Last October, there was only one reason why nine overloaded, over-committed elementary school teachers joined me in taking on the giant task of producing a 50-member musical comprised of 3rd to 5th graders.
They gave up their afternoons, including tutoring opportunities, for the sole reason of exposing young hearts and minds to the wonders of story and song; the thrill of dance and dialog and the one-of-a kind joy of joining arms and voices in that crowning anthem.
The thought of igniting a spark in one child, just as it did in the heart of Elisabeth Marbury, whose parents raised her in the theater and who became play right agent for Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw, or writer Noel Coward, or composers Rogers and Hammerstein, Sondheim, Spielberg and of course the great Walt Disney.
But if none of these students ever attain such grand achievements, at the very least, they will have learned to appreciate the art form of the musical. An art form that offers relief, respite and restoration from this troubled and turbulent world.
Take the story of Joe. Joe was a shark in Finding Nemo. Sometimes he danced, most often he didn't. Sometimes he behaved, more often he didn't. He even was expelled from the show for arguing with our guest acting coach. After discussions and apology letters, he was reinstated, but didn't really deliver during the show.
His academic specialist at school was not getting a word out of him during a recent session, until she said, "I heard you want to try out for G-star, that performing arts middle school." He perked up. "I think you'd do great," she continued. "You'll be 'Joe-star!'" Her play on words broke his mute state; "G-Star," "Joe-Star."
Suddenly his thoughts tumbled out and he answered all his lesson questions from there on out. The power of his musical experience and the genius of his tutor effected a momentous change in one boy's life.
That is why we did and do this. And why it is worth every moment.
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