Are any elementary schools putting on a spring play?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure the objective of the question, but Shepherd did Little Mermaid Jr in March.

I’m asking because I applied to teach theatre at an elementary level coming from high school and wondered how the logistics worked. I don’t see how seeing students for 45 minutes once a week really works without an after school program which is why I’m getting away from high school. My prospective principal informed me 45 minutes a week for a month at the end would be more than enough time to put on a play which leads me to think they know nothing about theatre or the amount of time it takes to put on a production.

My experience was with Janney, pre-COVID. The spring musical was a huge deal. 80+ kids (4th and 5th grade) in the cast and rehearsals every day afterschool for 1.5-2 hours for about 6-8 weeks. Not every kid had to come to every rehearsal based on their roles, but for the director, it's a big job for a couple of months in the spring. Post-COVID I believe that Janney limits the musical to 5th graders only, so the cast is half the size, but I believe they are still practicing almost every day afterschool. I'm not sure if there even is any practice during the day - it's all afterschool rehearsals, I think. Someone here can probably clarify.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious how many kids participate in these shows at your school. Is it one cast? More? How big of a deal are they culturally at the your school?

At Whittier all grades are eligible and it's a sizeable cast, though just one case. There's enough interest from the broader school.community in attending that the musical is hosted at the Coolidge auditorium as Whittier doesn't have an auditorium of its own (yet?).

We've gone with our kid who isn't in it each year and it's such a wonderful time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious how many kids participate in these shows at your school. Is it one cast? More? How big of a deal are they culturally at the your school?

At Whittier all grades are eligible and it's a sizeable cast, though just one case. There's enough interest from the broader school.community in attending that the musical is hosted at the Coolidge auditorium as Whittier doesn't have an auditorium of its own (yet?).

We've gone with our kid who isn't in it each year and it's such a wonderful time.

+1

My kid loves being in the Whittier musical every year but the theater teacher does rehearsals after school almost every day for two or three months before. She does it in groups so kids don’t rehearse every day but she puts in a ton of time outside school hours.

[Anonymous]

Ludlow-Taylor's musical has about 70 kids in 4 casts. It's done as an afterschool club with rehearsals once/week for 1.5 hours in the Winter and twice/week in the Spring. It's a big deal at the school with themed stuff in the front window and lobby. 200-300 people watch each performance.

[Anonymous]

Ross is performing Alice in Wonderland, Jr.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not sure the objective of the question, but Shepherd did Little Mermaid Jr in March.

I’m asking because I applied to teach theatre at an elementary level coming from high school and wondered how the logistics worked. I don’t see how seeing students for 45 minutes once a week really works without an after school program which is why I’m getting away from high school. My prospective principal informed me 45 minutes a week for a month at the end would be more than enough time to put on a play which leads me to think they know nothing about theatre or the amount of time it takes to put on a production.

I’m surprised that any elementary school is hiring a theatre teacher right now, with budgets looking so uncertain. Good luck, OP!

[Anonymous]

There are many mini musicals available through Hal Leonard that are easily done during class. Usually 5 songs and some basic lines written in verse. They are usually about 25-35 mins long and are not "known" shows.

The larger shows are typically an afterschool commitment - even the ones done through Keegan rehearse after school. This is because of space ( usually the stage is also in the Gym) Costumes/props/backdrop etc.

Some schools have lunch clubs where you could offer theater as a club during school hours - but you would still run into the logistics issues of the actual stage, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ludlow-Taylor's musical has about 70 kids in 4 casts. It's done as an afterschool club with rehearsals once/week for 1.5 hours in the Winter and twice/week in the Spring. It's a big deal at the school with themed stuff in the front window and lobby. 200-300 people watch each performance.

What grades participate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ludlow-Taylor's musical has about 70 kids in 4 casts. It's done as an afterschool club with rehearsals once/week for 1.5 hours in the Winter and twice/week in the Spring. It's a big deal at the school with themed stuff in the front window and lobby. 200-300 people watch each performance.

What grades participate?

I believe it's open to kindergarteners and up (the littles are typically in chorus-type parts)

[Anonymous]

Elementary theater productions were standard in my public school district growing up. I was really disappointed when my kids started at DCPS and found our school doesn’t do any. I’m glad to hear about all these, but it’s so unfair that this isn’t standard at all the elementary schools. Our school was renovated fairly recently and they don’t even have an auditorium (not even one combined with the gym). It is so stupid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elementary theater productions were standard in my public school district growing up. I was really disappointed when my kids started at DCPS and found our school doesn’t do any. I’m glad to hear about all these, but it’s so unfair that this isn’t standard at all the elementary schools. Our school was renovated fairly recently and they don’t even have an auditorium (not even one combined with the gym). It is so stupid.

Yeah, I actually appreciate having this thread so that parents can be informed on which schools have and don't have them! agree that all it would be wonderful if all elementary schools aimed to.

[Anonymous]

Stoddert is doing OZ this spring for the first time in a looooong time (ever?) - rehearsals are after school. Hoping it's the start of a new annual tradition!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Elementary theater productions were standard in my public school district growing up. I was really disappointed when my kids started at DCPS and found our school doesn’t do any. I’m glad to hear about all these, but it’s so unfair that this isn’t standard at all the elementary schools. Our school was renovated fairly recently and they don’t even have an auditorium (not even one combined with the gym). It is so stupid.

It's really sad to me how much variation there is in arts education in DCPS elementary schools. The opportunities for kids vary so much by school and often come down to whether the administration supports it, whether there are teachers willing to invest in the program, and whether families want or are able to fundraise for it.

Not just theater programs -- you see it with music, visual arts, everything. It's really too bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If so, please name the school and the play. Thanks.

Lafayette is doing Shrek, Jr

They did such a good job! Really happy they brought it back this year.

[Anonymous]

My kid was at Janney post-covid. It was only 5th graders, but there were a lot...maybe 80-90 kids. He had rehearsals after school 2-3 times a week for 2.5 months, except for the week of the performances when it was daily. It was a wonderful production and my kid had a great time doing it.