From Off Broadway to your backyard.

Farmington, MI (April 2016) — This May, St. Fabian Catholic School will be hosting their annual play. The school’s productions are not your ordinary school plays. This year they will showcase an Off Broadway production of Little Shrek.

“I have been in education both in public and private schools for more than 30 years and I honestly don’t know of any other local Catholic elementary school or very many other elementary and junior high schools that produce shows at this caliber,” said Sharon Szuba, principal of St. Fabian.

The plays performed at St. Fabian are original Broadway productions.

“We buy the rights from Music Theatre International (MTI) who sell the rights to professional shows that are done both on and off Broadway,” said Courtney Nixon, Middle School teacher and play director. “We usually do one of the Broadway Junior Musicals that takes the full length production and makes it accessible to middle school students.”

It has much of the same music and script, just usually a little shorter to make the plays about an hour versus what can sometimes be more than two hours for the full length production. “MTI is great to work with for the very reason that kids feel “professional” with their scripts and CDs and show t-shirts,” said Nixon.

The students are also learning about theater and performance. They work with the directions on the stage and bringing the characters to life. “Especially with a show like Shrek, the kids are asked to be so many different characters and personalities,” said Nixon. “Some of the kids play four different roles! So we work with expressing themselves and performing with their whole bodies. This is on top of learning lines, songs, and choreography.”

Mr. Bruce Watkins, who teaches drama, is helping backstage during the performances as the Stage Manager. Some kids who have graduated from the St. Fabian theater program are coming back to help Mr. Watkins along with a few 8th graders; they will organize props, move sets, and help make sure the actors are where they need to be. In his drama class he has been working on skills that will help the kids on stage as well. In addition, Ashley Billcheck, a St. Fabian kindergarten teacher works with choreography and Mr. Tim Spriggs is the Music Director; he started the St. Fabian drama club and kept it going for so many years!

“My two favorite things about our drama program that impresses me every year is seeing our families and community come together to help put on this production, and watching kids shine on the stage,” said Nixon. “It amazes me when I see kids who are otherwise quiet get on stage and rock their performance. This is such a valuable art form that our kids are so lucky to participate in!”

The play is scheduled for May 20, 21 and 22 at St. Fabian. To purchase tickets contact: Tammy Piziali at tapnerd@aol.com or 248.481.4117

Media is welcome to attend a dress rehearsal. Please contact Sharon Szuba at Sszuba@stfabian.org or 248. 553.2750