Tag Archives: RFH

Arts & Entertainment, Schools Scene

Preview: RFH’s Bullying Message

In just over a month, Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) drama students will be setting the stage at New York University’s (NYU) Forum on Educational Theater (FOET) to bring awareness to teen harassment and bullying in an production dubbed The Bystander: A portrait of Apathy.

Bystander was written by RFH English teacher Suzanne Sweeney, who is also the high school’s drama director.

With the performance slated for April 24, the students are not only the performers, but the producers of the narrative short drama with a message.

The above YouTube video gives a glimpse into what’s coming at NYU.

The RFH students performing in The Bystander are: Gianna Casale, Vaughn Coleman, Emily Cooner, William Dey, Matthew Hughes, Jeremy Nives, Jane Pavluk, Eli Rallo, Paige Russo, Lisa Sandoli, Ben Segall, Kelli Tuttle, and Alissa Zack.

The student directors are Gianna Casale, Eli Rallo, and Alissa Zack.

Arts & Entertainment, Schools Scene

RFH Drama Students Set to Perform at NYU Forum on Educational Theater

The Bystander: A Portrait of Apathy, a proposal submitted by Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) English teacher Suzanne Sweeney, has been accepted by the New York University Forum on Educational Theatre (FOET).

Continue reading RFH Drama Students Set to Perform at NYU Forum on Educational Theater →

Local Life

Retro RFH Family Showfolk Affair

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By Elaine Van Develde

When it comes to show biz, sometimes in the RFH area, sometimes it’s a family affair. Sometimes it just is.

Sometimes people just catch the bug at an early age. Sometimes it happens in high school or even a little later. Then it spreads rampantly — through the family.

Continue reading Retro RFH Family Showfolk Affair →

Local Life

Focus: RFH Grads Shoot Hoops & Raise Funds for a Good Cause

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Some Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) grads took to the basketball courts at Knollwood and Sickles schools in Fair Haven recently to shoot hoops for a good cause.

The cause: Covenant House, a non- profit organization which provides much needed services for at-risk and homeless youth in America and abroad. The organization helps roughly 50,000 young people a year.

The fundraiser, which brought in $4,000 for the cause, was dubbed The 1st Annual Fair Haven Covenant House 3v3 Basketball Tournament and it took place at Knollwood and Sickles schools on Feb. 22.

There were a total of 24 teams and 95 players, many of whom were RFH grads. RFH classes 2003-12 were represented and players ranged in age from 22 to 60.

The tournament was run by Fair Haven natives D.J. Breckenridge, Jim Laufer, Ben Miller, Dan Miller,Will Miller, and Dan Ryan, who will all be participating in The Covenant House Young Professionals Sleep Out coming up on March 18.

At this coming event, more than 300 young professionals will sleep out on the streets of NYC in an effort to raise funds and awareness of youth homelessness. The Sleep Out is expected to raise more than $300,000.

Locally, there are Covenant House branches in Asbury Park, Atlantic City, Newark, Philadelphia and NYC. Covenant House President Kevin Ryan, also a Fair Haven resident, made a surprise appearance at the Feb. 22 fundraiser.

Take a look at the above slideshow for a glimpse into the event. 

For more information on Covenant House, click here.

— Photos and information, courtesy of D.J. Breckenridge

Arts & Entertainment, Schools Scene

Bonnie and Clyde Come to RFH

The Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Tower Players are setting the stage for a production of the Tony-nominated musical Bonnie and Clyde.

The show will start with opening night on Friday, March 18 with a 7:30 p.m. curtain and a show on Saturday at the same time and close with a 1 p.m. Sunday matinee on March 20.

Bonnie and Clyde, musical by Frank Wildhorn, of Jekyll and Hyde, Civil War and Dracula fame, is based on the real-life adventures of starry-eyed Bonnie Elizabeth Parker and the outlaw Clyde Chestnut Barrow, who embarked on a crime spree across the United States at the height of the Great Depression.

Bonnie wants to escape from her west-Texas town and become a movie star. Clyde has just broken out of prison with his brother Buck. When they meet, their mutual cravings for excitement and fame set them on a mission to chase their dreams.

Teaming up with Buck and his wife Blanche, they commit a string of robberies and become American folk heroes as well as law enforcement’s worst nightmare. Forced to remain on the run, the lovers resort to increasingly brutal crimes. But as their fame grows and the body count rises, the end draws near for the ill-fated duo.

Bonnie and Clyde features a non-traditional score combining blues, gospel, and rockabilly music. The RFH production will showcase a cast of 45.

The RFH production stars Eli Rallo as Bonnie Parker, Matt Hughes as Clyde Barrow, Kate Sustick as Blanche Barrow, and Liam Hughes as Buck Barrow.

