Center Stage: Preparing for "Jack and the Beanstalk"

In the Music and Drama Program at Aidan, we have started to prepare for our Spring Musical, Jack and the Beanstalk.The performance will take place at 7:00 PM on Friday, April 17 at Imagination Stage in Bethesda.The students are excited to perform in this new venue and all members of the Aidan community are warmly invited to attend.    

Musicals at Aidan are very family-friendly and we enjoy having a young audience! Small children love to watch older children perform and our Toddler and Primary students will definitely recognize their Elementary friends on stage. Imagination Stage is also perfectly designed for seating young ones. So I encourage you to make it a night out with the whole family!

Our script for Jack and the Beanstalk (A Musical Retelling of a Tall Tale) was written by Jim Eiler and Jeanne Bargy in 1965. It is a unique and humorous spin on this classic fairy tale. The music is catchy and the students sing funny songs that help move the story along. Such storytelling is not only an integral part of the Montessori elementary pedagogy, but it is essential to the production of a musical - and one of the best ways to teach.

Aidan’s Spring Musical is unique because it includes ALL of our Elementary students. They collaborate with teachers on every aspect of the decision-making process for the performance. As the oldest members of the community, our 6th year students get to choose the musical and even help with some of the casting choices. In addition, they joined me and our art teacher, Ms. Skor, for a meeting at Imagination Stage to see the venue and to discuss the set possibilities for our show.  

The show’s chorus is comprised of students from both Red Oak and Magnolia classes and the 4th years in Sweet Gum. They are the Villagers in Act 1 and the Beanstalk People in Act 2. They will remain on stage throughout most of the show and this exposure is valuable for the younger students as they make their dramatic debut.

Over and above the singing, the students are involved with other creative aspects related to the show. Artwork for the program and poster has already been submitted and our Upper Elementary students have started to compile their lighting wish list. As we continue to read through the script, they will also give more thought to set design and costumes. 

Learning to perform in public and thus gaining confidence while on stage is a valuable skill that will help students succeed well beyond their roles in the Aidan musical. It is a joy to see the children continue to grow and blossom during the preparation and performance of Jack and the Beanstalk and I hope you will join us for our upcoming performance. 

Sincerely,

Eva Esparza

Music and Drama Teacher