TEMPLE, Texas — Sampson-Howard Elementary School opened its doors as a Fine Arts Academy this fall, a first for the Temple Independent School District. The campus is the only elementary school in TISD to offer theatre and orchestra. Now, one of those programs is closing in on another first as theatre prepares to present its first production next week.
Sampson-Howard’s theatre arts department will present its production of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” in a public performance next Tuesday. The campus offers theatre classes for all grade levels and had 52 students audition for the initial production. A cast and crew of 20 students was selected from that group of 52 and began preparing for the performance in September. Students have been rehearsing four times a week after school and on weekends and theatre arts teacher Juanita Herrera Frederick has been very impressed by their work ethic and progress as the show’s premiere nears.
“To do it this quickly has been a whirlwind, but it has been really fun and rewarding,” said Herrera Frederick. “I am very, very proud of the kids because they have learned so quickly and I have been able to give them tips and tricks that they take from one rehearsal to the next. It has been magical so far and it will be historical. The growth has just been amazing because you have a mix of talent and a mix of experience and by the end, they are all just beaming, shining stars regardless of where they started from.”
Fifth grader Elylee O’Toole has the lead role of Ichabod Crane and all of the lines that go with that responsibility. O’Toole says the rehearsal process has helped build confidence leading into the first performance.
“It has been really fun in general,” O’Toole said. “It surprised me that I could memorize so many lines so quickly. The school scenes are my favorite, honestly, so that’s what I am looking forward to the most.”
Fifth grader Adrienne Woods serves as the narrator for the production. She says the process has been a learning experience, but she is looking forward to the reaction to next week’s performance.
“It has been fun. It was a little confusing at the start but that has gotten better,” Woods said. “I am very, very excited and I am really looking forward to seeing my family in the audience. My favorite part of the play is when I get to run offstage screaming.”
Tuesday’s (October 29) performance will be at 6:00 p.m. at the Sampson-Howard performance space. The performance is open to the public and admission is free.
There are also big plans for the program for the spring semester. Sampson-Howard’s theatre program is planning a musical performance in partnership with the campus’ music department.