Schools
JohnstonPatch Meets... Rita Maron, Choral and Dramatic Arts Director, St. Philip School
Rita Maron is the choral and dramatic arts director at St. Philip School, which hosted a talent show featuring 12 of Johnston's young residents.
is the choral and dramatic arts director at St. Philip School in Greenville, Rhode Island. Last Sunday, Jan. 30, the school put on its first ever show as a fundraiser for the St. Philip parish youth mission students’ trip to Nicaragua.
The mission is affiliated with Mustard Seed International and will serve disabled children aged 2-18.
Maron said her personal belief in giving students an outlet for artistic expression, through many mediums that fall categorically under dance, theatre, and music was a principle factor leading to the genesis of this show. From there, it was a matter of organizing the talen show and getting the word out to talented kids.
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“I have been the drama and chorus teacher here at St. Philip’s, for five, going on six years. This is our first talent show here at the school,” said Maron. “It was an all-call to students in the state. It wasn’t just restricted to St. Philip’s, it was just hosted by the school.”
Maron said that reaching talent was almost effortless.
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“Facebook was a great resource for getting talent. I sent it out to all music schools. Raechel [Robidoux] -- you know, she’s my best friend -- and I told everyone we knew about it," Maron reclled. "Because we cancelled Wednesday audition for the show and only had the Thursday audition, not as many people turned out, but it was such a great response.”
When asked what prompted her to spearhead this project, Rita answered: “Fr. Rodrigues contacted me to find out how I could put my fundraising techniques to work for the Nicaraguan mission students. I push music, theatre and the arts here so much, because it’s the first thing to go when budgets are looked at. We’re losing it everywhere else, and I try to tell these kids everyday that they are so fortunate to have this kind of opportunity.”
Rita expects the “St. Philip’s Got Talent!” show to occur again next year — giving her another cause to champion.
“We would probably have a meeting next year if we do this again," she said, adding: "They would probably tell me what we would be focusing on and it will most likely happen because it was such a great success this time around."
