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Over at Cinnaminson Middle School, more than 60 students in the drama club’s cast and crew are hard at work preparing for their opening night performance of “Once Upon a Mattress.”
The students, who have been rehearsing, staging and memorizing their lines four times a week since December, will make their debut on Feb. 23 at 8 p.m. Director and music teacher Brian Bacon, who also once walked the halls of CMS as a student, said not only is he excited to see the students showcase the results of their hard work, but to pass down the love of theater he had when he was their age.
“They’re a phenomenal group of students, it’s always nice to see them grow. I thought the play would be a perfect fit for them this year,” he said.
Luckily for Bacon, that enthusiasm he so strives to instill is ever-present in his cast. The play, which is adapted to be middle-school friendly, is double-cast to give each student member an opportunity to play a lead role and perform in the ensemble.
“It definitely takes a lot of teamwork. I have learned a lot from this,” said eighth grader Claudia Masciantonio, who is cast as Queen Aggravain. “This is my first role outside ensemble, which also takes a lot, but as a lead, you learn a lot from the teachers and get a lot of helpful feedback.”
The entire cast echoed their pride in the teamwork, creativity and mutual respect for one another that it took to pull off the production. But most important, the students said, are the lasting friendships they’ve forged with one another. In an environment that can often make budding teenagers feel self-conscious, alone or judged, drama has become a sanctuary where they can begin to feel comfortable in their own skin.
Seventh grader Logan Kravil, who will play Dauntless, said prior to joining the drama club, socializing and feeling confident did not come easily to him. Thanks to Bacon and his castmates, he’s flourishing both on and off the stage.
“I didn’t have a lot of friends when I came into middle school. I connected
with a lot of people this year, and I will definitely continue doing this into high school and maybe more,” Kravil said.
For Bacon, who feels theater is about more than just stealing the spotlight, his personal and professional joy is satisfied by seeing his students find their niche.
“This is really an outlet for a lot of students that they don’t have in other capacities in the school. It’s always a pleasure to hear teachers say, ‘I didn’t know that student could sing like that, they’re so quiet in class,’” Bacon said. “It’s really fun to help the students break out of their shell a little bit. Sometimes in middle school, it’s hard to be yourself, so I think this gives the chance to be someone else, and in being that other person, they’re able to kind of find themselves.”
Cinnaminson Middle School Pirate Players will present “Once Upon A Mattress” on Feb. 23 at 8 p.m., Feb. 24 at 8 p.m., Feb. 25 at 2 p.m., March 2 at 8 p.m. and March 3 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. All shows will be at the Cinnaminson Middle School Auditorium, 312 N. Forklanding Road. Tickets can be purchased at the door and are $5 for students, $8 for adults and free for senior citizens
On Saturday, Feb. 24, in lieu of buying a ticket, guests may bring in non-perishable food items that will be donated to the Bread of Life Food Pantry in Palmyra. The pantry is in particular need of items such as after-school snacks and varied side dishes.
