Bravo Mr. B

After 33 years, Mr. B has left Cary-Grove. 

Over 300 of choir director and English teacher Rob Boncosky’s former students spent May 23-24 steeped in musical nostalgia as part of “Bravo, Mr B”  a three plus hour variety show and benefit concert that featured 23 individual acts and four choral numbers.

Why such a big alumni chorus and so many individual acts? 

For one, that's how many of us were excited to come back to our alma mater and pay tribute. 

For his part, Boncosky admitted during the May 23 rehearsal that this retirement concert was just an excuse to organize this massive multi-decade ‘class reunion’ 

Warm hugs and cries of “How are you?!” and “This is crazy!” dominated the day as we soaked in the unique feeling of singing old songs with old friends and our old director on that same old stage. 

The Path of the Cary Student

For many of us, singing in that more than 300 voiced choir was likely the final phase of that journey that started back in Cary and Fox River Grove elementary schools, CYT, the park district, CG PAC or any other feeder that inevitably leads to Cary-Grove.

“The thing that's always been unique about Cary and Fox River Grove is…they’re all gonna come here,” Boncosky explained, “they know, that from young age, the people they're developing these skills with will get to experience this together” 

Boncosky compared this path to a similarly successful youth sports program. “There’s a reason our Jr. Trojans program is as successful as it is” 

Namely, that the kids involved can see the endgame of earning a spot on a football team or pom squad that wins state championships and say “‘I wanna be a part of that’” the same way little aspiring performers come to the kids matinee “and look at the musicals and say ‘It looks like Broadway’” 

That sheen of professionalism is strongly helped by the superior technology of the state of the art Fine Arts Center. It really isn't the same old stage many of us remember smiling and doing jazz hands on. 

The Fine Arts Center Dream

In his big speech near the end of the retirement concert Boncosky asked “Can you bring up the house lights?” then stressed “Go to other schools…they don’t have this” 

“This” doesn’t only refer to the 630 seat theatre and its attached state of the art complex. He also meant the belief and generosity of parents, administrators, and board members.

He credits this group with listening, seeing the need and saying “‘that program deserves something better’” 

Because of that drive, the Fine Arts Center was built in 2015 by Pepper Construction as part of their partnership with District 155.

It is only one stage of the “Progress with Purpose” Capital Improvements Initiative which also includes updates to the other three high schools in the district. 

A Legacy of Successful Alumni

The massive alumni and current student chorus performed “Seasons of Love” “One 

Day More” perennial graduation favorite “A Kid Inside” and  “Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal” 

Closing out the concert was the world premiere of “Circle” written by Steve Hackman, who conducted the choir backing up Charlie Puth during the national anthem at this year's Superbowl.

Hackman’s professional bona fides and those of many other alumni who have made careers in music and the performing arts are a testament to Boncosky's impact.

“[We have] lots of teachers, yes…we’ve got kids right now on national tours, we’ve had students on Broadway, we’ve got a headliner in Second City right now”

Bonconsky  knows that he built on an already strong foundation in the music program “during thr Mr. Floor and Don Ehrensperger era, this was a staple of the community,” he explained “Mr Floor started Swing Choir, others started Fall Follies. I get no credit for starting any of those things. The ball was already rolling and we just took it to a different level” 

That level being high school musicals that sell out in a day and win Best Production at the Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards as this year's “Urinetown” did. The IHSMTAs are presented by Broadway in Chicago. 

Life Lessons, Mr B-isms, and Tributes

Throughout the concert were video montages of many of his students remembering and relating valuable lessons and trademark phrases.

Many opted for Boncosky’s favorite stamp of approval “he/she gets it” Others remember being told “Fatigue is a choice!” at the beginning of a pre-school Swing Choir rehearsal or in the middle of a particularly brutal tech week. 

The most impactful life lesson seems to have been his bright but definitely brusque instruction to “Figure it out!,” whenever students came to him with problems he knew we had the wherewithal to solve for ourselves. 

