Greg Burriss named director of second-annual "Sing and Play"

SILER CITY, N.C. — Greg Burriss, a musician and pastor of Rocky River Baptist Church near Siler City, has been named director of Sing and Play ’19, the second-annual musical competition sponsored by JMArts, the Jordan-Matthews Arts Foundation.

Sing and Play highlights talent in separate divisions for elementary, middle and high school musicians — either vocalists or instrumentalists, who may perform individually or in small ensembles. Contestants must be students attending a public, private or home school in North Carolina.

Winners will be selected by audience vote during a showcase concert on Feb. 21 at Jordan-Matthews High School, with auditions being held on Feb. 5. Each of the three winning acts receives a $50 cash prize.

Burriss served as an audition judge during the inaugural Sing and Play earlier this year. He is a vocalist and mandolin player for the New Direction bluegrass band and performs frequently at Rocky River Baptist Church. He also is an actor who appeared locally in Temple Theatre’s 2008 production of “Footloose."

“We are very much looking forward to our second-annual competition,” Burriss said. "Last year, we had tremendous talent in the show from young people in our area. We’re inviting all of the singers and instrumentalists among students in Chatham County and beyond to come out and show us what you can do!”

Last year’s winners were Kaitlyn Evans of Chatham Charter School, Edith Soto of Chatham Middle School and Corrine Collison of Jordan-Matthews High School.

Sing and Play raises money used by JMArts to help high school artists thrive. More about the foundation and competition is available online at JMArts.org.

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Greg Burriss, right, consults with Joey Walden while judging auditions during Sing and Play ’18 in February. Burriss has been named director of Sing and Play ’19, the second-annual musical competition scheduled for February at Jordan-Matthews High School.

“Disney’s The Little Mermaid” swims onto the JM stage November 15-17

SILER CITY, N.C. — "Disney’s The Little Mermaid," a haunting love story based on the Hans Christian Anderson tale and Disney’s classic animated film, will swim onto the Jordan-Matthews High School stage later this month with a large student cast for three performances only.

Performances at the JM Auditorium are Thursday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m.; and Saturday, Nov. 17, at 4 p.m. General admission tickets are $5 each and now available online at JMArtsTickets.com. Remaining tickets will be sold at the door and child care will be provided by student clubs with a suggested donation of $5 per child. No passes — including Chatham County Schools and senior citizens’ passes — can be accepted. Everyone entering the theater, regardless of age, must have a ticket. 

“Disney’s The Little Mermaid” is the story of Ariel, King Triton's youngest daughter, who wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above. In the process, she makes a bargain with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs. But the bargain is not what it seems, and Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends — Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull and Sebastian the crab — to restore order under the sea.

The musical features several familiar songs, including “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl” and “Part of Your World.” It opened on Broadway a little more than 10 years ago and ran for 685 performances, receiving a Tony nomination for Best Original Score. Since then, it has been performed by regional theaters across the United States and at international venues around the world.

Jordan-Matthews’ production features a huge, 47-member cast, but not all of them are high school students. Auditions were held in September to select 10 cast members from Chatham Middle, Siler City Elementary, Virginia Cross Elementary and Silk Hope schools to perform in three full-cast numbers.

While the musical’s content is designed for a family audience, Rose Pate, president of JMArts and producer of the musical, says “The Little Mermaid” may not be appropriate for younger children. A minimum attendance age of 5-years-old is strongly suggested.

“This is a fairly long show that runs about two hours, 20 minutes,” Pate says. “We know how restless children can get over such a long time and that could make the evening less enjoyable for parents and more challenging for performers in a live production. The great news is that we are providing child care for the same price as a ticket, so parents and older children can have a great time in the musical and younger children can enjoy a fun evening of activities.”

Child care with snacks will be provided by JM’s HOSA and LEO clubs, with adult supervision, at a requested donation of $5 per child. Care will be provided in the JM Media Center, located near the auditorium, so parents will have time to check in with their children during a 15-minute intermission between the two acts.

In addition to Pate, other members of the creative team are director Jessica Nunn, musical director Matt Fry, costume designer Cynthia Bredenberg and scenery designer Rahma Mateen-Mason.

“Disney’s The Little Mermaid” features music by Alan Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater. The book of the musical was written by Doug Wright. It is based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the Disney film that was produced by Howard Ashman and John Musker, and was written and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements. The musical was originally produced by Disney Theatrical Productions.

More information about the production and other arts events scheduled for this season is available online at jmarts.org.

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Scuttle the seagull (Jennifer Henderson) proudly displays his latest human artifact to Ariel (Jennifer Trejo Benitez).

Sebastian the crab (Lindley Andrew) reminds Ariel (Jennifer Trejo Benitez) about her responsibilities to her father's undersea kingdom.

Scuttle the seagull (Jennifer Henderson) and Sebastian the crab (Lindley Andrew) try to persuade Ariel (Jennifer Trejo Benitez) that life is better under the sea.

Flounder (Sydney Suits) wishes that Ariel (Jennifer Trejo Benitez) would look at him the way she looks at the human prince.

Big Apple Raffle to raise money for JM arts-related student trips

SILER CITY, N.C. — Anyone can help Jordan-Matthews High School arts students make an educational trip this spring — and have the chance to win gas for an excursion of their own — when the Big Apple Raffle returns this fall.

Tickets are $5 each and entitle holders to the chance to win one of three Circle K gas cards being given away, one card each valued at $300, $200 and $100. The drawing will be held during the JM Holiday Concert, which is scheduled for Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. You do not have to be present to win.

They are now available in the school’s front office and from students who are traveling this spring on JMArts’ New York Arts Adventure or with the Jordan-Matthews Concert Band to the Williamsburg Heritage Festival. Tickets also will be available at arts events this fall — including “Breakfast with Princess Ariel and Friends,” “Disney’s The Little Mermaid” and the Holiday Concert.

The Big Apple Raffle was created last year to raise money for students on the inaugural New York Arts Adventure, where eight upperclass art students explored one of the world’s great cities, gained new perspectives to influence their work and experienced the very best in theater, music and visual arts.

Last year, students attended the Metropolitan Opera, saw Wyton Marsalis and Chick Corea perform at Jazz at Lincoln Center, explored the Museum of Modern Art and attended several Broadway productions.

The trip also was an opportunity to meet and learn from world-class artists working in the city. Students sat down on stage with Tony Award winner Ari’el Stachel and Broadway actor Etai Benson after watching them perform in "The Band's Visit.” They talked theater and life over lunch with Jessie Austrian — Broadway actress, stage director, NYU faculty and a founder/co-artistic director of Fiasco Theater. And they enjoyed some time chatting with Joel Wenhardt after the jazz pianist concluded his late-night set at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola.

This year, the raffle also will assist instrumentalists performing in April at the Williamsburg Heritage Festival, where the JM Concert Band will perform, participate in a mini-clinic and receive feedback from festival adjudicators.

"What better prize could we choose to fund student travel experiences that a gas card?” said JMArts President Rose Pate. "It’s something almost everyone can use, and these cards can be used at any Circle K selling non-branded gasoline. We’re delighted to have the marching band participating this year to help fund their trip to Williamsburg."

More information about the production and other arts events scheduled for this season is available online at jmarts.org.

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