Last night, the 5th grade class wowed audiences during its spring musical performance of Fame, Jr. This annual end-of-year production allows every student to showcase their talents in front of classmates, families, and staff—whether they shine on stage or make magic behind the scenes.
Based on the 1980 movie Fame, Fame, Jr. tells the story of four high school students on their journeys through friendship, dreams, and challenges at a New York City performing arts school. Fifth grade students began preparing for the end-of-year musical when they auditioned in December. During their weekly two-hour rehearsals, students learned choreography, practiced projecting their voices from the stage, and got comfortable collaborating with a wide range of personalities to interact with the audience, making for an unforgettable and engaging audience experience.
Specials teachers Ben Byrd, DeAunna Blackwell, Maria Roldan-Vasquez, and Khanh Le prepared each student to play a critical role in the production. Featuring a core cast of 30 actors, every student learned and practiced whole-group portions of the show. Behind the scenes, 20 students focused on set preparation, technology support, and stage direction.
The spring musical gives students an opportunity to deepen their skills, build connections across their class, and showcase their talent in front of the school community. 5th Grader Mia B. noticed that some of the dance sequences were built on ones she learned in Dance class as a 4th grader. “That meant I already knew the main steps,’ she said. “And when we started performing, I knew what to do and how to make it even better.” For Kynedi B., who played the role of the musical’s main character Carmen Diaz, the experience allowed her to pursue one of her favorite pastimes: dance. And for Kaylee K., who played Iris in the cast, it was an opportunity to “hang out with people I don’t usually spend time with.”
The experience of putting together a performance taps into many of the characteristics of the E.L. Haynes Graduate Profile, particularly perseverance and curiosity. Ace G., who played Schlomo, described getting to “expand his palette with singing and acting” and hopes to perform more in middle school, where he knows he’ll face new learning opportunities and challenges.
Reflecting on the incredible talent across the 5th grade class, Music teacher Mr. Byrd hopes that students found new confidence in their gifts through participating in Fame, Jr. “I hope the experience provided a platform for further development and sharing those talents in the future.”
Congratulations, 5th graders!
Written by Alana Canterbury | Alana is an elementary reading intervention teacher, Haynes parent, and Editorial Fellow. When she’s not rounding up kids for a reading session, you can find her with her nose in a book.
Editorial Fellows are E.L. Haynes staff with a penchant for storytelling, writing, and the visual arts. Fellows develop and publish original stories that amplify the many voices and perspectives of the E.L. Haynes community.