“Surround yourself with excellence” was another bit of well-remembered advice. Obviously a lesson he lives by. Throughout the concert he thanked the many co-workers and volunteers who contributed to the evening and the overall success of the program. Most notably fellow choir directors Kristine Hester and Patrick Whalen. 

Lightly Roasting the Director

A couple of the performers deviated from the prevailing theme of well-earned gratitude and praise by roasting the man of the hour. Or rather, the man of four hours, considering the length of this concert. 

Getting the most heartfelt laughs were nudges at Boncosky's more…ethnically problematic musical selections. 

Dan Eckert and Tyler Wilson asked “Who else could pull off a caucasian Wiiiiizzzz?!” during their parody “When Robby Retires” set to the tune of “If Mama Was Married” from “Gypsy”

Preston Parker, the previously mentioned Second City Mainstage cast member also poked at this in his tribute song, calling him “The only man brave enough to do an almost all-white ‘Once on this Island’/Or an almost all-white production of ‘The Wiz’/Or a SECOND almost all-white production of ‘The Wiz’” 

And who could forget the Max Factor pancake makeup used on the Sharks of 1996’s “West Side Story” in shades of “Suntan” or “Egyptian” that inched just a little close to brown face?

Molding the Show Around the Student

All kidding aside, 1994’s “The Wiz” as his inaugural musical WAS a brave choice. One that might have backfired had that show not set a standard for quality and ambition that would continue for the next three decades. 

It was also seemingly picked around that production’s Dorothy, a choice that speaks to one of his skills as an educator. Namely, building any given year’s programming around the talent he had.

Boncosky spoke to this while introducing “One Day More” during the concert which featured soloists from CG’s two productions of “Les Miserables” He recounted originally laughing at the idea “What high school could ever pull off [Les Mis] successfully? There is no way!” 

But the students that came through his choir room changed his mind. “A short time later there was a group of students who were so talented and so exceptional that I thought we might actually be able to do it. And we did” 

Another way Boncosky consistently featured as many talented kids was playing with the original script of a given show in a way that didn't compromise the story. Turning one “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” Narrator into three, for instance. Or creating extra ensembles within shows to expand casts of tens or dozens to closer to a hundred allowing even more kids to participate, contribute, and grow.

The English Teacher

“He also taught Humanities…something not a single other person has mentioned today” Parker pointed out in his hilarious tribute “eulogy” song. This reminder prompted widespread guilty chuckles, especially from those of us who took that class, Speech, or the others Boncosky taught as Assistant Division Leader for Humanities.

Boncosky took an unscripted moment to address this in his final speech, asking “Show of hands, how many of you had me for English?” More than half of the hands went up. 

He credits this recognition disparity to his work in the English department not being as public. “It's not like I'm publishing student papers and having people go ‘Oh my God, these kids are so talented’” 

Teaching English was actually his original plan. It was only after taking the advice of his old  Crystal Lake Central principal that he decided to remain at his alma mater, Augustana, and earn his certificate for music education as well

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Final Thoughts and Many Thanks

“Did we make four hours?” Boncosky asked as he took the stage to introduce the last three choral numbers and deliver his final thoughts “I can do five!” he half-jokingly assured the crowd of parents, co-workers, techies and other contributors, many of whom he thanked by name.

He went ‘off-script’ to give his own thanks and perfectly summarize the emotions of the day with the following thought, “To say that I was humbled and to say that I was grateful is an understatement because the gift they have given me today is unmatched. And I think we all felt that in the room, that it’s not about me, it's about the collective and what this school and this community has created together”

Missed the show? Watch “Bravo Mr. B" on YouTube

If you have a child in Cary or Fox River Schools grade schools, there are several opportunities around town to develop their acting, dance, and singing skills. Here are a few pictures from only two of the organizations that offer classes and theater groups for younger students.

Check out the Children's Theater Company of Cary (CTCC) at the Park District or ETC at Cary Grove Performing Arts Center for more information.