This winter, Wakefield theater students from the studio A class are stepping backstage to produce “101 Dalmatians” for Wakefield Elementary School. As these performers adapt to a different role for this musical, they’re learning valuable lessons that they can bring to their future careers.
Senior Jake Eisenberg is the president of the International Thespian Society and the main director of this project. With this responsibility, he has much to do in preparation for the elementary kids’ opening night.
“I make the schedule of each rehearsal, I was the main person casting the show, I block the majority of the scenes in the show and I coordinate what all the other high schoolers’ jobs will be at rehearsal,” Eisenberg said. “I manage and make sure that everything is on time and being done well.”
Josephine Geolas, a junior, also has a large hand in crafting the show. She acts as assistant director, helping the main director with whatever he needs. She expands on the routine they must follow to get the show done efficiently.
“We get the kids in, [take] attendance, get them warmed up and then we split them off into groups for singing, choreography and blocking, depending on what we’re doing that day,” Geolas said. “[We] try to get as much as we can [done] because we don’t have a whole lot of time. Then, we all get back together, do a quick cool down and then everybody dismisses.”
The job isn’t always smooth sailing, however. These high schoolers must learn to balance their own lives along with the large responsibility they’ve taken on, and they’re learning many valuable lessons in the process. Sofia Colvin, a senior who choreographs the show, has dealt with the struggles firsthand due to her busy schedule.
“It seems really all-encompassing, just getting a [lot] of material at once,” Colvin said. “But just taking a second to write everything out and organize, and making a plan where I can tackle one step at a time.”
Geolas has also had to overcome some obstacles in her first year of producing for the Elementary school. She conveys that her biggest challenge wasn’t being overwhelmed, but instead learning how to handle young children.
“It’s hard when our age gap is a little closer than you would think, so it’s a little hard to get the kids to respect you,” Geolas said. “But, one way that we’ve really overcome that is by connecting with them rather than just yelling at them, so that there’s a mutual respect there and a mutual enjoyment of the activity.”
Ainsley Barlow, another senior with a significant role in getting “101 Dalmatians” up on its feet, is tasked with teaching music to the kids every week. She is taking advantage of the opportunity to get good practice for her future career.
“As someone who wants to go into theatre education, this has really helped me grow as a teacher,” Barlow said. “I also am always learning new things with these kids, and I find it so rewarding.”
With the intimidating role of director in front of him, Eisenberg has learned much about what truly happens behind the scenes of the productions he’s acted in. He elaborates that this experience has given him an entirely new perspective.
“With being an actor specifically, I think what this [experience] has shown me is how much work goes into it from the opposite end,” Eisenberg said. “It gives me more respect because I understand what it’s like to be in their shoes.”
Throughout this enriching experience, the kids have taught our high schoolers just as much as the high schoolers have taught them.
“I love working with kids, that’s something that I’ve done my whole life,” Geolas said. “As a student, it makes me think about, what careers I want to go into; if I want to work with kids, [or] be an educator or something along those lines.”
