11 minute read
Curtain Call
AFTER 32 YEARS AS THE LIFEBLOOD OF BRANKSOME HALL’S PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM, LEGENDARY TEACHER JUDITH FRIEND’75 LEAVES A LEGACY OF APPLAUSE BY ANDREA ASTER PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFF KIRK
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QUOTATION ON JUDITH FRIEND’S DRAMA ROOM WALL FOR 32 YEARS
Aft er more than three decades staging productions, Judith Friend’s fi nal act was on Zoom. Undaunted, her uncompromising eye for lighting, costume and set design remained exacting. Before a virtual background of her beloved South Devon coastline, her beautifully draped scarf matched the blue sea, as did her choker of oversized beads. In a galleryview of hoodies, bad lighting and collegial dishevelment, Judith’s perfectly coiff ed red hair, pre-pandemic elegance and expert make-up were reassuring signals that, while the Branksome stage went dark this academic year, a sense of show must go on. (continued on page 12)
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“Th ere’s defi nitely a level of formality,” says Melissa Shaddick, a drama and fi lm teacher who’s worked with Judith since 2010. “She writes every email in complete sentences: ‘Hello Melissa, Th ank you very much for the link you shared about clowns in 18th-century Italy.’”
To the uninitiated, Judith’s impeccable exterior comes across on first impression as prim and proper, even intimidating or inscrutable. But that’s just testament to her professionalism. In due course, this precision and attention to detail are understood as the necessary traits of a consummate performing arts teacher, with absolute commitment to the school and her craft .
The sound booth in the Allison Roach Performing Arts Centre provides Judith with a bird’s eye view of the stage below.
How else could she have managed her time, directing 45 senior theatre productions—overseeing 10 technical crews, plus costumes, sets and lighting—and ultimately working on more than 120 shows and 60 curricular pieces, including docu-dramas and anthologies. She tucked away costumes well into the night aft er each performance, sourced an eccentric array of props from Kijiji and beyond, designed lighting, ran the lightboard, and oversaw annual school events including the Carol Service, Senior Spring Concert, Middle School Concert and 15 Graduations. How? Hint: Her binders with plastic organizing pockets to assist with this extraordinary output are legendary. Also, as colleague and dance teacher Annie Wood puts it: “Judith’s level of extra is not replaceable. People don’t understand how much ‘extra’ she puts in.”
To Judith, the reward is always about more than getting to opening night. “What the audience sees is the end of the journey,” she says. “I have the privilege of seeing the whole journey. Th e theatre process is like a chemistry experiment, and with the right combination of elements, magic is created.” Yet, any student who’s worked with Judith knows the experience doesn’t end with the production’s run.
“I’m going to miss her ability to see her students’ potential when they can’t,” says Eleanor Stirton, who’s graduating next year. “She pushes people to take risks in a way that they feel completely supported.”
When she’s asked to describe what she hopes to be her legacy, it has nothing to do with fame, despite the number of alums who have indeed chosen a career in the arts (see p.14). “Most of all, I hope they learn to walk in the shoes of another human and, by doing so, expand their empathy and compassion,” she says.
For generations of students, Judith herself has “always been front and centre,” says Deputy Principal Karrie Weinstock, who works each year with Judith to write the famed and muchanticipated faculty skit, a satirical take on the annual Senior School play in November, performed each year at the fi nal holiday assembly. Typically, it includes music, dances, in-jokes, songs about the International Baccalaureate program and weeks of rehearsal, resplendent with costumes.
“Judith took it as seriously as she took the main production,” says Karrie. “You would have thought we were on Broadway, and there was always a wonderful levity and sense of fun.”
Karrie also admires her fl exibility. “Judith always knows what’s best for Branksome Hall and she has a deep and abiding loyalty. She’s deeply respectful of tradition while open to new ways of doing things.”
