Taiko Group to open renovated auditorium

By JOSH O’GORMAN Herald Staff

CHESTER — Drums will mark the beat change when the Burlington Taiko Group gives the inaugural public performance at the recently renovated auditorium at Green Mountain Union High School at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

“We’re pretty excited to have the first show in the new auditorium,” said Sara Colgan, a volunteer with the Green Mountain Festival Series, which is now in its 24th season of bringing arts events to the Chester area.

The $120,000 renovation was the product of a lot of community sweat equity, said Green Mountain Union High School Principal Tom Ferenc.

“I’d like to express my sincere thanks to the community,” Ferenc said. “It shows what they really value and that is the arts and the positive effect the arts can have.”

Ferenc said students, parents and custodians were instrumental in replacing 500 seats, carpeting and stage curtains. Saturday’s performance will be the public unveiling of the newly renovated auditorium, but students got the first peek Tuesday when they gathered to watch the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

Saturday’s show will be one of roughly 30 performances by Burlington Taiko Group, said senior member David Cowles.

For the past 16 years, Cowles has beaten on the large Japanese drums — “Taiko” is Japanese for “fat drum” — and has toured the country and the world.

The groups performed for two weeks in Japan in 2002, at the 40th International Taiko Festival in Berkeley, Calif., in 2008, and at the Rutland Ethnic Festival.

Saturday’s performance will feature two 45-minute sets with intermission, Cowles said, and will include both drumming and the “Shishi-Mai” dance, in which members of the group dance under a lion mask.

“It’s a longer performance than usual. People will be able to see a variety of what we do,” Cowles said.

When purchased in advance, tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for adults 62 and older, $5 for children and $30 for families with two adults and two or more children.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 875-4473 or at ticket outlets, which include Village Square Booksellers in Bellows Falls; Misty Valley Books in Chester; Green Mountain Pharmacy in Londonderry; Blue Sky Trading Company in Ludlow; Northshire Bookstore in Manchester and 56 Main Street in Springfield.

Tickets will also be sold at the door for $17 for adults, $14 for adults 62 and older and $10 for children under 18. For more information, visit www.greenmountainfestivalseries.com.

Contact Josh O’Gorman at josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com.