Theatre - A hands-on intro to theatre

Posted January 24, 2008

The Vineyard Playhouse and the Edgartown, Tisbury, Oak Bluffs, and West Tisbury schools have teamed up for the annual Fourth-Grade Theatre Project. Begun in 1994 by MJ Bruder Munafo and Georgia Morris, the educational collaboration is part of the schools' language arts curriculum. The goal is to give students hands-on theatre experience.

Each school will present original short plays conceived by students and then scripted and directed by co-directors Ms. Munafo and Kate Hancock.

The Martha's Vineyard Public Charter School presented a play on Jan. 14, based on Dr. Seuss's book "The Lorax." The puppet play included live actors who sang and danced during the scene changes. The story has an environmental message, telling the tale of a business cutting down all the Truffula trees. Click photo for larger version.

On Saturday, Jan. 26, the Edgartown School students will take the stage. Pat Herr's class will perform "Meowski! The New Farm Family." Bridget Mello's class will do "Historic Blackout," and Megan McDonald's class, "A Monkey in the White House."

The actors include: Austin Chandler, Michelle Herrick, Asya Morgan, Hailey Rogers, Alley Ellis, Marlla Lemos, Jimmy DeMattia, Sara Poggi, K.C. Wallace, Justin Donahue, Ethan Donovan, Olivia Green-Lingren, Elizabeth Hayman, and Nisha San-Kitts. Adult actors are: Christopher Kann, Aaron Duclos, Jill Macy, Sheryl Dagostino, Chelsea McCarthy, Clark Maffitt, and Nancy Luedeman.

Edgartown School fourth-grade plays, Saturday, Jan. 26, 3 pm and 7 pm, Vineyard Playhouse, 24 Church Street, Vineyard Haven. Tickets: $6 for adults, $4 for children. For more information, call 508-696-6300 or visit www.vineyardplayhouse.org.