Members of the community, even adults, can take a trip to Neverland at 12 p.m. Saturday, courtesy of the Coupeville Elementary School Drama Club. The cast of 41 fourth and fifth graders have been rehearsing their parts in a production of “Peter Pan” since auditions were held in December.
Third-grade teacher Stephanie Gebhard founded the drama club, which is now in it’s 15th year. She is co-directing the musical with Jenny Wynn and Heidi Mayne serves as music choreographer.
“Kids just need that art piece that makes them really shine,” said Gebhard. “That’s what I love about drama, kids just shine up there.”
The play and its songs came from the agency Music Theatre International.
Gebhard said she chose a musical in part to help bolster the schools music program.
The play even came with a DVD to help the kids learn all the dances, she said. The show also gave an opportunity for everyone in the large cast to have a part.
The musical aspect helps the children learn their lines, although the youngsters don’t seem to have too much of an issue with that.
“If I’m ever worried about it, I shouldn’t be,” said Gebhard. “Because they always do a great job.”
The show stars Chloe Marzocca and Josie Ausmann as Peter Pan, Mia Farris and Sydney Wallace as Wendy, River DeArmond as Tinkerbell, and Nicholas Wasik as Captain Hook.
The club will perform for the elementary school on Friday, and again for the community on Saturday at the Performing Arts Center.
Katie Marti, as a lost boy named Slightly, peeks out of the lost boy’s camp during rehearsal Monday evening. Coupeville Elementary School’s drama club will present “Peter Pan” at noon on Saturday at the Coupeville Middle School Performing Arts Center. Photo by Laura Guido/Whidbey News-Times
