There may have been trouble in River City on stage, but there was entertainment in Rumson at Forrestdale School recently in the form of a younger version of the classic musical The Music Man — The Music Man Jr.
A song has set a Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) student on a path backstage and down the red carpet — or close to it — at the GRAMMY Awards in a few days.
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School’s (RFH) production of The Faerie King’s Daughter has taken flight and will soon be making its onstage landfall Nov. 20 to 22.
The Faerie King’s Daughter is about what happens when four groups of residents — fairies, trolls, humans, and elves — interact in an unexpected way that changes life in the Fairy Glen forever.
It doesn’t get any simpler or more enjoyable. A summer night spent at an impromptu music jam/record release party with rising stars.
The temperature was high and so were the spirits of a fortunate few who were treated to a few sets of serenading by Asbury Park-based country duo Williams Honor — vocalist Reagan Richards and instrumentalist and singer Gordon Brown.
The two made their way to Ron’s West End Pub to share their special night, calling it a “home” reminiscent of the type of places in Nashville, Tennessee where talent is typically honed in embracing musical improv nooks.
After doing separate stints in Nashville, the two, each with his/her own Jersey shore connections, wound up meeting in Asbury. Upon being introduced at The Saint, they struck up a kinship over music style.
That’s when their united melodious fight began. It’s a fight to keep their brand of country storytelling thriving through song in an area they think is prime for it but never gave the genre a fair shake.
They’ve now been going country strong for about a year. That year culminated in the record release Sept. 1. Another special surprise for them and everyone else was that they love to cover the iconic 1970s song Sad Eyes, and its writer and singer, Robert John, was in the drop-by audience.
No one was name-dropping, but Williams Honor was, well, honored.
And, what’s in that name?
The impetus for the Williams Honor moniker, the two said, was to honor both of their fathers, military vets. Richards’ father’s name was William. His dog tag dangles around her neck, an integral piece for her in her everyday jewelry draping.
“Some people are uncomfortable with it,” she said. “They say you’re not supposed to wear it as jewelry. But I like to have him (and everything he stood for) close to me all the time, so I can honor, remember him (and vets like him) all the time … holding onto him in a positive way.”
Brown’s father’s name is not William, but he said they chose to use Richards’ dad’s name as a sort of duplicate honor for both and multiple for all vets — thus the plural rather than singular possessive of the name in the group.
To honor the band’s namesake and the difficulty faced by families of those going off to war, the two said they wrote a song that puts a positive twist on the experience, albeit bittersweet.
It’s called Don’t Wanna Let You Go, and “we finished mixing it about 15 minutes before we came to Ron’s,” Brown said. “It’s the last song we finished for the record.”
“When people go off to war, when they go off into the military, there’s obviously the chance that they won’t come back,” Richards said. “Well, this is a very hopeful song on the record. This is about them coming back, and everybody being so proud, as we are …”
So it goes …
“Keep your father’s laugh he’s in everything you do, and we both know he’d be so proud of you … I don’t wanna let you go … And all that you need to know is I won’t let you go …”
You may not wanna to let Williams Honor go once you hear them.
Regardless of what happens in the sky, there is plenty to do around the Rumson-Fair Haven area towns.
Check it out …
Friday
• It’s Christmas in July starting today and through July 25 at participating Fair Haven businesses. Find out more here.
• Hanga Loose Fridays continue at Umberto’s. Come and “hanga loose” in the back room of the restaurant on River Road in honor of Silvio Fabbri’s memory.
Stop by any time after 7 p.m.
• For theatergoers, Shakespeare in the park is still going on at Brookdale.
Curtain (or something like that) for Titus Andronicus is 7 p.m. on the Great Lawn of Brookdale Community College’s campus in the Lincroft section of Middletown. Head to Parking Lot 2 and bring chairs.
For more information, call 732-224-2411.
• Phoenix Productions’ summer musical Mary Poppins is playing the weekend starting with a curtain at 8 p.m. tonight at the Count Basie Theatre.
Call 732-842-9000 for more information.
Saturday
• St. George’s-by-the-River Episcopal Church in Rumson is holding services on the beach on Saturdays for the summer.
The services will be held at 5:30 p.m. at Ancorage beach in Sea Bright, right over the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge (to the left coming from the Rumson direction).
Call 732-842-0596 for more information.
• Titus Andronicus curtain is 7 p.m. on the Great Lawn at Brookdale. See above post for more information.
• Curtain for Phoenix Productions’ Mary Poppins is 7 p.m. See above for more information.
Sunday
• Don’t forget the Red Bank Farmers Market at the Galleria parking lot from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lots of organic produce, baked goods, coffee, crafts and more.
• Red Bank RiverCenter’s Food and Wine Walk will be going on from 2 to 5 p.m. It’s a great way to sample a taste of Red Bank, literally. Wristbands may be purchased online (by clicking here) in advance only for $35. The bands get people samples of food and, of course, wine at various restaurants, caterers and bars throughout the borough.
The sun is out and it looks like it’s going to be shining for the much less humid weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
And the weekend events are the perfect complement to the weather forecast.
