playbill vip

Musical theatre, such as the show this evening, brings all of the arts taught to all of the students at  Studio9, into one place. Acting, dancing, singing, visual arts, tech theatre, costume design, digital art, and creative writing are all here.

It is so important to acknowledge all of the almost 100 students involved in this show, both on stage and around the stage. This show has been student-driven, top to bottom, with teacher and adult mentoring, only.  Even the primary grades had input into things such as the design of the sea monsters.

Students designed, built, and painted sets, designed make-up, created costume plans, designed digital effects, set up the sound for the show/lighting cues, edited sound, created the stage plan, practiced the set movements, loaded the truck, unloaded the truck, set up the current stage, are managing the stage, are setting the mics,  are helping in costume changes, are applying makeup to actors, are operating sound-lights and are calling the show.  When it is all done, they will pack it all up. I have used a run on sentence to illustrate how much they have done. 

Let's acknowledge the actors, singers, and dancers for not only learning all those lines and songs, but for also designing choreography, learning it, and then redesigning it. There were the hours practicing, waiting, practicing, waiting, and then practicing again. Some students went downtown, in costume, on hot days to put up posters and hand out flyers. Some students attended and performed in two parades, and some students have done radio and TV interviews.

Over the years, at Studio9, we have been helping students develop the skills required to work in and around performances, be it music, dance, spoken word, or theatre. The students have responded to the point where we see a high level of dedication, expertise, and professionalism.

Studio9 students, we love you! You should be proud.

After heaping such praise on the students, we do have to acknowledge the dedication, expertise, care, and trust of the teachers and staff at Studio9 for helping to develop these confident student leaders. Nowhere else do you see an entire school in one performance. Putting 100 young minds and hearts in motion is no easy feat. There is the training, the mentoring, the encouragement, and the praise. Most of all, though, there is trust in allowing students to try, fail, and try again. 

Studio9 teachers, administration and staff, you are the best!

At Studio9 we impress on students that it is not about competing against each other, but rather about collaboration with a focus on entertaining the audience. Performing is an act of service rather than an act of personal gain. The pleasure should come when all of us together, on stage and off stage, bring joy to our audience.

We hope we bring you joy tonight. Thank you for supporting our youth in the arts and arts in education.