I LOVE THEATER!!!!  I have worked with gifted and talented kids for 30 years!  During that time we did several plays however, in 2010, I began involving students in BIG theater performances to develop confidence, problem solving, public speaking, empathy, and a host of other skills students need to be productive members of society.  Since then, each year finds us doing another play!  There is absolutely NOTHING that grows students in multiple ways better than being in a play. When looking at the G.T. standards, almost ALL are encompassed in the MANY aspects of planning, preparing for, and performing a play. Theater involves risk-taking --kids who never saw themselves as singers or dancers are challenged to give it a go, discovering in the process the joy of stepping out of that comfort zone. Theater creates good memories. It pulls in parents in a meaningful way.  The list goes on. This page contains things that work for me, along with links to the performances we have done.

BELOW ARE THE PLAYS WE HAVE PRESENTED IN RECENT YEARS --CHECK THEM OUT BY CLICKING ON THE RED HYPERLINK!

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2010 - Charlotte Delbo's "WHO WILL CARRY THE WORD ?"  This Holocaust play written by Delbo (who was involved in theater prior to the Holocaust) tells the story of a group of young women in Auschwitz. POWERFUL. This was performed by an exceptional group of junior high and high school women I had been hoping for that could pull it off. 

2011 - Shakespeare's, "THE TAMING OF THE SHREW" --set in the 1950s!!! (secondary)
   AND.... Shakespeare's, "A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM" --loved the costumes!!! (elementary)

2012 - "IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE" --the classic (secondary)
   AND... "ALICE IN WONDERLAND" - check out the costumes!!! (elementary)

2013 - "BYE, BYE BIRDIE!"  --a loving farewell to Weiner HIGH School (secondary)
​   AND... "LIGHTS, CAMERA, COMEDY" --sketches from the beginnings of film and television (elementary)

2014 - COMING TO AMERICA! (elementary --three separate performances related to one theme
              "THE STORY OF ANNIE MOORE" - based on the first person to pass through Ellis Island
              "THE HUNDRED DRESSES" - based on Eleanor Estes book about a young immigrant who was misunderstood and mistreated
              "Mrs. Dunn's Lovely, Lovely Farm" - based on short story by Myron Levoy about immigrant life in the tenements --it even has CHICKENS

2015 - "A CHRISTMAS CAROL" - yes, it's the full length Dickens's story

​2016 - "CINDERELLA!" - magical!

2017 - "BRUNDIBAR!" - this opera was performed over 50 times by various groups of children in the Terezin concentration camp. Our version is preceded by two acts based on books about the experiences of young people in Terezin to help the audience understand the significance of "Brundibar" in that camp.

2018 - "ANNIE JR" - the traditional version of Daddy Warbucks and Annie comes to the stage as a musical. Great sets, fantastic costumes --singing and dancing!!! Our Daddy Warbucks even shaved his head.

2019 - "INSIDE OUT" - our tribute to Pixar's film about how our emotions work in our daily lives. THE most challenging & creative production we've ever tackled!

2020 - "MATILDA!"  ....COMING

2021 - COVID still

​2022 - MAY Performance dates scheduled

​Putting on a Play - Ms. Hesse's Slideshow for Teachers - (I HAVE USED THIS SLIDESHOW IN PRESENTATIONS FOR TEACHERS) the following slideshow contains things I've learned and used that help children be actors and not merely kids on a stage.  ALL THE IMAGES ARE FROM PLAYS WE HAVE DONE.

HOW TO HELP KIDS WHO DIDN'T GET THE PART THEY WANTED ---(adapted from various sources)...a time to learn how to handle disappointment

1. Get in touch with your emotions. It can be really hurtful if you didn't get the part you wanted. Talk with somebody you trust. If you get your emotions out in the open instead of suppressing them, it can be easier to move on. Remember that it's okay to be angry. Sometimes you'll be mad at your director. Don't think that's petty or childish - that's normal. Get your anger out by punching something or writing it out. Don't stay angry or hold a grudge for very long - that will make your situation worse. 


2. Don't dwell on it. If you spend hours upon hours sulking about the bad aspects of your part, you will never be able to enjoy being part of the play at all. You'll never get over it, and that won't be good. Your director will definitely not want you to be in their cast ever again, and you won't be a fun cast member to practice lines with, if you sulk. Get some time to yourself to get your feelings out, but then put on a happy face. Smile. Eventually, your feelings on the inside will match the way you look on the outside. 


3. Think about why your director may have cast you in your specific role. Don't immediately assume that it's because you're a bad singer or actor with no talent. More likely, it was because there were so many talented people trying out for the best parts - including you. Maybe he knew he couldn't put all the less talented people in the chorus or ensemble and wanted somebody good to help carry the voices. Don't think it was for a bad reason. 


4. Talk to your director. Ask him why he cast you in your role. Don't sound petty, and don't sound like you're complaining. Don't get angry and say something like, "Why didn't you give me a better part? I was the most talented person trying out and you know it!"  Don't cry or yell. Be calm and say, “I’d like to know what you think I need to do to improve for a lead role.”  Make sure you have a calm tone of voice. Listen to him when he explains. If he asks you questions, answer them - in your same calm tone of voice. He will give you a good, fair explanation, and all your questions will be answered. Most likely, you will leave feeling better than you did before. What would you do differently for an audition next time? To know that, you have to know what was at play with this experience. You need to know what is working, why you were right or not right for the part so that you will be even better prepared for the next audition.

5. Giving a fantastic audition doesn’t mean you’ll get the job. Interesting fact: If you think you did well in the audition, then you probably did. If they don’t cast you, it’s because you weren’t the “right” person for it. You can give a dazzling audition, but if you’re not tall enough or not old enough or blonde enough, you just may not get the part. It’s no reflection on your talent. Some characters must have a certain look... imagine Ariel in "The Little Mermaid" with short black hair!

6. Don't quit the play. It may be tempting, but don't make any rash decisions. Stick with the play if you can. More than likely you will find yourself having a great time anyway, despite your role. Play your role with a heart. Give it your all. Practice your lines over and over again, just like everybody else. Sing your songs all the time. Do your absolute best in rehearsal. If you show your director that you can act even the smallest of roles with gusto and all the talent you can possibly muster, it will show the director that you are a serious actor that won't succumb to setbacks. It will also show him that you aren't a sore loser - you're a team player all the way. And if you show him those things, he will remember your attitude and have good things to say about you.

7. Give yourself a pep talk. Know that you should be proud of yourself for working hard like everybody else and choosing to have a positive, keep-going attitude, even though you didn't get the part you wanted. All in all, this will have been a good experience for you --hey, you are learning to handle the knocks and scrapes that come our way. Think of it as a life lesson. It will definitely help you when you do other productions in the future. It will help you to learn to accept disappointment in a way that is productive, and it will help you be a better, more accepting, and less judgmental person! 

  Some of the most skilled actors of all time were rejected constantly before they were ever rewarded! Even Fred Astaire, the Broadway legend, was rejected at an audition with a note that said, “Can’t act. Can’t sing. Slightly bald. Can dance a little.” Imagine that! True success comes easy for no one. You can’t get caught up in comparing yourself to others, because then you lose sight on what is really important: doing your best. Moving forward, use your past disappointment as fuel for you to keep improving yourself. Don’t become jaded or complacent; turn your mistakes into a plan for success! Work harder than you’ve ever worked before. If you keep a humble attitude and a strong work ethic, opportunities are definitely going to open themselves up to you. If losing one role is what pushes you to work harder, then so be it! You’ll get the next one!