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Tremonton elementary kids packing
in crowds for school plays
By Jessica Wakley
April 10, 2007 | TREMONTON -- Elementary school plays
are helping kids to "build self-esteem, confidence,
develop their talents and give them opportunities to
be exposed to theater."
Plays have become a tradition at McKinley Elementary
School, according to Play Director Nedra Bingham.
"They were doing the plays before I got here," said
Bingham.
When Bingham first came to teach at McKinley she just
helped. After three years she became the director and
has been in charge for 12 years.
"The kids really look forward to these plays each
year. I have kids who come to me in September and ask
what the next play will be and when tryouts are," said
Bingham.
The plays help shy kids to be more outgoing. Bingham
said it gives them a chance to project themselves and
become someone else.
This year the school performed Peter Pan.
Tryouts for the play began after Christmas. Each child
came prepared with a poem and a song. The directors
got together and decided who they thought would do the
best job.
"We do not necessarily pick a fifth-grader for
the main part. Sometimes it has been a second-grader,"
said Bingham.
The students stayed an hour after school Mondays and
Tuesday each week to rehearse. Some extra practices
were included. Their hard work paid off when they performed
the play March 30.
There was a full house with approximately 500 seats
filled. Some of the audience stood while others sat
on lunch tables that were set up for extra seating.
The audience was involved when Peter Pan, Wendy, John,
Michael and the Lost Boys followed the leader through
the audience as they sang. Even Hook weaved through
the crowd with three crocodiles chasing him. The children
laughed and danced as they ran by.
McKinley has collected about six plays over the years.
They do a new play each year so the students do not
perform the same play twice, said Bingham.
The plays are usually tweaked a little from their
original version. In Peter Pan this year, Hook married
Tiger Lilly at the end.
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