Our Studio Players productions are collaborative theatre arts projects shared with our entire community. In Studio Players, students explore and develop their skills in the wide scope of the dramatic arts. They perform original and adapted works.
The writing of an original play is an opportunity for the Middle School students to explore issues of maturing in adolescence, and their experiences in the world. From writing, acting and singing, to designing and producing, the students integrate the sophisticated ideas into a story for all ages.
Our annual Studio Players production is a highly anticipated event for our entire community. From writing and acting, to singing, designing, and producing, it is a marvel to watch how the middle school students collaborate and integrate all they have studied throughout the year to bring their original story to life.
This year’s play centered in a lively junkyard, where the town's eclectic characters gathered to shed old belongings, abandoned dreams, and lingering fears. As the wise Junkyard Keeper and his faithful dog, Coco, welcomed them all, unexpected moments of connection and understanding unfolded as their lives intertwined.
When our script writers, ages 10-14, gathered for the first time this winter, they took inspiration from this year’s theme of possibility, and understood that their original tale could be about any character, in any setting, during any time period. While this could have been overwhelming, it was also an exciting challenge.
“When I think about it, isn't every story, in the history of humanity, about overcoming what once seemed impossible?” One student mused.
Thus, the brainstorming began, as the students explored a variety of concepts, character arcs, and plot lines, until they decided to try a new style of story-telling, one driven more by the developmental and internal journey of the characters, rather than one where events and external conflicts propel the narrative forward. To achieve this, they decided to challenge themselves with something that had never done before in the history of Studio Players productions: to write a play that takes place in one setting. This turned the conversation into a study of human motivation, desire, and conflict.
“Basically, we all go through life with a lot of junk!” One student remarked.
“What if the play took place in a junkyard?” Another chimed in.
“And what if the junkyard wasn’t just filled with discarded belongings, but lost dreams, dashed hopes, old memories and fears?” A third posed.
Aha! Excited and inspired, the group started typing away, writing an original story where a junkyard, once symbolizing decay and abandonment, transformed into a nexus of connection, healing, and understanding.
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Now, having a clear vision for the story, it was time to begin thinking about casting. The middle schoolers and their teachers came together to reflect on what kind of role each student was ready for this year and what they were seeking to develop as actors in this production.
“This was my first play I’ve ever been in, so just getting on stage was both thrilling and scary. I chose to be part of the junkyard so that I could be part of the action without having too many lines. It was fun!” - Student (age 10)
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Together, the group evaluated what would be best for each individual, the ensemble, and the production as a whole. The right roles for each student emerged. The writers were thrilled, as they could now finish editing the script, knowing who was going to play each character.
“Last year, I had taken on a role that had a lot of sophisticated language but was more one dimensional. This year, I sought a role that was more emotionally complex because throughout the story, she conveyed both regret and hope. I was ready to take on that challenge.” - Student (age 13)
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With each day and new idea, excitement grew as the students self-selected into committees to take on the various aspects of bringing the production to life. They poured their creativity into selecting songs, writing lyrics, designing the set, costumes, props, and lighting. An incredible evolution unfolded as our Gym was once again transformed into a theater. Slowly the students began to see how every element they created was essential to conveying the story they wrote and the overall vision of their production.
“Let me tell you, it’s not easy to work in a committee. There were five of us in our group, and sometimes we all had strong ideas, and other times, we all felt stuck and unsure. It required us to talk, listen to one another, ask questions, and sometimes take a break and come back to brainstorming. It was amazing though to hold the final poster and program in our hands and see how all of the decisions we made along the way added up to something beautiful.” - Student (age 12)
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It was magical to see all of the elements enhance one another and come together. In rehearsals, as students developed their characters, momentum grew within the group. Behind the scenes, they helped each other learn their lines, try new blocking, and encouraged one another to persist through challenges. On stage, they evolved from students into actors of an ensemble, relating to each other with authenticity and emotion, and a deep respect for the importance of every single person's part in contributing to the production as a whole.
