Durham Teacher Readies Fourth Graders for Stage Debut

“There are a couple things I want to work on,” announced Director Carissa Connell.  “Open up your scripts to page four, please.  There is a scene on page four, look on with someone so you know exactly where I’m talking about in the play, and then I want you to run through Scene Two. “

Connell, who lives in Durham and is a teacher in Madison, was addressing the cast of Big Bad, a debut play by Island Players. The group consists of 18 fourth graders at an Island Avenue School afterschool workshop. 

Island Players have been rehearing every Wednesday for the past eleven weeks in preparation for their debut performance on Wednesday, June 13. 

For years, the IAS stage has been used as a temporary faculty lounge.  This year the stage is free and “we wanted to use it for its intended purpose,” said Connell.

The timing was perfect.  At the same time the stage space opened up, Connell was on maternity leave from her fourth grade teaching position and was available for a project of this magnitude.  “It’s a much bigger production than anything I’ve ever taken on before,” said Connell. “But because I was off this year it gave me more time to think about it, plan it and focus my energies on it.”

“Carissa has done much more than an afterschool workshop,” said IAS Principal Kathy Nutley.  “The kids are so invested in it and so excited.”

Since this is the first play at IAS there was a need for some seed money.  Connell worked with two fourth graders to write a grant.  The result was money from The Charlie Lovett Fund for Elementary Drama.  According to their website this group “is a philanthropic fund that supports production based theatre arts programs at the elementary school level.”

While Connell said there hasn’t been a tremendous amount of time to devote to rehearsals, the children have all taken on the responsibility of learning their lines and will be well prepared on opening night.  “I have to give a lot of kudos to all the parents,” said Connell.  “You can really
tell that these kids are going home and practicing.  I’ve got a number of characters with monologues, thirty lines or so, and some of them have them completely memorized.”

The play is about the trial of the big bad wolf.  Set in a courtroom, it has a cast of fairy tale characters in the enchanted forest who come to either put the big bad wolf away or to decide that he innocent of any wrongdoing, explained Connell.

Ryan Pellatt has the lead role of the wolf, and is the only male cast member.  Relaxed and prepared, Ryan said he worked with his dad to memorize all his lines and is ready for his acting debut. 

While the actor and actresses rehearsed their lines, next door in the art room the 10 members of the props committee were finishing up their work.  Connell’s father, Don Taylor, traveled from New York State every week to give professional assistance in the making of the scenery and props.  “He’s doing it out of the goodness of his heart,” said Connell. “That’s just the kind of guy he is.  Love my dad!”

In addition to Taylor, PTO members Keely Henderson and Katy Wallace and two Daniel Hand High theater students, Catherine Given and Makayla Portley, have been assisting Connell. 

Given, a junior, is a props manager and has been involved with six DHHS productions.  “It’s definitely a different kind of work that I’m used to,” said Given, in reference to working with the younger students.  “It’s a lot of fun and I’m enjoying myself thoroughly,” she added. “Hopefully I’ll be able to do it next year. “ Sophomore Makayla Portley, a DHHS actress, echoed this sentiment.  “A lot of them have natural abilities,” she said.  Connell said she is learning a lot about professional theater from Portley.  “She’s teaching me and that’s great,” said Connell.  “She’s super enthusiastic and it’s awesome.” 

On the last day of prop building the crew was completing work on a faux brick wall, a straw house exterior and sheep.  Taylor explained that the children were learning to paint the cardboard, lying flat on the ground, with paint brushes fashioned out of bamboo poles. His background includes scenic artistry on Broadways shows including Shrek, Spider Man, Grease and West Side Story. “This is how scenic artists paint,” said Taylor.  “We use bamboo poles. You never get down on your knees because drops are the size of warehouses. You have to do it with poles.”

“Somebody said that if you squint it really looks likes bricks,” Taylor told the children, looking over the almost finished faux brick.  “Well that’s what it’s all about.  Nothing that you paint for Broadway is going to look like what you want it to look like,” he continued.

“They want to learn. They have fun. Every project we’ve done…they’re having a blast,” Taylor said.  “It’s heartwarming. Maybe one of these kids will turn into a scenic artist. That would be a kick!”