Flagler Auditorium and City Repertory Theatre collaborate on Schoolhouse Rock Live!

Conjunction Junction, what's your function? Hooking up words and phrases and clauses.

The lessons of "Schoolhouse Rock!" are as pertinent today as they were 40 years ago. And the melodies and lyrics are just as catchy and memorable.

The musical, "Schoolhouse Rock Live!" will be staged at the Flagler Auditorium on June 22 and June 23 in collaboration with the City Repertory Theatre.

"We're good friends with (Flagler Auditorium Director Amelia Fulmer). She's always trying to help community arts," said CRT Artistic Director John Sbordone. "Schoolhouse Rock Live! is our first attempt at an ongoing collaboration. We're trying to start a new tradition."

Fulmer said students used to be bused to the auditorium for educational shows, but with bus driver shortages and testing conflicts, the auditorium has not presented a family show in several years. So, the auditorium, along with CRT, decided to present a summer show for families and invite local summer camps to the matinee. Fulmer said over 400 campers will get to attend the 1 p.m. matinee on June 22 in the 1,000-seat auditorium.

"Part of our mission is arts education. My concern is that unless students are involved in a production, they're not getting exposed to live theater."

AMELIA FULMER, Flagler Auditorium director

"Part of our mission is arts education," she said. "My concern is that unless students are involved in a production, they're not getting exposed to live theater."

Tickets are $15 for the matinee and the 7 p.m. shows on June 22 and June 23. A family pack of four or more tickets costs $10 for each ticket.

"We really need the community to come out and support this endeavor for the evening shows," she said. "Everyone should have a great time singing old favorites like, "I'm just a Bill" and "Conjunction Junction."

"It's something family friendly, fun and upbeat," Sbordone said of the show. "It's a joyous nostalgia and new for the kids." 

Instead of hiring a professional out-of-town production, Fulmer reached out to the City Repertory Theatre. CRT and the Flagler Auditorium are doing the show in partnership and sharing the costs, Fulmer said.

"The City Repertory Theatre is absolutely top-notch," said Fulmer. "We feel the actors they bring are every bit as good as a national professional show."

"It's something family friendly, fun and upbeat. It's a joyous nostalgia and new for the kids."

JOHN SBORDONE, City Repertory Theatre artistic director

Sbordone is directing the show. Beau Wade is the assistant director, Laniece Fagundes is the musical director and CRT co-founder Diane Ellertsen is assisting with choreography. The cast includes Phillipa Rose, Junine Johnson, Nick Sok, Rebecca Davis, Michael Sheehan and Elizabeth Post.

Fulmer said some of the City Repertory Theater's actors learned their craft at the Flagler Auditorium or at Matanzas High's Pirate Theatre. She remembers Fagundes performing at the auditorium when she was in fifth grade and "belting out the song, 'Dancing in the Streets.'"

"I love that the auditorium gave her the chance to perform on a large stage under the spotlight," Fulmer said.

Fulmer said Flagler Auditorium has hosted several free shows this past season and several others that have raised money for Flagler Schools and community organizations. For example, "Ticket to the Moon: The Electric Light Orchestra Experience" on June 25, will feature the Flagler Youth Orchestra and benefit Flagler Schools performing arts programs. But she would like to see the auditorium also get back in the business of doing more educational programming. 

She hopes any revenue from the Schoolhouse Rock Live! show could be used for another educational show in the future. Sbordone is looking forward to more collaborations.

"We love to collaborate and try different things for the community," he said.