Shakespeare Residency for Middle School

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Each year the Middle School students have a Shakespeare residency that progresses through each of the grades.  The work is a collaboration between the Language Arts classes and the Theater Department.  In Grade 6, the students are introduced to Shakespeare, who he was and how his use of language is both beautiful and complex.  The students will work on monologues from various plays, giving them an introduction to the language and characters.  As they work with the monologues in both prose and poetry, they discover how the words can be taken from the page to the stage and expressed with their voices and bodies.  The 6th grade students will be participating in this residency in March.

First Rehearsal for Grade 7

In Grade 7 this year, the students studied an abridged version of "Romeo and Juliet" and worked on scenes from that show.  Discovering how the charactes can come alive through the words.  The students shared these scenes this week and gave reflections and feedback to each other.  The same scenes were shared among the students so that they could see how different acting choices and movement can be used to tell the same story.

Learning the banquet scene with Dev Luthra, Guest Actor/Director

In Grade 8, the students will present an abridged version of "Macbeth".  The students spent the last few weeks reading the full version of the play, tracking the character development and story line as well as discussing the themes in the show. Currently, the students have been working on stage with both Bonny Parlee and Dev Luthra, guest Actor/Director for the residency.  The Grade 8 students in the Friday design elective have been working to update the lighting design for the show with Mike Finke.

Sidney as Ross working with Bonny

Students shared their thoughts on the 8th grade project.

"I think that memorizing and acting my characting has helped me to understand the text more and allowed me to become a leader in the community" - Mira, Grade 8.

"Mira's quote shows how the 8th grade as a whole and on an individual level has risen to action to become the characters in Macbeth" - Arlo, Grade 8

Emily as Lady Macbeth

"When I started to develop my character, I was nervous because I didn't relate to them at all.  After a few rehearsals working with Ms. Berwick, Bonny, and Dev, I started to love being part of this experience." - Emily M, Grade 8

"We learned how to work as a team to get a final result, the goal is performing.  I learned to take feedback and apply it to my work."  What was your favorite part of the process?  "Probably working with someone outside of Rashi to get a new perspective." - Hava, Grade 8

How would you describe the experience in three words?  "Fun, engaging and helpful" - Harry, Grade 8

"As an inspiring actress I liked be able to play two diffent characters in two different scenes.  This helped me to expand my skills as an actor.  I also liked working with a professional actor in acting community." - Maddy, Grade 8

Please join us on Wednesday, February 8 at 1:30 as the Grade 8 class presents their abridged version of "Macbeth".

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