"Sheila the Great" Conquers Mineola

Be honest. Don't be a know-it-all. Be true to who you are.

These are all valuable lessons which loving parents try to instill within their children in various ways. Last Saturday afternoon's performance of "Sheila the Great," performed by members of ArtsPower at gave parents a helping hand in teaching their children these valuable ideals.

"Sheila the Great" is a 1972 novel by acclaimed author Judy Blume. The novel's title character is Sheila, a young girl from Mohsen City who goes to Tarrytown to spend the summer. Once there, she has to face many of her fears: from dogs to spiders, darkness to deep water, all of Sheila's fears seem to come to life.

When asked why the puts on live theatre shows, Maria Luca, of the Cultural Arts Committee said that the school "loves putting on shows like this. The kids love it, the parents love it, they all have a good time. And it doesn't cost much!" Tickets to the performance were only $5 each.

The District's Cultural Art Series transformed the story into a semi-theatrical production. Starting at 2 p.m., the auditorium was packed with parents and children alike. Children aged 12 and under sat wide eyed as simple stage decorations transformed from an urban home to a summer house in the suburbs, from a boys bedroom to a swimming lane.

Children cheered Sheila on as she battled one fear after another, all the while learning an important lesson - facing your fears brings about the best results. "'Sheila the Great' is a good one. The kids love it and the parents love the lessons it teaches," Luca commented. Bravery, honesty, kindness – those are all lessons children can learn from Sheila the Great.