“I am really proud of all of our work in the play this year. It was a lot to learn our lines, remember the blocking for each scene, rehearse the songs, and truly transform into characters that were so different from ourselves. I remember looking out into the audience on opening night and seeing my family members cry as I finished singing my duet. That was a moment I’ll never forget.” - Student (age 12)
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The audience laughed, cried, and joined in song as they were transported to the bustling junkyard and affected by the stories of growth, change, loss, and connection that unfolded. It was a phenomenal production and a joy for our whole community to come to the junkyard to experience it!
“It was quite moving, as one of the teachers guiding this experience, to see how through the process the whole group came together as a cast to support and encourage each other’s growth. Each person’s commitment, along with the collective dedication, propelled each actor to overcome challenges and emerge with greater confidence. Experiencing this kind of growth makes it real that anything is possible.” - Teacher
BRAVO to our Middle School students and teachers on The Umbra, a vibrant and poignant musical about the power of children, our greatest source of light. Audience members of all ages were captivated by the students’ artistry and ingenuity, their sophisticated original story, and their commitment to fully embodying their characters on stage.
“What makes a compelling story?” was the first question our script writers, a group of nine students, ages 10-14, pondered this year. They were determined to craft a play filled with humor and suspense, centered around characters who conveyed the full range of human emotions. Working daily for many weeks with Ms. Bennett and Ms. Mabey, the students engaged in thoughtful conversations about their shared experiences of growing up as an adolescent in our current times, and the subjects and stories that had inspired them throughout their studies this year.
“I think what we want to voice in this play is that it’s time for adults to wake up and see the light. We are the future generation, and it’s us, who they are leaving the state of the world to.” —student, age 11
Inspiration struck once the children came up with the idea of using light, literally and symbolically. Over the next several weeks, they developed an intricate fictional world where the natural light was fading, creating inequity amongst the villagers living at the base of a mountain. This opened up possibilities of using darkness, shadows, and the strenuous act of climbing a mountain as metaphors to shine light on issues hidden beneath the surface of today’s world.
As they were writing, the children intentionally created a script with a variety of roles, knowing their peers and what kinds of characters would help them develop their skills as actors, and bring them together as a group.
With a fabulous script to work from, the students and their teachers split up into committees to take on different aspects of bringing the production to life. From selecting songs and writing lyrics, to designing the set, costumes, props, and lighting, the students understood how every element was essential to conveying their message.
“I hadn’t realized until being on the set design committee, how much calculating, problem-solving, and experimenting goes into actually building a stage. We started with a sketch and then worked closely with the poster and costume committees to develop a cohesive color palette. When it came time to build, it was so much fun to work with power tools and learn how to construct the trapezoid-shaped mountains.” —student, age 12
“As part of the music committee, we first came up with a long list of possible numbers, spanning time periods and genres. Then, we zoomed into the script, thinking about the purpose of each song, and whether it was to set the mood, develop a character, or move the plot along. We also thought about who the actors were in that scene, and whether they were ready for a solo, duet, or small group number. It was amazing on opening night to see all of the songs, seamlessly woven into the story. The music added a whole new dimension of emotion!” —student, age 14
As all of the students gathered together before every show, warming up their voices and adding final touches to their hair and makeup, their shared connection and camaraderie were palpable. For some students in the group, this was their fourth production, while for others, it was their first time on stage. All members created an environment that was supportive, encouraging, and where every single person's contributions were equally important.
“Putting on a Studio Players production is not only transformative to each individual middle schooler, but the group as a whole. It has been remarkable to watch how every single child has emerged from this experience with greater confidence, patience and persistence, and a new level of knowing themselves.” —Middle School teacher
“There was nothing more thrilling than being on stage with everyone, sharing our hard work with the audience. We all got so into character, I think we forgot we were acting at some points. Embodying our characters felt seamless, and every time the audience laughed or clapped, it energized us more.” —student, age 11
“I think this play showed me how much a group of kids and teachers can accomplish. No one person could make what we created. It was all of us, working together. It was pretty magical to experience.” —student, age 12
