By JESSICA HARDING
Staff Writer
RED BANK — Drama Club students at Saint James Elementary School have been working extremely hard for more than a decade, providing their audiences with spectacular productions.
This year’s musical comedy, “I Want My Mummy,” will open to the sounds of screams and a colorful cast of characters at 7 p.m. on April 7 and 7:30 p.m. on April 8 at Red Bank Catholic High School’s auditorium.
These students, according to Saint James officials, put on performances ranging from Broadway musicals to comedy productions of popular plays.
According to the school, the Drama Club gives students the chance to hone their acting, singing and dancing skills. Under the guidance of faculty directors Barbara Oakerson, Fran Byrne and Susan Signoriello, they are able to achieve the goals they set for themselves.
Uplifting entertainment is performed during springtime at Red Bank Catholic and is supported by Saint James Monsignor Phillip Lowery, Principal JoAnn Giordano and Vice Principal Catherine Golden.
The Drama Club serves as a significant part of the students’ educational enrichment. It goes hand in hand with other extracurricular activities, such as sports, and aims to broaden the experiences for these talented students.
According to Signoriello, students work very hard and grow so much in the Drama Club.
“Students give up so much of their spare time practicing. They work very hard memorizing their lines and rehearsing their parts. It is so heartwarming to see students, who to some might seem a little shy, take on a whole new persona on stage and transform themselves into their characters.
“Seeing the students after the play with their families and friends, receiving well-deserved praise makes everyone’s hard work worth it. Mrs. Oakerson, Mrs. Byrne and I are so proud of these students and are so grateful to have this opportunity to work with them and to watch them blossom and grow,” she said.
Preparations, tryouts and practices begin in September and lead into two nights of performances in April.
According to the school, parts are selected for everyone and include leading roles, chorus members, dancers and stage hands. Volunteers can also assist by fundraising, selling tickets, making props and designing sets. Every student is welcome to join the club and help out.
For more details, visit www.mysaintjames.com.