P.S. 69 fifth-graders strut their stuff on stage

April 9, 2015 Editorial Staff
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On Thursday, March 26 and Friday, March 27, P.S. 69 culminated its six-month residency with TADA! Youth Theater, staging two musical performances set during the Age of Exploration.

The residency has become an annual engagement, as this is the fourth year fifth graders at P.S. 69, Ninth Avenue and 63rd Street, have worked with TADA! to put on performances that are related to the grade’s curriculum.

While this year’s performances focused on the legendary explorers Ferdinand Magellan and Henry Hudson, subjects like fairy tales and the Mayan civilization were tackled in previous years.

Many of the children who participate in the TADA! program either are ESL (English as a Second Language) or special-needs students. Their teachers at P.S. 69 have found that the TADA! program has helped give them a confidence in the language and material they have been struggling to master.

Nancy Irrera, a special needs teacher at P.S. 69, said the program is, “Something to look forward to, something that sticks with the kids. They put in a lot of hard work and commitment.”
Principal Jayne Capetanakis said of the program that it is one, “They (the students) will cherish forever. It’s an opportunity to read, write and perform in their new language.”

An aspect of TADA! Youth Theater that sets it apart from other theatrical programs is the roles the students play in the production. Ideas for the productions are supplied by the students and they write most of the script for the shows, which are musicals.

TADA! coordinators help facilitate their creative efforts and set their script to music. Joanna Greer, associate artistic director at TADA!, said, “There is an air of great positivity. Seeing where the children can go, it’s pretty amazing.” The result is an endeavor which pushes the kids outside their comfort zone and changes the way they look at the material they learn in the classroom.

Greer said that TADA! hopes to continue the residency at P.S. 69 “for as long as the budget is there for us.” With three enthusiastic performances over the course of two days, it looks as if the students have the same hope.

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