Fourth-year statistics student Richie Ferris (left) founded Bruins Care, a student musical theater group that has raised more than $4,300 for Broadway Cares.
A sea of newsboy hats floods the stage. A female performer goes for a toe touch and falls. A group of men, dressed in sparkling attire, learn to “bend and snap,” as another performer rips his pants.
The rehearsal screams pure chaos, but the performers of the third annual Bruins Care musical revue know exactly what they’re doing.
Today and Saturday, Bruins Care, the theater group founded by fourth-year statistics student Richie Ferris, will perform its yearly musical theater revue to raise money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
During the past two years, Bruins Care has raised more than $4,300 for Broadway Cares.
Ferris, who is also president of the a capella group Bruin Harmony, started Bruins Care when he was a second year. Ferris said he began the group as a way to become involved on campus while incorporating his love for musical theater.
“I feel like it was a time in my life where a lot of people were getting involved, creating things and having leadership roles. I wanted to give something back and create a group that had an impact,” Ferris said.
This year’s revue features songs ranging from classics, such as “Singin’ in the Rain” and “Damn Yankees,” to contemporary musicals, such as “Legally Blonde” and “Aida.”
Ferris said that this year’s revue will feature a larger cast of nearly 20 students, more choreography and more numbers than shows past.
“About half of the cast has done the show before, so it’s a different vibe, but the heart and soul of it is the same,” Ferris said. “We still celebrate musical theater, choose different songs from different shows and get people to support charity and their friends. Overall, we hope to create a better product.”
Another change came in the form of a co-producer ““ third-year theater studies and English student, Jen Fingal, who assisted Ferris in organizing this year’s show.
“Managing directing takes a lot of time. … It’s a labor of love because it’s difficult, but it’s very rewarding. My most meaningful friendships have been through student theater,” Fingal said.
One distinguishing aspect of Bruins Care is that it is not strictly limited to musical theater students.
Performers range in age and majors, from humanities and sciences alike.
“A lot of us aren’t musical theater majors, but we love performing. (Bruins Care) is for people like us. I guess we started a tradition,” said Allison Wylie, a fourth-year political science student who has been a part of the group since its beginning.
Fourth-year musical theater student Rachel Hirshee said that members are encouraged to raise individual goals of $250 for Broadway Cares, Bruins Care’s charity.
Though charity is the group’s main focus, Hirshee said that friendships keep the group close-knit.
“This (revue) is about building friendships and working together for a good cause. It’s less about the final product and more about the process,” Hirshee said. “I’ve gained some of my best friends from this show.”
While more than half of the cast is composed of fourth years, first-year musical theater student Jane Papageorge said she aspires to maintain the tradition.
“I joined because I was looking for an outlet to work with my fellow musical theater friends and get a chance to perform,” Papageorge said. “I’m planning on doing Bruins Care the next three years because it’s a good time. I love the people I’ve worked with, and it’s a good cause.”
Ferris said he has seen Bruins Care grow the past three years and that he hopes the revue brings people together and teaches them a thing or two about musical theater.
“I’m looking to graduate with no regrets and be confident that this is something that lasts,” Ferris said. “I want the show to open up people’s eyes to musical theater, and I want people to walk away knowing that this show made an impact on the audience, the cast and charity.”