FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - When four years ago a group of seventh-graders at Bondurant Middle School wanted to put on a play - despite the lack of a drama department at the school - social studies teacher Will Barker stepped up to help them. Now, those same students who are currently wrapping up their sophomore years at Western Hills High School are back at BMS, teaching a new crop of students the way around the theater.
A group of five WHHS sophomores, calling themselves Teenagers for Theatre, have been at BMS after school for the past several weeks helping a group of 20-25 sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders produce the play “The Medieval Whodunit,” the sophomores wrote when they were in seventh-grade.
“We wrote it when we were 12 (years old), so we changed some things,” sophomore Jacyln Aldridge said, noting mainly they changed some wording, typos and made a few plot changes.
The play is a mystery story based in the medieval era involving a wicked queen whose jewels are stolen.
“It’s exciting,” said Aldridge, who serves as one of the directors of the play. “It’s great to see everything come to life.”
Barker said it’s been great having the high school students help with the production.
“The students take a lot of pressure off of me,” he said. “I rely on them to keep things rolling.”
They have been teaching the middle school students about stage placement, production and blocking.
“Hopefully, they’re learning something,” Barker said.
The play also ties well, Barker said, with a medieval unit he’s currently teaching in his social studies classes.
Eighth-grader Julia Martinez plays the role of Queen Mildred.
Though this isn’t her first play, and she said she has lots of experience acting, she’s happy to be working with the high school students.
“It’s really nice to have their input,” Martinez said. “They know how to correct us and tell us what we need to do.”
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Information from: The State Journal, https://www.state-journal.com
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