Eight Class 7 students sat in a circle on the linoleum floor of the Black Box Theater, listening quietly to their teacher and director, Ms. Sarah Bellantoni. In just seven days, they would be performing "The Giver" for their families and friends. Although they had been rehearsing since the beginning of the school year, more work needed to be done before they were ready for opening night.
"Happy one week before the show!" Ms. Bellantoni said brightly. She has been teaching drama to Chapin's Middle School students for more than a decade and knows this age well. The students, in turn, seemed fortified by her warm presence and her kind encouragement.
"The Giver" is an ambitious play adapted from Lois Lowry's lauded novel. The students read the book last year in Class 6, so they were familiar with the utopian theme and the work's darker elements. Ms. Bellantoni knew her students would rise to the theatrical challenge when she chose the play over the summer. "They are smart, capable and able to look at a complex and sad story and grapple with difficult material," she remarked. "This play requires sophisticated acting." The Class 7 play is open to all students who can commit to the rehearsal schedule. Auditions are not required.
The cast members took their places for a run-through of a few scenes. As they delivered their haunting lines and moved about the stage with care, embodying their characters' joys and struggles, they projected maturity beyond their years. A sudden trill of laughter was a reminder that these talented actors are still children. "It can sometimes be a challenge for the girls to keep their focus," said Ms. Bellantoni with a smile.
The rehearsal paused from time to time, allowing Ms. Bellantoni to offer feedback and give direction – stand further upstage; remember to hand off the baby (which is actually a doll); project your voice; turn your body to face the audience. Ms. Bellantoni taught them how to listen for their cues and how to move the props efficiently. She also helped one actor convey her characters' transition from happiness to despondency. After trying the scene a second time, the student succeeded. "That looked so beautiful, it broke my heart," said Ms. Bellantoni.
These eight young actors, plus one student who is managing the soundboard, have learned about the exhilarating process of putting on a play. They have also learned important lessons about hard work, collaboration and being brave. That's not to say they don't have a few butterflies in their stomachs with opening night fast approaching.
"I'm nervous, excited and a little bit scared," exclaimed one student during a quick break.
"I'll be sad when the play is over. It's so much fun," added another student. Her classmates all enthusiastically agreed.
"The Giver" will be performed in the Black Box Theater on Thursday, November 17 at 6:00 p.m. and Friday, November 18 at 10:30 a.m. As they say on Broadway, break a leg!
Click HERE to view photos from the rehearsal.