Indeed, her institutional knowledge is a
function of the fact that Branksome is literally her second home. In terms of her backstory, a fateful mail strike while she was a boarder factors prominently.
In 1974, Judith arrived from Sherborne School for Girls (now Sherborne Girls) in Dorset, U.K., as a boarder on a one-year exchange, planning to attend Bristol University. Caught in the midst of a Canadian mail strike, she applied and was accepted to York University to study drama, then did her master’s at the Centre for Drama, Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Toronto. Th roughout her post-secondary studies, she retained her ties to Branksome boarding as a don and became dean of residence from 1984 to 1989. Having completed her teaching qualifi cations at the University of Toronto in 1983, she became an English and drama teacher, eventually rising to head of drama in 1989. And aft er music and dance were brought into the overall program in 2014, she became head of performing arts and subsequently the instructional leader.
With the same discretion she applies to sharing personal details, Judith is initially ambivalent about detailing memorable anecdotes about particular students, sensitive as she is to excluding or exposing anyone in particular.
She does, however, mention a few, including a courageous new Grade 9 student who auditioned for the Senior School theatre production on her fi rst day at Branksome. Having shone in the audition, she was cast in a supporting part, and quickly graduated to a central role, says Judith.
“When a fellow cast member was obliged to drop out of the production due to a timetable confl ict, this student went on to produce one of the most memorable performances in the production, and the following year she was cast in the leading role—all because she took a creative risk on her fi rst day.”
Judith encouraged students to explore a (continued on page 14)
Top Performance
Two decades of enhancements to the Arts Program
Since its founding, Branksome Hall has viewed its Arts Program as a major source of strength and pride for the entire community. Almost every year, it seems, there is a new and important enhancement to some aspect of the program. Now comes another key milestone. Starting this Fall, music, visual art, dance, fi lm and drama will fall under one Integrated Arts department. The curricula will be led by an instructional leader and supported by three Arts coordinators: visual arts, music, and drama & dance. This will ensure that the Arts at Branksome operate as a cohesive unit, off ering strength and support across a range of skill sets as we build on past achievements. Here is a brief timeline of the last two decades of Arts evolution at Branksome.
1999
Renovation of the Allison Roach Performing Arts Centre
2009
Installation of stage lights in the Senior Drama Studio
2006
Stage extensions and wireless microphone system installed
2015
Dance Studio included in the new Athletics and Wellness Centre; creation of the Dance Company
2007
Symphony Orchestra created
2016
Introduction of the Diploma Dance Course
2020
Creation of a new Virtual Art Gallery
2021
Launch of an Integrated Arts structure and new Branksome Arts website
Passion, Joy and Mentorship Alums remember their times with ‘Miss Friend’
Jane LOCKHART’87
TORONTO PRINCIPAL, JANE LOCKHART DESIGN; TV PERSONALITY AND AUTHOR
Natalia PAYNE’99
NEW YORK CITY TELEVISION AND THEATRE ACTOR
“Miss Friend’s drama class inspired me to aim high in my artistic endeavours. I learned the temperament one needed to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. Drama classes exposed me to all the elements that go into preparing an acting role, from analyzing a script to imagining the inner life of a character. I learned the joy of stepping into the spotlight and sharing my creative vision with an audience.”
Caroline HOUNG’00
TORONTO PRINCIPAL DANCER/INSTRUCTOR, CADENCE DANCE ACADEMY
“With the support of my teachers and fellow students, I founded the Dance Crew in 1998. Leading this club helped fuel my confi dence at later audition and dance performances. I am happy that dance is an integral part of the Arts Program—the state-of-theart dance studio is a dream come true! Performing in school plays with Miss Friend also taught me other important life skills and I’m thankful to have had the privilege to learn from her.”
(continued from page 13) character’s motivation and intention, in order to inspire their physicality and movement on stage, says veteran music teacher Nancy Olfert, who retired in June 2020.
