Estes Shakespeare Club
The
2014-15 school year was the second year running for the Shakespeare club
at
Estes. Beth Roberts, Estes PTA President, started the club
in the 2013-14 school year, along
with an all-star cast of volunteer parents. The first year
the club had 38 students and the second year the club had 50, which was
composed of 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders. The kids met every Friday morning
early, starting in January, from 7:15 till 7:45 before
school, and they studied
and practiced performing one complete play each year. They
absolutely love being
there and if you asked any of them why, they would tell you
that it was because
they loved Shakespeare, which is remarkable. In the 2013-14
school year the club did Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and
this
last year, they studied Shakespeare's "The Tempest". These
elementary
students studied the authentic language of the play,
not a summarized
version. The play is edited down to a size they can handle,
but the language is
Shakespeare's. It is Shakespeare that
they study, learn, memorize and then perform on stage. This
is hard for many
adults, and these kids tackle the complicated language, odd
phrases, and quirky
humor with ease. It is really an amazing and magical
transformation that
happens!
Here are some of the reasons why these kids are in this club:
“Because it is really fun” (Jacob F.), “Make new friends” (Karena), “It is fun
and awesome” (Aelle), “I like acting” (Kaena), “I was in it last year and I
love the props” (Hannah), “I like speaking in front of a lot of people” (Ella
W.), “I have done it before and it is AMAZING!” (Ella P.), “It is fun” (Brady),
“It is awesome” (Aldwin), “I like being on stage” (Ben), “Ms. Tate says I do so
well in drama that I have to do Shakespeare” (Miles), “I am good at drama and
acting” (Tristyn), “I always wanted to act” (Willie), “I would like to learn
how to act” (Emma C.), “I like to read” (Gyani), “It is so much fun” (Laura),
“I like working with mechanical stuff” (Connor), “Last year I did it and it was
super fun, so I knew it would be fun this year” (Anna), “I really love to act”
(Lauren), “I am dramatic and I can remember my lines” (Grace Anne), “I couldn’t
wait to be in Shakespeare club again” (Gracie), “I enjoy working with others”
(Sarah F.), “I like acting and I am good at memorizing my lines” (Dannielle),
“It is an opportunity to dive into something I can enjoy. . .how we all work on
teamwork, responsibility, and acting!” (Harini), “I like to memorize and act on
stage” (Lidia), “I love acting and I think it’s a great opportunity to learn a
terrific new way of drama” (Cecilia), “It’s really fun and Shakespeare writes
awesome plays” (Brooke), “I wanted to try something new” (Zoey), “I like drama
and plays” (Quinn), “I like doing plays, props, and to work in teams” (Elena),
“I want to learn about Shakespeare” (Stella), “I think it is ‘Sharpening the
Saw’” (Lily S.), “The play is so fun” (Sarah G.), “I had never been in a play
and I wanted to try” (Julia), “It gave me a chance to get over my shyness and
learn a new skill” (Lily B.), “I’m good at acting and it was fun last year”
(Hunter), “I think it is really fun and awesome” (Austin), “I like to read out
parts and act things out” (Kaylee), “I always wanted to be an actress”
(Jazmin), “To spend time with friends and be on stage” (Will S.), “I love the
joy of acting and I’m not shy” (Eva), “I love acting. It is one of my favorite
things ever” (Teddy), “I can improve my memory” (Daniel), “When I grow up I
want to be an actress” (Trinity), “We get to express the character’s feelings”
(Sydney), “I love acting on stage and saying things in front of everyone”
(Reagan), “Because I want to learn some of what William Shakespeare wrote”
(Annette), and “My sister is an actress and I would like to be one too”
(Molly).