Woodglen Fifth Graders Emphasize Kindness Theme In Play

Woodglen Elementary School’s fifth graders are sharing what they have learned about kindness this school year in their first-ever production.  The 27 actors and actresses and 10 backstage crew members/set designers are putting on two performances of Beauty and the Beast the week before Thanksgiving.

Dimensions/Enrichment Program Teacher Lisa Imperial and Music Teacher Samantha Priore teamed up to direct and produce the school’s first ever fifth grade production. Imperial said the fifth graders involved in the project have been working two mornings before school and one afternoon weekly since school started.  The 10 stage crew/set designers are assisted by Clarkstown North and Albertus Magnus high school students on Wednesday afternoons and directed by Art Teacher Danielle Lowe and Teaching Assistant Sue Martin.

“Their hard work is paying off and we believe that they will give the audience an experience that they will never forget,” Imperial predicted. 

Imperial said the play helps children to think about kindness.

“As you know, the story focuses on a prince who judged a beggar woman, who was actually a beautiful and magical enchantress, and she cast a spell on him,” she explained. “He lives his life paying for his mistake and in turn being judged for his ugliness. This has been a great example of why it is so important to be kind to everyone and to not judge someone before you have gotten to know them.”  

But the students’ efforts go beyond the play as Thursday, Nov. 21 is dedicated as a "Night of Kindness."  On that evening special guests from the fields of theater arts and music including Ayanna Irish, an upcoming vocal artist, will talk to the children about the arts and help them give a portion of the evening's ticket sales to the children of Congers Elementary School. 

Imperial, who also teaches Enrichment to Congers students and Language Arts Strategies at Felix Festa Middle School, said Woodglen students are reaching out to the Congers students to ease their transition to a new environment and let them know their neighbors have been thinking about them. 

“In accordance with the Woodglen fifth graders' "giving back" theme this year, we thought we could do something nice for them since they've had such a difficult year so far,” said Imperial. “It's our way of giving back to the community and the students of our school district.” 

Performances of Beauty and the Beast are scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 21 and Friday, Nov. 22 at Clarkstown South High School at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $10 for children over five and adults. Tickets cost $7 for children under 5 years old.  To obtain tickets, contact Judy Weber @ 4webers@optonline.net.