Every year, Students Acting to Make a Difference (SAMD) produces a full-length musical in order to raise money for a charity of their choice. Run by an elected student board, students are in charge of the entire process: selecting the show, interviewing and hiring directors, coordinating with the chosen charity, and managing all behind-the-scenes work for the production. Over the past seven years, SAMD has raised over $45,000 for different charities, including Unchained at Last, Sage House, and Women’s Business Development Center.
This year, of course, made it much more challenging for SAMD to produce its show. As nothing could be done in person, SAMD took on a completely virtual musical, Dear Edwina, to be its fall production. Directed and music-directed by Kristen Mazzochi and Dionne Hendricks respectively, this show’s blocking, music, and choreography were all taught and rehearsed over Zoom. Cast members then individually recorded all music and choreography, and scenes were recorded together. Finally, all aspects were edited together into a final cut shown on a Zoom webinar, complete with live bows.
Dear Edwina is a fun show about a group of advice-giving children putting on a musical in their backyard. The show featured eccentric characters answering letters asking for advice through wacky songs which were supplemented by dancing and trips to other countries. The show’s main audience being children directly relates to the chosen charity, Boston Children’s Hospital. SAMD was able to raise over $5,400 for Children’s, the number one ranked pediatric hospital in the country, and SAMD is hoping to continue to work with the hospital to share the musical with patients. If you didn’t get a chance to check out the show this year, keep your eyes open-- SAMD does many community events and the 2021 fall production isn’t too far away!