Dover-Sherborn - How to see the show

“Joseph” will be performed at the Mudge Auditorium Thursday, June 12, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, June 13, at 8 p.m.; and Saturday, June 14, at 3 p.m. The musical is a humorous and lively show based on the Biblical story of Joseph by Andrew Lloyd Webber. It includes the songs, “Any Dream Will Do” and “Go, Go, Go Joseph.” For more information, visit www.open-fields.org.

As a tribute to this year’s graduating high school seniors, Open Fields of Dover will be presenting “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” this weekend. All the graduates are looking forward to their future endeavors, but they will also miss the Open Fields theater group most describe as their “second family”.

Keith Greenfield, founder and director, decided to do one last show this year to “send off a special group of seniors. I wasn’t going to do another show, but wanted them to have a final bow.” Greenfield said he wants to thank them for doing such a great job and “give them their last curtain call.” His decision was somewhat last minute, but everything seemed to fall in place.

Greenfield put together the show in a few short weeks. Paul Huberdeau of the Rivers School in Weston agreed to be his musical director. The Rev. Peter DiSanto of the Grace Church in Dover, who has a carpentry background, is his set designer. Laurel Stachowicz will work again with the Open Fields cast as the co-director and choreographer.

Most of the students have been with Open Fields since starting middle school. It will be a bittersweet moment to take that last bow. All agree the theatre group is not only a great community endeavor, “it is like a second family.”

Sarah Clancy is off to Elon College next year and has acted in approximately 10 of the Open Fields shows since the first, “The Wizard of Oz,” was performed in December 2001. Clancy, who was also president of the Class of 2008 at Dover-Sherborn High School, said she stayed with Open Fields because of the people and that feeling of family. Clancy added, “It is a group that actively cares about the community. They spread community when people need it most.” She definitely hopes to come back much like a few college students have for “Joseph” to take part in another production.

Her classmate at D-S, Margaux Labaudiniere, is attending Boston College in the fall. She also plans to get involved in future productions. It will be difficult leaving Open Fields since “it’s been a part of my life for so long.” Labaudiniere said it gave her the chance to meet different kids outside of D-S in different communities. “You don’t have the same pressures outside school. I like the mix of kids of all ages and them being from different schools.”

As for Greenfield, “He is my biggest mentor and role model. I just hope I can change as many lives [for the better] as he did … he is like a second father to me,” she said.

Greenfield’s daughter, Kadie Greenfield, just completed her freshman year at Connecticut College and “was very excited to be back.” She sums up her dad’s organization nicely. “It’s a community with love and passion for what we do … a lot of memories … and great friendships.” She thanks the Open Fields crew for letting her come back again: “This is going to be a great show. Good luck seniors!”

Liz Noonan, a Dover resident and a graduating senior from Wellesley’s Dana Hall School, will also be attending Connecticut College in the fall. “Kadie and I will carpool and come back to visit all the time.” Noonan even took time out from a friend’s graduation party to attend rehearsal. Asked what she will miss about Open Fields, Noonan said, “Everything. Every single thing, every single person.” She has been in the Open Fields “family” since the fifth grade missing only two shows. And for those, she still took part in some way by being an usher, selling refreshments, or working backstage.

Another Dover resident, Rory Sheble-Hall, will be a freshman at Lesley College, having recently graduated from the Cambridge School of Weston. She agreed that Open Fields has become a second family over the years and added, “It has given me a lot of confidence in myself … I had tried theater at school, but it was no comparison to Open Fields.” She admitted it’s a lot of fun, too, and she really enjoys acting with “the little kids.” She will come back since her chosen college is only about 40 minutes away.

Unlike Sheble-Hall, Tristan Waldron was co-president of the DSHS Drama Club. He is waitlisted and currently has not yet decided on which college he will attend. While he tremendously enjoyed being in high school productions, he believed, “Open Fields was a turning point for me.” He performed in “Godspell” in the eighth and ninth grade — the first “all kids show.”

“Open Fields has a family feel. Age isn’t a big issue,” he said.

Will Rasky attends Boston College and graduated from the Rivers School last year. He was “recruited” this year by Open Fields. “I can honestly say this is the best show … it’s a cut above any show I’ve been in.”

Another former classmate from Rivers, Matt Dunne is a freshman at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania. He is performing for the first time for Open Fields as well. “It’s a lot of fun and the cast is so talented,” he said.

Matt Gelman, who finished his sophomore year at Boston College, said, “They have put together a really good show in a short period of time.” As for one of the cast members, Emma Shannon, a sophomore at DSHS, Gelman said, “I was blown away with her voice!” He previously attended Hopkinton High School performing in the Open Fields’ production of “Grease”. 

Noonan had contacted him to perform once again. Gelman said, “I really just clicked with everyone and kept in touch with them.” Even though his role is admittedly somewhat harder than in some past ones — “I’m getting winded singing and dancing at the same time!” — Gilman credited Stachowicz for putting together another great show, saying, “Laurel knows exactly where we’re at.”

Greg Bornstein, an NYU drama student, is also in the show. He’s excited to be on the stage again and is happy the Open Fields community took him back in. Bornstein said he made many friends with tremendous talent during his stint with the organization.

It is difficult for the seniors and Open Fields alumni to name their favorite show. It was a toss-up between “Grease” and “Godspell.” Labaudiniere said, “The most monumental shows will be my first and last: “The Wizard of Oz” and “Joseph.”

The theater group was begun by parents and professionals to draw on the talents of the community to create a warm, nurturing environment for its children. The young adults believed Open Fields has accomplished its mission and given back even more than originally intended.

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