Students take lessons to the stage

A two-week English lesson wrapped up Monday for some Noblesville Middle School students, but not with a final exam.

Students in Hedy McGrath's eighth-grade classes showed all they had learned about drama by getting on stage in front of their classmates and parents.

The classes presented a series of one-act plays they had been studyingfor the past two weeks.

Stagehands moved cardboard scenery, while lighting crews focused spotlights on classmates. Others added sound effects like ambulance sirens and a flushing toilet.

Students took the stage Monday after weeks of writing critiques, updating a daily work journal and taking a quiz on drama terms.

"It's amazing," Mrs. McGrath said. "All of a sudden they have this leadership that I haven't seen all year. It's such a good experience for them to have the opportunity to do something like this."

In her four years of teaching at the middle school, this is the first time Mrs. McGrath has organized plays. She said it won't be the last, because all of the students wanted to participate.

While several students wanted to be actors and actresses, others chose to work behind the scenes doing costumes, creating scenery and directing.

Audra said she did not want to be on stage because she would laugh too much.

She was assistant director for a 20-minute production based on the novel, "Mick Harte was Here." The story remembers a boy named Mick
who died in a bike accident. It is told by his younger sister, Phoebe.

"I wanted to do it, because I thought it would be fun," Audra said.

Although it was her first time as a director, she said the experience has inspired her to direct again. She offered advice to her actors
before they started.

"Don't laugh," she said.

Mrs. McGrath has already started fine-tuning plans for next year's plays. She said she wants to start the project earlier in the semester because it
might encourage some of the students to get involved with the school play.

Katie, who played Phoebe, viewed her starring role as extra practice for her role in the school play at the end of the year.

"I just really liked doing it," Katie said. "But I have a brother, so it was really weird, especially thinking about Mick and him dying."

Many students who weren't active in class before shined during this project, Mrs. McGrath said.

"It's been a wild two weeks. They've taken so much pride in their areas and want it to be really good," Mrs. McGrath said. "This is a chance to view these kids in a different light. It's a different side of them."

(Reprinted with permission from The Daily Ledger.)