A Rose by a New Name?

July 27, 2023
• St. Joe’s Summer Theatre has a new name and a new partnership. It is now Needham Student Theatre and has partnered with Needham Community Education.

It’s a tradition that is almost as old as we are. St. Joseph’s Summer Theatre traces its roots all the way back to 1988, and has delighted audiences almost every year since. Run by students, it has been a group activity that has been a staple for young and old alike. So some were a bit surprised earlier this month, when their familiar float was not present in the Exchange Club’s annual Independence Day Parade. Instead, they saw a new troupe: The Needham Student Theatre. With a new name and a new home, the organization is hoping the tradition will continue for decades to come.

This year’s performance will be undertaken later this week. The Needham Student Theatre is putting on a production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”. We joined them at a recent rehearsal to get the low-down on what makes this rendition special, and got the all the details on their upcoming schedule.

These stories ran as part of the Needham Channel News, a weekly newscast airing on The Needham Channel every Thursday at 7:30pm. The Needham Channel News can be found on the Community Channel: Comcast 9, Astound 15 and Verizon 29. Most Thursdays it also can be viewed on our HD Channel on Verizon 2129, Astound 613 and streaming on this site.