Elementary pg 6 4-26-12
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- Category: Past Issues
caption:
Drama Club
The cast of “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” at Eastford Elementary School. Photo courtesy of Jill Loomis.
Elementary students
present 'Emperor's
New Clothes'
EASTFORD — Fifty Eastford Elementary School students recently presented “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” an adaptation by drama instructor Catie Botting.
The story is about a spoiled brat of an emperor who is squandering the town’s money and is tricked by a local family into buying beautiful nothings that he believes are jewel-encrusted robes.
Every child had a speaking role. The children dedicated 45 hours of their time to this production. Two graduating eighth graders - Lauren Perry and Zak Harakaly - have been part of the EES Drama Club for the past four years.
“Drama has been a life-changing experience, and I am so grateful to have been a part of it,” said Perry. Harakaly said, “Over the last four years of drama, I’ve learned how to have fun and be creative.”
The goal of the EES Drama Club is to give all students the opportunity to express themselves in a safe environment, to show children that they have a voice and will be heard, and to build confidence in children so that they can stand up for themselves and others, said Botting.
“Drama club can improve a child’s classroom presence. I’ve seen shy children captivate an audience of 100,” she said. Botting has been involved in theater since she was 9.
A resident of Eastford, she started the drama club at Eastford Elementary School four years ago because she knew how much it did for herself as a youngster. She stuttered as a child. “When I got involved in drama I was given the tools not to be afraid of my own voice,” she said. She is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.