Fourth- and fifth-grade drama students at Kyrene del Sureño Elementary School have been learning the in-and-outs of theater as they prepare for this year’s performance, A Year with Frog and Toad.
The performance, based on a book series by Arnold Lobel called Frog and Toad, will be a musical.
“This is the second year we’ve had the drama club,” said Marisa Peck, a fourth-grade teacher at Sureño and co-adviser of the drama club. “We started auditions in August, and the students will be performing March 4.”
Peck said the group of 35 students has been preparing for the performance throughout the school year.
“A lot of the students were excited about working on the technical aspects of the show,” Peck said. “We even have a publicity crew documenting the whole experience.”
Drama Club members were also able to meet professionals who work in various positions in theater to learn what truly goes into a musical production, Peck said.
“In the fall, we actually held workshops and brought in people from the different aspects of theater, such as stage makeup, improvisation and dance,” she said. “The kids had a lot of fun with the stage makeup workshop.”
The Panther Players Drama Club was created last year, and end the year with a performance.
“This is an after-school club for fourth and fifth graders, and it’s completely free of charge,” she said. “Students can sign up in the beginning of the year, and then auditions are held.”
Students held fundraising events throughout the year to purchase new microphones.
“Our biggest fundraiser was at our school for fall festival,” Peck said. “They created carnival games and we used profits to buy eight new microphones.”
The students will perform in Sureño’s drama room March 4, beginning at 7 p.m.
“It’s been a lot of fun, but it’s also been a lot of work,” Peck said. “The kids are so dedicated, and I know that no doubt it’s going to be a great performance.”
