R.D. White makes a big splash with ‘Go Fish’

Last night family members and classmates stepped into a world under the sea, watching as 60 first-, second- and third-graders transformed into schools of fish in the Richardson D. White Elementary School’s production of “Go Fish.”

“Go Fish,” by Hal Leonard, is the musical story of a unique group of fish, including a seven-legged octopus, a tuna that can’t carry a tune and a blowfish with allergies, who meet a tiger shark who wants to be their friend. The moral in the end is, it’s nice to be different.

The performers are part of an after-school group called the Hummingbirds that was started last year with the musical, “Bugz.”

“We had the Bob Whites for fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders,” said fifth-grade teacher Jennifer Hopkins, music director for the Hummingbirds and Bob Whites. “We wanted to allow the first-, second- and third-graders to perform. We have an amazing stage that not many elementary schools have.”

Hopkins grew up performing in musicals and took over for the Bob Whites seven years ago.

“Since Bob Whites are larger birds, we thought of Hummingbirds, because they were smaller,” Hopkins said.

Second-grader Collin Hasman taught his parents, Lori and Jim Hasman, a move called the electric slide after rehearsals for the electric-eel speaking part.

“I liked how I got to speak in from of the stage and I kind of liked the dancing,” Collin said.

“It gets them involved,” Lori Hasman said of the play. “He always enjoys going to practice.”

“I think they need more things like this,” said Jim Hasman.

The dances in the show were coordinated by third-grade teacher Linett Arias. She gave the music a Western style as the sea horses danced the pony and the electric eels danced the electric slide.

“It’s fun to pass along something you love to do, to them,” Arias said.

The kids enjoyed the dances that they learned.

“The amount of lines these kids memorized,” Hopkins said. “We ask a lot of them and they definitely came through.”

All interested students began practicing Mondays and Thursdays in August. Costumes and sets were made and designed by parents and the undersea backdrop was donated for the performances.

The students all had smiles on stage and had fun with the performance.

“I played a crab,” said second-grader Chloe Howes. “I’m excited. I think I did good.”

“I think they did really good,” said Chloe’s mom, Meredith, designer of the play’s fish costumes. “They really pulled it all together. It looked great.”

Amanda Thlick, a second-grader, and her sister Jessica, a third-grader, were nervous on stage but they had fun.

“I enjoyed the singing,” Amanda said.

“It went really great,” said father Brendan Thlick. “It’s all about the kids having fun.”

“It’s a wonderful program,” said mother Elba Thlick, designer of the seahorse costumes. “We’re very fortunate to have it.”