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Dec. 7, 2006
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Students teach students theater |
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Thomas More students direct, choreograph musical |
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Thomas More students (standing, from left) Megan Tandetzke and Sarah Stuecker direct a group of area sixth to eighth grade students during rehearsals for Aladdin Junior, to be held at Thomas More High School Dec. 9 and 10. (Catholic Herald photo by Colin Van Winkle) |
ST. FRANCIS — Walk into a high school during rehearsals for a musical and you’re sure to see stressed out seniors, jumpy juniors and frantic freshmen. This year, three Thomas More High School students are undertaking a daunting task; they’re directing and choreographing a musical for 25 area students in grades 6 through 8. This student-run performance of Aladdin Junior will take place at Thomas More High School Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 10 at 2 p.m.
Sarah Stuecker, Megan Tandetzke and Josh Prostek are officers and members of the Tri-M National Music Honor Society. For the last three years, the honor society’s officers have produced a performance for area middle school students. While directing a musical for middle school students may be difficult for adults, these high school students said they’ve learned some valuable lessons.
“I’ve learned how to take everyone’s opinions and thoughts and work effectively,” said Prostek, a junior. “I found a way to be calm and that’s worked efficiently. It’s not all about the three of us; it’s for the benefit of the kids.”
“The three of us are role models for the kids and we need to teach them what good actions are,” said senior Tandetzke.
“I think I’ve learned leadership because you have to be able to control them and be a leader so you can do a good production,” said Stuecker, a senior.
The group has been rehearsing since the end of October and the Thomas More students have overseen every part of the production, from the auditions to lighting.
“They run the auditions; they send the letters to grade schools. I pretty much just oversee what they do,” said Nancy Wiecki, Thomas More’s music teacher and supervisor for this production. “The students had final say for the casting.”
“It’s always hard to put up a cast list because I knew some people wouldn’t be happy with their parts, but that’s going to happen with any play,” said Stuecker.
The Thomas More students, who have all been in plays themselves, feel that this is beneficial for all involved, especially the middle school students.
“I have stage fright and if I had acted more as a child, it would’ve helped,” said Stuecker. “This is a good way for kids to learn to act and it’s a good way for them to get over their stage fright if they have it.”
The Thomas More students said they’ve had to overcome a few challenges in this process.
“I’m used to hanging out with 16-, 17-, 18-year-olds, so the way you act and talk, you have to modify that and that’s hard,” said Prostek.
“Sometimes your patience can run thin because they don’t always pay attention,” said Stuecker. “But I guess high school students don’t always pay attention either.”
“It’s harder to get your point across and get them to stick with it,” said Tandetzke, the production’s choreographer. “It’s constant review, review, review, especially with choreography.”
The 6th through 8th grade students come from schools around the archdiocese. They include St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Roman, St. John Kanty, Divine Mercy, St. Gregory the Great, St. John the Evangelist and St. Sebastian.
Tickets for Aladdin Junior cost $5 and are available at the door for both performances, which take place in Thomas More High School’s auditorium. |
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