at 2:00pm and 5:00pm. Students should prepare a Holiday carol and will be expected to read from the script. Auditions are at The Burt Wood School of Performing Arts located at 63 Anderson Avenue, Suite B, in Middleboro. Rehearsals will be on Saturdays from 9:00AM-1:00PM (excluding November 28th) beginning on October 24th, 2009. Cast members are invited to fundraise their entire production fee of $275.00 ($45.00 per week). Fundraising packets are available in the Burt Wood office.