Lenox fifth graders hit the stage at Shakespeare and Company

LENOX – A standing-room only crowd was drawn to Shakespeare and Company’s Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre not for the latest show starring a legendary, award-winning actor.

Instead, it was to hear the words of William Shakespeare out of the mouths of babes, specifically Morris Elementary School fifth graders.

As part of a residency program, Lenox students worked with S&Co. education artists Kiki Bertocci, Emily Ehlinger and Enrico Spada during 10 class periods to bring A Midsummer Night’s Dream to the stage.

“We’re so proud of them,” Ms. Ehlinger said of the fifth graders.

During the early part of the residency, the students explored Shakespeare’s language, themes and characters through text work, voice, stage fight and dance. The final performance served as a celebration of the students’ work.

In the performance, the leading roles were shared by many students, and each of the three fifth grade classes shared a major monologue as a group speech.

“This is a way for them to encounter the text of Shakespeare in a collaborative way,” Mr. Spada said.

Other schools participate

In addition to Morris, both the fifth grade class at Richmond Consolidated School and the fourth graders at Williamstown Elementary School participated in S&Co.’s elementary and middle school residency program this year, bringing A Midsummer Night’s Dream to the stage at their respective schools.

Posted by Catherine M. Krummey on May 2, 2013. Filed under Arts and Entertainment,Education News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry