Annette Twitchell marks 20 years directing Groton Jr./Sr. High School musicals

Since the fall of 1990, Annette Twitchell has been the French teacher for Groton Jr./Sr. High School (GHS). In addition, she became the school’s drama club director and debuted its first musical in 19 years with “The Wizard of Oz” in 2006. She is now directing “Seussical,” which will mark her 20th musical at GHS.

Twitchell grew up in Deansboro, New York with her parents, Lawrence Jr. and Barbara Ames, and her siblings, Larry and Marie. She had plenty of musical involvements in Clinton High School (CHS), from which she graduated in 1985.

“My mom always said, ‘Music must be a part of your education,’ and it was!” Twitchell said. “I played trumpet and was in concert, jazz and marching bands and was in chorus.”

At CHS, Twitchell played in the pit band, was a prompter for “Hello Dolly,” sang a solo in “Oliver” and played Annie Oakley in “Annie Get Your Gun.”

Annette married her high school sweetheart, Brian, in August 1989, right after she earned her bachelor’s degree in French education for grades 7-12 from Ithaca College. She said she had intended to be a music teacher, but after having spent half of her senior year in France, she came back knowing that French was her teaching niche.

After her student teaching and substitute teaching at Ithaca High School, Annette was delighted to begin her career at GHS. Having grown up in a farming family, she said, “Groton is very similar to my hometown, and the minute I walked in for my interview, I felt like I was home.”

Annette taught French and also took on both yearbook and drama club director in her first year. Her first production was a nonmusical version of  “State Fair.”

The drama club director changed over the years, and Annette was busy earning her master’s degree in French, which she received from SUNY Cortland in 1997. She and Brian settled in Cortland in 1993 and added their children to the family: Jordan in 1993, Joel in 1995, Hope in 1998 and Brooke in 2000.

“It was always my dream to have my children participating in musicals, and that drove me to be the drama club director again when the opportunity arose,” Annette said. “The drama program had been kept alive with plays as it changed hands, but musicals had still not been done since 19 years before.”

Annette chose “The Wizard of Oz” as her first musical because she was not confident in what she was doing. It was a family-friendly classic, and she knew that people would come to see it. She looked for other GHS staff members to help support the production and was pleased to enlist Eric Toyama as the choral director.

“Others joined me — most of whom are still with me now,” Annette said. “Jackie Baxendell and Barb Saroka, and we called back former band teacher Sally Guzzetta as pit director. Through the years, I had a lot of support from Liz Eleck, Randy Sovocool, and Mike Petrella and so many others.”

Annette also mentioned that she didn’t have a lot of budget to work with that first year but was blessed with Lansing High School offering to lend costumes and props, as well as the Dryden Footlighters.

“My parents were also very supportive and still are today,” Annette said. “They hunt down props and costumes and do their best to find things, buy things or make them.”

Annette also said that she has two main principles she has “always gone by — the first is to pray a lot, and the second is to surround myself with people more talented than I to do the things for the shows that I can’t.”

“When I began directing the musicals 20 years ago, I only committed to do three shows because I didn’t know what would happen,” Annette said, “but with each year, the interest and support grew, and the program was established. And I have to also say that the support from superintendent Brenda Myers and the board of education for ‘The Wizard of Oz’ was what made it possible to keep going. Brenda’s dog was even Toto in the show!”

Annette sees this year’s production of “Seussical” as significant because the 20th show surpasses the 19-year hiatus of no musicals on the Groton stage.

“I have never repeated a show, and I never will,” Annette said. “Each show is like a work of art and each cast is like its own family, and I feel it needs to stay that way. And for me personally, my dream to have my own children have this experience came true, and they all loved it! They’re all adults now, and they still return from wherever they are to see each show whenever possible.”

Save the dates now for “Seussical” on March 20, 21 and 22. If you are a drama club alum, all who attend will be acknowledged in a special way! More on “Seussical” will appear in this column in the coming weeks.

Groton on the Inside appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Submit story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com or text or call Linda at 607-227-4922. 

In brief:

Spaghetti dinner

Groton City Church, 47 Groton City Rd. will hold one of its famous spaghetti suppers Saturday, Feb. 15 from 4 p.m. until gone. The supper includes spaghetti, salad, bread and butter, beverage and dessert. The church is handicapped accessible, and all are welcome. Cost is a free-will offering to benefit the church fuel fund.

Town positions open

The town of Groton is seeking to fill a vacant position on its planning board and two positions on its ethics board. Applications are available at the town clerk’s office, 101 Conger Blvd., or at townofgrotonny.org. Applications must be received by April 1.

Cabin fever? Groton has the cure!

Save the date now for a fabulous opportunity to shake off those winter doldrums and have a little fun at Groton’s annual Cabin Fever Festival, hosted by Groton Recreation and held in the high school gym, 400 Peru Rd., Saturday, March 1. Details to come soon!