On Thursday, October 23, the Charles Wright Academy Singers, an ensemble of 21 Upper School students conducted by Upper School Choral Director Aimee Mell, will debut their production of “The Reluctant Dragon.”  This 23-minute operetta tells of “the adventures of a boy, a saint and a dragon back when the world was different and there were more dragons about than there are nowadays.” 

The show begins at 7:30pm in the Middle School Commons.   The Chamber Singers, an all women’s ensemble this year, will also perform at this concert.  The event is free and open to the public.

“This is a really great show.  It’s very different from the sort of concerts we usually do,” explains CJ Dale ’09 who plays the lead role of the literary dragon who enjoys poetry and developing his vocabulary more than fighting knights.

“It’s really goofy and silly and I think the audience will really enjoy it,” says Kate Ellwanger ’09.  She plays the role of a young boy fascinated by dragons.  “It’s like a musical, but cooler.”

“The entire production flows together really well,” says Aron Roberts ’11.  Roberts plays the third lead role in the production as Saint George, the dragon slayer.  “It’s spontaneous and exciting.”

Lauren Dees ’09 will narrate the show.  Alex Martin ’10 serves as the master of ceremonies.  In addition to the students performing in lead roles, Matt Goodin ’09 will sing a solo.

“The Reluctant Dragon” was composed by John Rutter, one of the world’s most talented contemporary composers, with lyrics by David Grant.  It was written for the King’s Singers and City of London Sinfonia.  In its original form, it was a children’s story by Kenneth Grahame, first published in 1898.

“On one level it is a charming tale about a dragon who prefers writing poetry to fighting; on another level it is an allegory about prejudice and reconciliation – a children’s story for grown-ups, rather like the same author’s Wind in the Willows,” the score’s preface explains to singers.

The show is the first of its kind in recent memory for Charles Wright.  “It’s a bit like sophistication meets Monty Python,” explains Mell.  “There are elements of a lot of different musical styles including opera, jazz, and doo-wop, and there’s a heart-warming closer.”

Emi Manza ’09, a member of the four-part chorus, is particularly fond of the finale and has enjoyed learning the show’s choreography.  “We’ve never done something like a musical for a concert,” she explains.  “Usually our director picks out a series of songs but this is like one sixty-page song.”

The Charles Wright Academy Singers are the school’s only auditioned choir and were formerly known as the Vocal Ensemble.  The group will go on tour this year for the first time in a decade.  Between January 31 and February 2, they plan to sing at several venues in Portland.  Mell says she took on the challenge of planning the tour this year because the choir has a lot of very dedicated seniors.  The ensemble also features an exceptionally talented group of singers, according to Mell.