Shivela Middle School Play Invigorates the Arts

Shivela Middle School students brimmed a sense of accomplishment at the third and final showing of the school's first theater production in more than a year and a half Saturday.

Seventh- and eighth-graders in Dana Conrad's theater class put on "The Ransom of Miss Elverna Dower" with family, friends and school staff in attendance. Though they would likely never really kidnap a teacher for assigning too much homework as the two-act play entailed, the audience got to see a cast of budding actors come alive with the humor of it.

Most of the cast said they had never had professional acting lessons, just what they'd learned by being in plays in elementary and then in middle school.

"She (Conrad) encouraged me to be in theater," said seventh-grader Cameron James, who in Saturday night's performance played the lead role of Tim, part of the kidnapping duo.

Cameron learned two parts. In the two other showings, he'd played the supporting role of the school janitor, Monty. So Saturday was his night to shine.

Randie Lynch, also in seventh-grade, had the lead role of Casey, the other half of the kidnapping duo in Saturday's performance. She memorized a lot of the lines for the part, but didn't stumble once.

"You have to learn to relax," Randie said, adding that she plans to stay in acting.

Eighth-grader Danielle Clark had the lead role of Casey in the other two showings, and as Myra, a successful career woman turned PTA mom, in Saturday's night's show.

The theater students had selected the play they wanted to do by taking a vote.

"We thought this related to all of us," Danielle said.

She also said she'll stick with acting.

"Maybe I will make something out of it," she said.

Taylor Turner, an eighth-grader, was grateful that the drama and theater program was back in full swing.

"We didn't have it in sixth grade," Taylor said, also happy at their choice of scripts.

Conrad has been glad to revive theater arts on campus after there were no productions at all last year due to staff changes. She beamed with pride as she told the audience that the students had pulled off the play almost all by themselves--with a little direction from her.

All the theater students played a part, including those who worked behind the scenes by manning the spotlight, the door and the snack bar, Conrad said.

Proceeds from the three showings will go toward sending 33 theater students to see "Wicked" performed at Pantages Theater in Los Angeles.

The theater students will also have the chance to audition for the spring production at Murrieta Mesa High School, she said.

"Arts are just so important in schools," Conrad said at the conclusion. "These kids need to be on stage."