Arts

Theater

The award winning Briarcest theatre program is designed to allow students to use their God given talents to glorify God through the performing arts.

The BCS theatre program is a comprehensive program offering theatre opportunities from kindergarten through the twelfth grade.

Students at the elementary level can participate in the Fall Elementary Musical as well as singing or dance lessons through our Conservatory of Fine Arts program both during and after school.
Students at the middle school level can participate in the Middle School Drama Club and the annual Middle School Musical.
Students at the High School level can participate in Communication arts, Introduction to Theatre, Honors Acting, and Technical production classes. Additionally, any student can participate in the fall play or the spring musical with professional orchestra.

Upcoming 2019-2020 Productions:

List of 4 items.

Elementary 2019 Fall Musical

James and the Giant Peach, Jr.

November 22-23 7:00 PM
November 23 2:00 PM
Based on one of Roald Dahl’s most poignantly quirky stories, Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach JR. is a brand new take on this "masterpeach" of a tale. Featuring a wickedly tuneful score and a witty and charming book, this adventurous musical about courage and self-discovery is destined to be a classic. When James is sent by his conniving aunts to chop down their old fruit tree, he discovers a magic potion that grows a tremendous peach, rolls into the ocean and launches a journey of enormous proportions. James befriends a collection of singing insects that ride the giant piece of fruit across the ocean, facing hunger, sharks and plenty of disagreements along the way.

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High School 2019 Fall Production

Pride and Prejudice
October 24-26 7:00 PM
October 26 2:00 PM
Pride and Prejudice is a streamlined theatrical version of Jane Austen’s classic novel involving manners, courtship and relationships. Finding a husband is hardly Elizabeth Bennet's most urgent priority. But with four sisters, an overzealous match-making mother, and a string of unsuitable suitors, it's difficult to escape the subject. When the independent-minded Elizabeth meets the handsome but enigmatic Mr. Darcy, all feelings of attraction are muted by his pride and her prejudice. As their worlds keep colliding, their attraction increases. But they first must overcome their own weaknesses and many other obstacles before the most famous courtship in history can begin.

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High School 2020 Spring Musical

Singin' In The Rain
Movie musical Singin’ in the Rain, beloved since the moment it premiered, earned the top spot atop AFI’s 100 Years of Musicals list and, in 2007, was ranked as the fifth greatest motion picture of all time. Now adapted for the stage, Singin' in the Rain “pours” down delight, capturing the waning days of the silent screen era as they give way to new-fangled “talkies.” With The Jazz Singer premiere making Hollywood frantic, the studios are forced to suddenly change all the movie-making rules at once, to accommodate sound. In doing so, they leave silent pictures -- and some of their stars -- behind. When Monumental Studios turns silent The Dueling Cavalier into The Dancing Cavalier, a musical picture, in order to stay relevant, they are faced with a problem: their star, Lina Lamont can’t sing, and can’t even really talk. Lina’s voice sounds something like nails on a chalkboard. Enter Kathy Selden, an aspiring actress whose dulcet tones are able to cover Lina Lamont’s -- calling into question what it means to act, how credit is distributed, and what it means to get a fair shake in the movie business. Singin' in the Rain includes some of the best-loved comedy routines, dance numbers, and love songs ever written, including “Good Mornin’,” “Make ‘em Laugh,” and - of course - the show-stopping dance number, “Singin’ in the Rain.”

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Middle School 2020 Spring Musical

Once Upon A Mattress, Jr.

April 3-4 7:00 PM
April 4 2:00 PM
The Getting To Know Series: Uniquely adapted musicals specifically for youth performers. If you thought you knew the story of 'The Princess and The Pea,' you may be in for a walloping surprise! Did you know, for instance, that Princess Winnifred actually swam the moat to reach Prince Dauntless the Drab? Or that it may not have been the pea at all that caused the princess a sleepless night? Carried on a wave of beguiling songs, by turns hilarious and raucous, romantic and melodic, this rollicking spin on the familiar classic of royal courtship and comeuppance provides for some side-splitting shenanigans. Chances are, you'll never look at fairy tales quite the same way again.

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Contact

List of 2 members.

Rachel King-Barr

Drama Teacher

Bio
Rachel King-Barr is the High School Theatre Director, at Briarcrest she directs fall plays, spring musicals and teaches Introduction to Theatre, Honors Acting, Speech Communication and Production Workshop at Briarcrest.

Mrs. King-Barr earned her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Theatre from the University of Central Arkansas and her Master’s of Fine Arts in Theatre Directing from The University of Memphis. She has taught previously at The University of Memphis and Crichton College. In addition, she served for two years as the Director of Education and Outreach for Germantown Community Theatre.

Mrs. King-Barr has experience directing, teaching, and ministering to students of all ages, having served as the Interim Youth Director at Woodland Presbyterian Church as well as the Director of Children’s Ministries at South Highland Presbyterian Church. Her directing credits include The Velveteen Rabbit, Alice in Wonderland, James and the Giant Peach, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Far Away, The Legend of Lilith, and Eye of God, among many others. Her most recent Briarcrest productions include To Kill a Mockingbird and Mary Poppins. She also has adapted and co-written A Will Not His Own. Her professional experience extends to all aspects of the theatre, including scenic design, stage management, costume construction, and property design. She has also acted in dozens of plays for various companies.

In 2010, Mrs. King-Barr was recognized by The City of Germantown for “contributions to the theatrical arts and dedication to the youth of the community”. She has been an Ostrander Award nominee and adjudicator.
Jennifer Douglas

Bio
JENNIFER DOUGLAS, Director of Middle and Elementary School Theatre, is thrilled to be directing and choreographing at Briarcrest. She recently choreographed The Wizard of Oz Young Performers’ Edition, All Shook Up Young@Part the Musical, and Godspell, Jr. for the Middle School, as well as Freckleface Strawberry, Madagascar – A Musical Adventure, Jr., and Dear Edwina, Jr. for the Elementary School. Jennifer previously directed and choreographed for New Day Children’s Theatre including The Best of Both Worlds and choreographed their productions of Doo Wop Wed Widing Hood and Twinderella. She was also the Director of Page Robbins Players and several summer drama camps. Other Director/Choreographer credits include Bugsy Malone at Alaska Fine Arts Academy.

Jennifer has a background in critical care nursing, special education, early intervention for children with disabilities, children’s and youth ministry, and performing arts. She is the Director of the Sunday Night Arts and Praise (SNAP) program at Collierville United Methodist Church, where she is also the Director of their musicals each semester. Director/Choreographer credits include Faith News and Straight Outta Bethlehem and Director credits include Danny and the Shacks, Jingle Bell Beach, Star Quest, and Isaiah Jones. She currently teaches and serves on the Preteen Ministry team at Collierville United Methodist and has previously served as the Children’s and Youth Director at Collierville Presbyterian Church, Founder and Director of the Preteen Ministry at Chugiak United Methodist Church, and the Director of Preschool Children’s Ministry at Germantown United Methodist Church.

Having grown up in theatre and dance, Jennifer has over 25 years of experience in the performing arts and has had the distinct privilege of studying with accomplished artists in Tennessee, Alaska, and New York. Favorite dancing credits include Oklahoma! at DeSoto Family Theatre and Anything Goes at Theatre Memphis. She enjoys volunteering as the special events coordinator for local nonprofits and is a judge for the Mid-South Youth Talent Contest. Jennifer is a member of Dance/USA, National Dance Education Organization, National Guild for Community Arts Education, and Tennessee Association of Dance.