Since 2008, Figures of Speech Director of Education Ian Bannon has directed The FOSSE (Figures of Speech Student Ensemble), an after-school program with Freeport High School students who want to create innovative theater together.
In 2008, The FOSSE interpreted the Greek myth Perseus the Gorgon Slayer. In 2009, they reimagined scenes from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. In 2010 they used puppets, masks, actors and original music to stage an imaginative version of Hans Christian Andersen's classic, The Snow Queen. In 2011, we looked a bit closer to home for inspiration as we set our sights on Paul Bunyan!
Ian works closely with the students two afternoons a week over the course of 3-4 months. In explaining the project's goal to foster collaboration between top-quality professional artists and aspiring young people, Ian said, "A couple of years ago, we realized we had some very motivated student musicians, so we brought in Dan Capaldi and Jeff Shaw from the Maine Academy of Modern Music to lead students in the composition of an original score for The Snow Queen, which was great. It really rocked! They've also had productive workshops with vocalist Andrea Goodman and mask performer Beverly Mann. We see students stretching in ways they never thought possible."
Sarah, a returning FOSSE member, summed up her experience better than we could! "I think working with The FOSSE did affect the way that I interact with my peers at (Freeport High School). I think that it gave me more confidence in myself. It also taught me to share my ideas, even if they might not be agreed with among everyone. Finally, it taught me that it's okay to try different things even though I may make a fool out of myself."
We look forward to making more great theater — and even greater fools of ourselves — in the future!
The FOSSE's productions have been made possible in part by funding from the Maine Arts Commission and the Freeport Performing Arts Boosters.
