 | | | Photo Kim Anderson, Anderson DiFranco Photography | | | | | | The Saklan School presented its 11th Annual Middle School Musical at Town Hall Theater in Lafayette May 17 and 18 with the Broadway Musical "West Side Story," School Edition with Grace Chaffey, the Music and Performing Arts teacher at Saklan directing the show.
"West Side Story" is based on Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" and takes place in New York City in the 1950s. The themes of this show tied in with the eighth grade Humanities curriculum and involve immigration and race relations, as well as generational gap issues; themes that are incredibly relevant today.
The middle school production is unique at Saklan in that the entire middle school collaborates to put together the show. From roles on the stage to stagecraft, costume design, sound, and stagehands - all students work together to put on this musical production. Throughout this process, students learn to identify on a personal level their characters, collaborate, and deepen their creativity and courage on stage. |
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA