New Theater Program Takes Center Stage at PCSD

For some, the art of acting comes naturally, while for others it is a skill to develop, but whether or not they were born to be on stage, Peekskill students at Hillcrest Elementary, Peekskill Middle School and Peekskill High School will now have the opportunity to develop their acting talents thanks to the District’s newly implemented Theater Program.

In their theater classes students in grades 4 -12 will be learning various acting techniques and participating in activities that help to nurture self-expression while also building their confidence levels, public speaking abilities and teamwork skills. Additionally, higher level classes will have the chance to work on playwriting as well. Classes can look forward to field trips to professional productions, visits from acting troupes, and guest artists and lecturers.

“The student’s eyes are going to brighten when they learn all of these aspects of the theater that they’ve never experienced before,” said Peekskill’s new theater teacher, Mr. Terry Sandler. “I’m so honored to be coming in to introduce the performing arts to Peekskill’s students. It’s an exciting addition to the school community.”

Superintendent Dr. Larry Licopoli noted that a theater program was, “long overdue for Peekskill.”

“We try to bring programs to the District that match the potential that our students have, and we have plenty of students with a talent for the performing arts,” said Licopoli. “The goal is to provide a Theater Program where we start at the elementary level and build into the middle and high school so that our kids are receiving training in the performing arts at an early age. Our expectation would be that within three to five years, we will have a stellar performing arts program which will also give our students the opportunity to improve their language, reading experiences and expressive language through the performing arts.”

In the spirit of collaboration, Sandler says he plans to work closely with the music, art and English departments in each school. Students in theater classes at the middle and high school levels will be graded on participation outside the class as well and can earn class credit for visiting art department student show cases and/or attending musical concerts and then writing a critical analysis of their experiences.

“I’m really focused on getting the students in my class to participate in things they might not normally participate in,” Sandler said. “I don’t want us to exist in a bubble where it’s just the Theater Program. I want us to bleed into the other departments.”

Sandler comes to the Peekskill City School District with over a decade of experience in the theater industry. In addition to the many plays he has directed, Mr. Sandler is also a published author and numerous award winner. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theater Arts from SUNY New Paltz and a Master’s Degree in Educational Theater from New York State University. For the past 8 years Mr. Sandler served as the beloved Drama Teacher for the Newburgh Free Academy until the program was eliminated due to budget cuts.

“We searched high and low,” Licopoli said. “We wanted to get a very experienced professional who was familiar with school productions and all aspects of a school theater and the performing arts. We feel very lucky that we were able to attract someone of the caliber of Terry Sandler, who comes to us after several years of doing exemplary work at the Newburg Free Academy. We are happy to bring him here to Peekskill.”

Sandler has begun directing the Peekskill High School Drama Club’s fall production of, “The Breakfast Club.” The play will take place Thursday, December 4 through Saturday, December 6 at Peekskill High School.

Photo: PCSD’s new Theater Teacher Terry Sandler teaches his class on stage to help familiarize them with a theater setting.