Arts & Entertainment

Jamboree: That's Life in Ridgewood

The 65th annual theater tradition raised money for scholarships and appreciation for Ridgewood's position as a one-of-a-kind town.

They spent months planning, stepping, singing, shouting, stomping, laughing and dancing. And now, on Saturday, the spoils of labor are bearing the final fruits of the community tradition, the 65th Ridgewood Jamboree, titled "That's Life".

Ben Franklin Middle School's auditorium was alive on Friday night with moment after moment of embarrassment, as parents raced from scene to scene–some with grace and skill, others with well...a lot of grace.

"I'm living proof you don't need talent to be in Jamboree," Councilman Paul Aronsohn smiled at the conclusion of Friday night's show, which featured hoots and hollers from the audience and raucous applauds to the two-act theme of family, work, community and love.

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Shouts of "Go Dad!" and shrieks of "Oh my God!" in horror melded together above a chorus of guitars, drums, trumpets and pianos under the direction of the very skilled and lauded Musical Director Brownen Eastwood and lead arranger Steve Freides.

RHS teacher Susan McBrayer led vocals and Dana Watson, a professional trumpeter who works at the Met, handled the editing.

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Stage Manager Claudia O'Roarke, a Jamboree veteran with six years under her belt and the bloodlines of Jamboree All-Stars (her father parents ), said parents are often fooled into thinking they can't do the dance numbers, the soaring Broadway, Vaudeville or pop numbers or nail their one liners.

Not so, O'Rourke says. "It scares people at first but everyone gets a part and at the end, you learn here," she said. The show was led this year by producers Alane Steinacker, Rob Goodgold, Bill Dimodungo and Director Warren Bigos.

It may have been an amateur show, but the over 90 crew and cast seemed quick learners. High-octane performances like the dance number to sailor-styled "Turn the Beat Around" juked and grooved under the lights. Other scenes like "Razzle Dazzle" (with trio Joseph Carey, Joe Roche and producer Rob Goodgold) punctuated a spoof on the legal system and even Ridgewood's sign ordinance.

A rendition of "5 O'Clock World" by the Vogues infused a bit of leisure into work life–something residents are particularly familiar with given the high-stress, work, work, work lives many in the audience and production have. Other numbers poked fun at love–incorporating speed dating complete with a giant Flava Flav-esque necklace of a glistening dollar sign, as well as vampiress Elvira and a purse full of muskrats (you'll have to tune in Saturday to see what that's all about).

The biggest fan favorites of the night? A stomp number shook the floor; and although a diverse crowd (Friday and Saturday are traditionally general community nights while Wednesday is geared toward seniors and Thursday, students), modern sugary and strange pop number "Bad Romance" from Lady Gaga was drowned by sounds of laughter and cheers shot toward the stage.

Dance number "Single Ladies," led by producer Alane Steinacker, wowed the crowd. Veteran Jamboree-er Lois Complain dedicated her time as the Director of Choreography again and the dance numbers dazzled throughout.

Final number "Don't Stop Believing" soaked hope in producers, cast, crew and community that the 66th Jamboree will again showcase the essence of what makes Ridgewood unique.

Behind the glitz, glam and fast feet is a greater point–the performance raised $65,000 for scholarships to those in Ridgewood High School. Schools Superintendent Dr. Daniel Fishbein (not in costume) and the Ridgewood Board of Education was on stage to accept the donation.

Fishbein, in an earth-tone suit, thanked Jamboree "not just for the scholarship money," but for their time, effort and role in "bringing the community together."

The final Jamboree show is Saturday at 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium at B.F. Middle School. Tickets are available at the door.


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