“She discovered a lot of students who wouldn’t have excelled in other areas, and drama became a touchpoint,” says Nancy. “She was so incredibly professional with everyone, but when her guard was down, late at night during a rehearsal, that’s when her interesting and fun sense of humour emerged. Students got very close to her in productions and it was wonderful for them to see a different side of the teachers they worked with.”
Likewise, it took some time for Scott Harbin, music coordinator and band teacher, to see the off stage version of Judith. He fi rst met her when interviewing for his position in 2014.
“She can be quite diffi cult to read—seemingly serious and intimidating—when you don’t know her,” he says. “Th en, the fi rst time I worked with her, I was completely overwhelmed at a full staff meeting and I hadn’t been told to get lunch, so Judith gave me half of hers. I very quickly learned she has every department member’s back in any circumstance.”
And Melissa, as a new faculty member, also discovered that Judith had an off stage whisper she didn’t hesitate to use in real life, when necessary.
“We did a diploma program theatre trip to New York,” Melissa recalls. “Th e hotel was, maybe, a one star. Aft er a moment of us watching colour drain from her face, Judith took me
Sarah LEVY’04
LOS ANGELES/TORONTO ACTOR (TWYLA ON SCHITT’S CREEK)
“Th e drama program was my creative outlet and Miss Friend was instrumental in helping me cultivate my talent and discipline as an actor. She supported my love of acting by encouraging and challenging me to push myself beyond what I thought I was capable of. I have no doubt Miss Friend’s infl uence will live on through her students.”
Leda HOFFMANN’05
COLUMBUS, OHIO ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN THEATRE COMPANY (CATCO)
“Th rough her teaching, Miss Friend built community, by teaching us the value of mentorship and trusting us with leadership. Now, every day in my work, I strive to build community.Understanding the “whole picture” has been invaluable for my career—from stage performances to painting sets. Recently, I directed a production of Welcome to Keene, N.H., a play inspired by Our Town. Th is took me back to 2004 at Branksome, when we built Grover’s Corners with a few trellises, some tables and our imaginations. ‘We all know that something is eternal.’”
Becca CLARK’17
TORONTO RECENT GRADUATE OF THEATRE STUDIES AT QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY
“Miss Friend exemplifi es the Branksome experience for me. Th e Senior School drama room was a sanctuary, built by the most passionate, supportive and encouraging theatre teacher you could ask for. Th ree years of classes, as well as performances in two shows, a trip to New York City and an Extended Essay, played an integral role in shaping the person I am today. Miss Friend allowed me to be myself while amplifying my strengths to become the best version of myself.”
aside and said, ‘Go to Kmart and buy sleeping bags.’ Much to everyone’s relief, we never stayed at that hotel again.”
Colleagues new and old shed more than a few tears discussing the sense of absence they anticipate when Judith retires this summer.
“She’s like my right arm and I’m like hers; I cried when I heard she was retiring,” says Sandra BOLTÉ’73, Senior and Middle School coordinator. Along with Karrie, the three have organized graduation since 2004. In a testament to Judith’s unwavering professionalism, Sandra says she’s “always on.” Sandra’s favourite memory is, in itself, a fi nal curtain call—a beautiful vignette of an irreplaceable teacher who, when asked the font of her boundless energy and dedication says simply, “my students.”
“My favourite time each year was walking with Judith down Mount Pleasant Road to St. Paul’s to discuss graduation,” says Sandra. “And then, at graduation, when we had a police offi cer stop traffi c and lead the procession, there was Judith, 12 paces in front of the piper, this professional, petite lovely lady, smiling with her little ducks behind her, two by two.”
As Judith settles into her well-earned retirement, she will enjoy more time in her Englishstyle Toronto home with her husband Bernard and golden retriever Roxane (named from the play Cyrano de Bergerac). And, when permitted, she hopes to return for an extra long visit with her family in South Devon, England. R
Andrea Aster is a communications associate at Branksome Hall.
