News

Former students to bring talents to 5th AlumNight


Published: January 6, 2009

WEST NEWBURY — Pentucket alumni talent returns to the high school Friday to dazzle the community at the fifth annual AlumNight.

Sponsored by the nonprofit Pentucket Fine and Performing Arts Foundation, AlumNight is an arts benefit showcasing Pentucket graduates who are now studying or working in arts-related fields.

The evening opens with a one-hour visual arts exhibit of paintings, sketching, sculpture, photography and more in the high school cafeteria at 6 p.m. The exhibit is followed by a variety-style performance in the auditorium at 7 featuring college-trained and professional vocalists, actors and instrumentalists.

AlumNight director Cathy Thomas, a Class of 2003 graduate who works at The York Theatre Company in New York City, said one highlight of this year's benefit is the true melding of older alums with newer graduates. She notes that for the first time two current members of the district's arts staff — Zach Field, who directs Pentucket's percussion program, and Anthony Beatrice, hired this year as Pentucket's high school music teacher and band director — will be performing on stage.

Both men graduated from the high school and have performed at previous AlumNights; however, Friday's performance marks Beatrice's debut as a teacher performing at the event.

"This year we can boast that we have two 'Pentucket-music-educated' turned 'Pentucket-music-educators' performing — which I think is just beyond cool," Thomas said.

In what has become a crowd-pleasing AlumNight tradition, as part of the evening's program, Field will lead many of his former students, including Beatrice, in a group affectionately dubbed by Thomas as "The Mallet Ensemble All Stars."

In addition, the director said she has received a lot of interest from newer alumni eager to get involved in the annual benefit show.

"I have been honored and so enthused by the newest graduates who are so excited to perform; it gives me a lot of hope for the future of AlumNight as well as the future of the arts at Pentucket," she said.

Because all proceeds benefit Pentucket's arts education and programming, Thomas stressed that AlumNight is an event for the whole community, not just alumni and their families.

"I really hope that even the youngest, budding artists in the district attend this awesome event because — especially in an anniversary year — I think it gives each artist's life a trajectory beyond the tri-town that is invaluable to any young, creative mind," she said.

Tickets sold at the door are $10 for adults and $6 for seniors and students. For more information on upcoming events or how to get involved with PFPAF, visit www.pfpaf.org.