Taking Center Stage

First and second grade students were thrilled to take the stage in Harris Theater to perform their class plays for family and friends on April 19. In a beloved tradition, both classes presented adaptations of cherished books, featuring speaking roles for every student and choreographed musical numbers that brought the stories to life. This year, the first graders performed “Giraffe’s Can’t Dance,” based on the book by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees. The heartwarming tale follows a giraffe on a journey of self-discovery as he learns to embrace his unique rhythm and find the perfect music to dance to alongside his fellow creatures. The play culminated in a performance of Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling.” Second graders captivated the audience with their performance of Cynthia Rylant’s Goosebury Park, a tale of unlikely friendship and kindness. Set against the backdrop of a dangerous ice storm, the story follows the remarkable bond between Kona the dog and Stumpy the squirrel and the lengths that loyalty and courage will carry Kona in protecting a cherished friend.  The second grade class ended their tale with a rendition of The Beatles’ classic “Here Comes the Sun.”

A component of Fay’s Vox Inventum program, the first and second grade plays demonstrate developing literacy and communication skills that have been months and years in the making. The plays are also a foundational step in Fay’s public speaking curriculum, marking a significant milestone for many students as they take their first courageous steps onto the stage to address an audience. They are an opportunity for students to refine fluency skills through repeated practice and rehearsal of lines. As students immerse themselves in the text, they not only cultivate their ability to deliver complex dialogue with ease but also experience the rewards of seeing their diligence pay off in the performance. With their developing literacy skills, students are focused on reading with expression, and the play provides a perfect vehicle for emphasizing the importance of that skill. For some kids, the realization dawns during the play that reading with expression is more than a mechanical exercise—it's a powerful tool for storytelling that elicits genuine reactions from their audience, sparking a profound sense of joy and accomplishment.

This event is a showcase of many talents. The plays were adapted and directed by first grade teachers Jill Gibbons and Kelly Porter and second grade teachers Jessica Nichols and Willa Gustavson, with beautiful backdrops created by art teacher Cathy Gruetzke-Blais and the students. Adding a personal touch, each student contributed a portrait of themselves in character, adorning the pages of the FayBill. Congratulations to all the first and second grade students on their hard work and wonderful performances! Click here for a gallery of photos from the first and second grade plays.