Dear Patrons,
Thank you for supporting our production of The Lion King JR. I wanted to take a moment to highlight some of the countless benefits of putting on a show with students.
Having a regular creative outlet is not just part of a well-rounded education – it is essential for a child’s emotional health and well-being. Producing a show brings the arts together and provides growth opportunities for all varieties of learners. For example, kinesthetic learners engage their bodies through dance, linguistic learners dive into the written and spoken word, spatial learners tackle set and costume design, and musical learners revel in the show’s score.
Besides being incredibly fun, musical theater helps young people develop many of the skills necessary for success in today’s world:
Self-Confidence: Throughout the rehearsal and performance process, young performers discover how to take creative and emotional risks and learn to trust their abilities.
Literacy: Students increase reading and writing skills at their own pace by immersing themselves in the story, reading and re-reading their scripts, memorizing their lines, and taking notes at rehearsal.
Communication: During rehearsals, students learn how to articulate their thoughts and questions and carefully listen to direction in order to improve their performances.
Imagination: Theater is most dynamic when the imaginations of its participants are fully engaged. Students make countless interpretive choices in design and performance to create a detailed, fictional world for their audiences.
Empathy: Through character work and story creation, young performers explore the lives of others. First-hand perspectives of new circumstances challenge prejudices and aid in the development of well-rounded students and citizens.
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: The amount of work required to successfully put on a show makes all participants valuable troubleshooters. Whether inventing mnemonics to remember lines, adjusting staging to show off everyone’s faces, or mastering a tricky scene change, students have countless opportunities to creatively tackle challenges.
Self-Discipline: Through prompt attendance at rehearsals and learning lines, music and choreography on schedule, students acquire valuable self-discipline techniques and become reliable and trustworthy members of an ensemble.
Community Awareness: A theatrical production provides ample opportunities to connect with our families and neighbors. Students can engage parents, community centers, and local vendors to help create sets, props, costumes and publicity.
Public Speaking: Whether performing for their peers during rehearsal or for their school and local community during a performance, students gain expertise and confidence speaking in front of a group.
Curricular Integration: A musical provides a rich and engaging springboard for students to explore many subjects in their classrooms and discover connections among various modes of learning. Our ShowKit® came with show-related lesson plans for English Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, and Science – all of which fulfill the Common Core State Standards.
Teamwork: Theater requires extensive creative input from all its participants. Students build ensemble by working together to rehearse, construct, promote, and perform their show. Every role – whether onstage or behind the scenes – is vital for the show’s success.
As you can see, our students will gain valuable life skills through their participation in this production. Thank you for your support of our students during this educational experience.
Sincerely,
Wilson Middle School Visual and Performing Arts Department
