RMS students to present Alice in Wonderland
Students involved in the Russellville Middle School Fine Arts Department have been working hard this semester to prepare for their presentation “Alice in Wonderland, Jr.” on April 21 and 22.
RMS drama teacher Patrice Smith said the event would include fine arts students in both the drama program and the music program.
“Drama and show choir really go hand in hand, and [choral director] Emily [Rush] and I have both been working with students on acting, speaking singing and dancing.”
Rush added the mingling of the programs is beneficial to students.
“By the end of the year, these students will have studied both a drama and a music curriculum,” Rush said. “Students who normally only sing will learn speaking skills and students who normally only act will learn music and dancing skills.”
Smith said the production of “Alice in Wonderland, Jr.” was something offered by Music Theater International (MTI) as one of the adapted musicals created especially for students up to ninth grade.
“These musicals have the same overall story, but some parts are expanded and some parts are shorter,” Smith said. “This will be the basic Disney ‘Alice in Wonderland’ story, but some scenes, like the birthday scene, will be a little different.”
Smith said students auditioned for the production in December and began to work on it in January, but, due to other school functions, they haven’t been able to use the whole three months to prepare.
“We have had the state thespian competition that we had to prepare for and show choir has had performance assessment,” Smith said. “It really has been a juggling act to get these kids ready for this show in the midst of all the other stuff we’ve been doing.”
Smith said the drama department normally builds their own sets, but with the hectic schedule, that just wasn’t possible this time around.
“Donnie Nichols and his agri-science students built the three-sided sets that will be used throughout the show,” Smith said. “This has definitely been a group effort and we appreciate all their help. Now that they’re built, we’re in the process of getting them painted.”
Smith said she’s proud of the work all the students have put into this production and she’s proud to see them using their talents.
“Drama gives these students a chance to learn about themselves and gain self-confidence and life skills as well as providing an opportunity to make new friends,” Smith said.
“Some of these kids might be considered disruptive in another setting and some might be considered too quiet, but there’s a niche for everyone here.”
Rush agreed that students in the music department are given the same kinds of opportunities.
“Music and show choir are good outlets for these students to express the talents they already have and to improve on them,” Rush said. “At the end of the year, they will be even more well-rounded than when they started.”
Overseeing the fine arts department is a job that demands lots of time and sacrifice, but both Rush and Smith said they enjoy what they do.
“We can see what these kids get out of being a part of all of this – we can see how they love it and enjoy it and grow,” Smith said. “We you see that, you forget about it being a job.”
The RMS Fine Arts department will present “Alice in Wonderland, Jr.” on April 21 and 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the RHS Auditorium. Tickets will be $5 and can be purchased at the door.