Suzanne Sweeney is director, with Kasi Ann Sweeney as assistant director. RFH Dance Team Coach Jen Costa is choreographer. Amy Fredericks, musical director for the Count Basie Awards, will be conducting the pit orchestra and overseeing vocal performances as the production’s musical director.

Costumes and props are under the direction of Carole Malick, and Matthew Leddin is overseeing the tech crew of 50 students providing set construction, sounds, and lighting.

Refreshments and a Texas-style feast, including chili and cornbread, will be available for purchase at the café in the RFH gymnasium before each performance and during intermissions.

Ticket prices are: $10 for general admission and $6 for students and seniors. RFH students with SGA cards will be admitted free.

To purchase tickets online, visit the RFH web site (rumsonfairhaven.org) and click on “Bonnie and Clyde.”

For more information including group discounts, contact Play Production Coordinator Stefania Flecca, [email protected].

The Box Office will be open for ticket purchases an hour before each performance.

Over the years the Tower Players have received numerous awards for acting, directing, choreography, costumes, set design and lighting, and overall outstanding production.

Local Life

Retro RFH Presidential Material

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Yes, it’s Presidents Day.

And while the intent of Presidents Day was originally to commemorate the birthday of the first U.S. president, George Washington, it ended up being moved from Washington’s birthday of Feb. 22 to the third Monday of February as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1971.

The purpose for that was twofold: to create a three-day weekend for federal and state employees (and sometimes municipal and private sector employees) and to celebrate all presidents.

So, yes, we celebrate all the presidents of the United States — POTUS.

But, we figured we’d give an odd RFH twist to paying ode to presidents by honoring leaders of the presidential sort from RFH’s past.

Continue reading Retro RFH Presidential Material →

Arts & Entertainment, News, Schools Scene

Trailblazer: RFH’s Shannon Corsi’s Ticket to the GRAMMYs

Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) student Shannon Corsi is about to hit the red carpet, or some path close to it, at the GRAMMY Awards tonight.

It was her original song “Trailblazer,” about the plight of substance abuse, that got here there. She’s already looked in on a rehearsal.

Soon it’s show time. No, she’s not a contender, but she won her own contest that got her and a few other teens closer to being one.

In case you haven’t heard it yet, take a look and listen to her song that set her on her way.

Enjoy, Shannon! Congrats!

Schools Scene

RFH Field Hockey Players Honored as Scholars

Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) Field Hockey team members have been recognized for their academic achievements by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA).

Anna Babiak, Kara Dixon, Bridget Fitzgerald, Margaret Jennings, Madison Maguire, Kiera McKay, Gabrielle Ramirez, Maisie Sapnar, and Katherine Sustick have been named to the 2015 NFHCA/Keith Waldman — Optimal Performance Associates High School National Academic Squad.

The High School National Academic Squad program recognizes high school juniors and seniors who have achieved a cumulative, unweighted Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.5 out of 4.0 through the first quarter of the 2015-16 school year.

High school juniors and seniors with a cumulative, unweighted GPA of 3.9 or above during the first quarter of the 2015-16 school year are recognized as Scholars of Distinction by the NFHCA.

Scholars of Distinction honorees are: Anna Babiak, Bridget Fitzgerald, Margaret Jennings, Kiera McKay, Maisie Sapnar, and Katherine Sustick.

Schools Scene

RFH Football Players Sign

Three Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School (RFH) football players have something to celebrate in addition to their recent state championship win.

RFH seniors Michael Caruso, James Oncea, and Maxwell Pfrang made their college commitments official on National Signing Day 2016. With families, coaches, and members of the school administration in attendance on the morning of Feb. 3, they signed their letters of commitment to play college football.

Caruso, a cornerback and wide receiver for RFH, will play Division I football for the Bucknell University Bisons. A Rumson resident, he is the son of Catherine and Scott.

Oncea, a Bulldogs offensive lineman, will be playing Division III football for the Johns Hopkins University Blue Jays. He is a resident of Fair Haven and the son of Laura and Sam.

Pfrang, a linebacker who played a key role for the Bulldogs’ defense, will be joining the Division III Wagner College Seahawks. A Rumson resident, he is the son of Teri and Philip.

“We are extremely proud of the efforts of these amazing young men, on the field and more importantly in the classroom,” said Chris Lanzalotto, RFH director of Athletics and School Activities.

RFH earned its third consecutive state title on Dec. 5 in a match-up with Red Bank Regional High School. The RFH Bulldogs have won four sectional championships in the last six seasons.

— Edited press release from Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School

Continue reading RFH Football Players Sign →