SOUTH BRUNSWICK: AROUND THE SCHOOLS

Brunswick Acres staging ‘Little Mermaid’

By Lisa Rogol, Assistant Principal
What are your plans for Friday night, Dec. 12?
Well, if you’re one of the fourth or fifth graders in the cast of "The Little Mermaid" at Brunswick Acres School, then the answer is simple: It’s showtime!
Friday night will mark the culmination of almost three months of work for these young performers.
The work began with a videotaped audition process, scored by a team of staff members to assign roles.
After the show was cast, the young performers in "The Little Mermaid" rehearsed every Wednesday and Thursday after school, and students with lead roles rehearsed at recess and lunch as well.
These students are dedicated to this show, and are being taught valuable lessons about performing, confidence, and excellence by the show’s director, Brunswick Acres music teacher, Jennifer Sharpe.
Ms. Sharpe has been directing musicals at Brunswick Acres since 2000, and also works with South Brunswick Community Education to do summer theatre courses each year.
This year, in addition to directing/music directing the show, Ms. Sharpe also did the choreography and has sewn most of the costumes for the show (Wait until you see Ursula’s costume!).
Ms. Sharpe also does the lighting design, and leads a team of district teachers to create the sets for the show.
If you think that sounds like a lot of work, you’re right. Ms. Sharpe estimates that in addition to the time spent at rehearsals with the students, she has put in 50 hours to complete all of the behind the scenes work to make the show a success.
But, as Ms. Sharpe would tell you, all of her work is to showcase the students.
Ms. Sharpe, as well as the rest of Brunswick Acres School, believes in the valuable lessons that opportunities, such as performance, instill in elementary school students.
In addition to the lessons students learn from the play itself, the continued, communal work that students must engage in with their fellow cast members builds community and teaches the value of persistence, focus, and hard work.
In addition, Ms. Sharpe believes that upper elementary age is a perfect time to have performance experience.
As she says, "Children are born without inhibition and are natural performers. Providing opportunities for kids to express themselves through a performing art such as singing, acting or dancing, helps them develop the feeling of confidence and success, as well as learn that performing in front of others can be fun, instead of intimidating."
All of our young performers have been working hard, having fun, and are more than ready to take the stage Friday night.
So, if you’re a fan of "The Little Mermaid," and are looking for something fun to do tomorrow night, please join the Brunswick Acres community at 7 p.m.
Admission is free and we would love a large crowd to give these talented performers the large audience they deserve!
Curtain up!