Thespian Schoolkids Encouraged to Act Up

Kudos to Irene Garcia for presenting the many educational opportunities that musical theater offers (“Staging a Play, and Exploring Possibilities,” Aug. 14). As a sixth-grade teacher, one of the ways in which we enhance our curriculum is to stage a musical production each year. Our students have performed “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” “Oliver!” and “The Wizard of Oz.” We spend up to 21/2 months in rehearsals and costume/prop preparation for one performance. And the level at which we expect all of the students to perform, not just on the stage but especially in the classroom, is extremely high.

Every year I marvel at how well the children rise to these expectations; indeed, they have always far exceeded what I felt they could achieve. A thousand thank-yous to Freddie Gershon and those like him for creating a program that allows children to not only experience the theater but to realize the potential that lies within them.

Margi Johnson

Buena Park