Friday
• Hanga Loose Fridays continue at Umberto’s. Come and “hanga loose” in the back room of the restaurant on River Road in honor of Silvio Fabbri’s memory.
Stop by any time after 7 p.m.
• And, guess what? It’s time for the first Concert at the Fair Haven Dock tonight at 7:30 p.m.
The concert tonight features The Lads and is, of course, free at the dock at the foot of Fair Haven Road on the Navesink.
See you there!
• For theatergoers, Shakespeare in the park at Brookdale opens tonight.
Curtain (or something like that) for Titus Andronicus is 7 p.m. on the Great Lawn of Brookdale Community College’s campus in the Lincroft section of Middletown. Head to Parking Lot 2 and bring chairs.
For more information, call 732-224-2411.
• Phoenix Productions’ summer musical Mary Poppins is playing the weekend starting with a curtain at 8 p.m. tonight at the Count Basie Theatre.
Call 732-842-9000 for more information.
Saturday
• St. George’s-by-the-River Episcopal Church in Rumson is holding services on the beach on Saturdays for the summer.
The services will be held at 5:30 p.m. at Ancorage beach in Sea Bright, right over the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge (to the left coming from the Rumson direction).
Call 732-842-0596 for more information.
• Titus Andronicuscurtain is 7 p.m. on the Great Lawn at Brookdale. See above post for more information.
• Curtain for Phoenix Productions’ Mary Poppins is 7 p.m. See above for more information.
Sunday
• Don’t forget the Red Bank Farmers Market at the Galleria parking lot from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lots of organic produce, baked goods, coffee, crafts and more.
• It’s car show season and the Red Bank firefighters from Liberty Hose are hosting their annual classic car show in the White Street parking lot from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Matinee curtain for Phoenix Productions’ Mary Poppins at the Count Basie Theatre is 3 p.m.
Knollwood School Music Teacher John Lebitsch leads a performance by student-musicians from Forrestdale School at the Evening of Fine Arts. Photo/Rumson School District
Did you make it to the Forrestdale Evening of Fine Arts?
Here’s a look back at the art show and concert held on the evening of May 28:
Artwork by students in fourth through eighth grade filled the school, with three-dimensional work in the lobby and cafeteria and framed works lining the halls.
“The artwork is amazing, and I would especially like to thank the Parent Teacher Organization and Rumson Education Foundation for recognizing the importance of art in our children’s education,” said Forrestdale Visual Arts Instructor Amy Lepping. “I would also like to extend a special thank you to Art Club members Pia Binns, Sophia Kho, Isabella Hu, and Shelly Champeau who help organize and prepare artwork for display.”
“I would also like to thank all of our tireless volunteers!”
The evening’s Concert held in the school auditorium featured Junior Choir and Senior Choir directed by Forrestdale Music Teacher Barbara Leutz, and Beginning Band and Jazz Ensemble directed by Forrestdale Music Teacher John Lebitsch.
Musical performances …
• America (featuring Hannah Duprey, Piano) – Junior Choir • Scales and Arpeggios (from The Aristocats) – Junior Choir • Imagine – Junior Choir • Yellow Submarine – Junior Choir • E.F.A. Fanfare – Beginning Band • When the Band Goes Marching In – Beginning Band • Hard Rock Blues – Beginning Band • Lightning! – Senior Choir • It’s Only a Paper Moon – Jazz Ensemble • Get Back – Jazz Ensemble
Talented students recently shared their artwork at the Deane-Porter School Art Show.
The exhibit featured the creations of students in kindergarten, first, second, and third grades.
The featured art included: Monet-inspired landscapes, cool color penguins, symmetrical butterflies, crazy pumpkins, self-portraits as king or queen, and texture trees (kindergarten); Chinese New Year dragons, Kandinsky-inspired concentric hearts, painted and printed weaving, and snowman with percolator app (first grade); coil pots, Kachina masks, Audubon-inspired cardinals, and Faith Ringgold cityscapes (second grade); slab pottery, Greek columns, and Matisse-inspired landscapes (third grade).
The Jake Tavill Band at Riverfest 2015 Photo/Daryl LeyThe Jake Tavill Band at Riverfest 2015 Photo/Daryl Ley
Some Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) stars are born — again.
A few RFH alumni and present students, mixed with Middletown students — all together in the blues/soul/rock Jake Tavill Band — won the Riverfest Musicians on a Mission Battle of the Bands at the annual riverfront event in Red Bank on Friday night.
“I am beyond the moon right now!!” said Rumsonite Jake Tavill on his Facebook page. “We won the Riverfest Musicians on a Mission Battle of the Bands!!!!!! Thank you to everyone who came, everyone who cheered, the judges, all the bands that played, Musicians On A Mission, Brenda Wirth, Riverfest, the crew and techs, the sponsors, and my amazing band members. This wouldn’t have been possible without all of you!!! Thank you!!! I am truly grateful.”
The band is comprised of RFH alum Ben Ley, RFH senior, actress and fiddler Julia Mosby, Middletown High School South student Nick Ryan, Tavill, Middletown High School North senior Anthony Flora, guitarist/vocalist Christian Ace, of Manasquan Music Dance Arts, and Casey O’Connell.
You must be logged in to post a comment.