Peabody
Middle School students are performing an original musical May 24 &
25 at 7PM at the Peabody Auditorium. The musical, Storm, tells
the story of a group of middle school students who are trapped in a
classroom after their building collapsed from a tornado. While dealing
with the frightening reality of being trapped, these students face their
own "storms" and must learn to find courage together in the darkness if
they are to survive.
Students began the process of creating and
rehearsing the musical in December. Students discussed what it would be
like to be trapped with a group of students and the conflicts that might
arise. They asked questions about what really matters when faced the
possibility of death. What would they want their last words to be? What
kind of world would they want if they could truly effect the world
around them. What kind of voice do young teenagers have in the world?
After improvising various scenarios, students wrote monologues to
develop their characters and explore 'storms' of middle school
students. 'Storms' included parent relations, moving from to school to
school, peer and academic pressure, social status, and traumatic events
such as death of a loved one. The musical began to take shape as songs
were selected and dialogue written. Cast members took risks as they
tackled difficult issues through the creative process of molding a
dramatic musical.
One of the exciting aspects of a school produced musical is the power
of the performing arts to bring a community together. Parents help
provide snacks and water for actors, launder costumes, help secure
funding through grant writing, help with mic changes, monitor back
stage, and help with choreography. Teachers and staff support the
process in countless ways, and students get the incredible experience of
acting, running lights and sound, painting the stage, working back
stage, designing costumes, and stage managing. Students also make up the
pit band which consists of two guitars, keyboard, bass, and drums. Storm promises to be a powerful experience for both those involved in the show and the audience. We hope to see you there!
The Peabody School gratefully acknowledges the generous support of
the Cambridge Arts Council (CAC) and the Massachusetts Cultural Council
(MCC) in helping to fund Storm.