Magnolia drama club performance tomorrow
The students in the drama club at Magnolia Elementary School will be performing "Comic Book Artist" at 7 p.m. tomorrow at the school.
Cost is free of charge and open to the public.
Donations will be accepted.
A multi-purpose room at Magnolia Elementary School on Wednesdays after school is transformed into a theatrical getaway.
As part of an after-school drama club, a group of sixth-graders are joined by former Magnolia Elementary students. Together, they create sets, memorize lines and just let loose.
For 10 years, Kevin Maedel, a special education teacher at the school, has volunteered his time to teach young people how to act and put on plays.
"I have a lot of kids who came to me and were just quiet in the classroom and they just blossom. In drama, they become a whole different person," Maedel said.
"Their confidence gets built, their social skills and their tolerance and acceptance of other people, because in this drama club it's not the popular kids, it's not the best students. It's a whole range of students from special education, regular education, struggling students, the brightest students."
The club does not have a budget and relies on the support of parents as well as community, school and student volunteers to keep afloat.
"Mr. Maedel does it out of the kindness of his heart. He's not paid to do it, he has parents who help quite a bit with the chores that need to be done," Magnolia Elementary principal Deborah Davis. "It's neat when it's not tied to monies because it not something that can be on the chopping block."
The opportunity to continue learning about theater at Pioneer Junior High School may soon be lost, if its drama class is cut from next year's schedule due to state budget issues.
"I think it's really sad. I think because they get to shine right there and it transitions into high school, there's a huge gap there, and I almost wish someone would step up and do something like this up there," Maedel said. "I think it's unfortunate but, at the same time, it's hard with this budget. I understand, but it's really going to be a big loss for the kids."
Many of Maedel's former students help him out with the club, even when they have moved on to junior high, high school and beyond.
"I let kids come back and help me direct at 12, 13 years old. They just kind of feel that confidence. That's why a lot of them get lead roles in high school shows and they basically run the drama department at Upland High," Maedel said. "They're the president of thespian, they're the assistant directors, they're the lead in the show -- their whole life is theater and it all starts back in fifth, sixth grade."
C.C. Chiu, 18, participated in the drama club when she attended Magnolia Elementary, and helps Maedel get organized for performances, such as tonight's "Comic Book Artist."
"Aside from just being a fun activity, it was a really great way to learn how to begin to express yourself," Chiu said. "I was always a shy person and Mr. Maedel's drama club really helped me as it does a lot of the students."
The club has been rehearsing for nearly three months for the "Comic Book Artist."
"It's like a comic-book story that comes to life on stage. It's villains and good guys and characters with flaws and then the good guys win in the end," Maedel said. "So it's kind of like a total fantasy and it's a satire on how silly some comic book characters are."
Tyler Shively, 12, plays "Star Guy," a comic-book character whose only power is to make girls swoon.
"He's pretty much conceited. He loves himself. His main weapon is the charisma ray, which will make anybody fall to their knees screaming his name and begging for an autograph," Tyler said. "It's fun because I get to be with a bunch of my friends and it's kind of fun getting into Star Guy's character."
Cost is free of charge and open to the public.
Donations will be accepted.
A multi-purpose room at Magnolia Elementary School on Wednesdays after school is transformed into a theatrical getaway.
As part of an after-school drama club, a group of sixth-graders are joined by former Magnolia Elementary students. Together, they create sets, memorize lines and just let loose.
For 10 years, Kevin Maedel, a special education teacher at the school, has volunteered his time to teach young people how to act and put on plays.
"I have a lot of kids who came to me and were just quiet in the classroom and they just blossom. In drama, they become a whole different person," Maedel said.
"Their confidence gets built, their social skills and their tolerance and acceptance of other people, because in this drama club it's not the popular kids, it's not the best students. It's a whole range of students from special education, regular education, struggling students, the brightest students."
The club does not have a budget and relies on the support of parents as well as community, school and student volunteers to keep afloat.
"Mr. Maedel does it out of the kindness of his heart. He's not paid to do it, he has parents who help quite a bit with the chores that need to be done," Magnolia Elementary principal Deborah Davis. "It's neat when it's not tied to monies because it not something that can be on the chopping block."
The opportunity to continue learning about theater at Pioneer Junior High School may soon be lost, if its drama class is cut from next year's schedule due to state budget issues.
"I think it's really sad. I think because they get to shine right there and it transitions into high school, there's a huge gap there, and I almost wish someone would step up and do something like this up there," Maedel said. "I think it's unfortunate but, at the same time, it's hard with this budget. I understand, but it's really going to be a big loss for the kids."
Many of Maedel's former students help him out with the club, even when they have moved on to junior high, high school and beyond.
"I let kids come back and help me direct at 12, 13 years old. They just kind of feel that confidence. That's why a lot of them get lead roles in high school shows and they basically run the drama department at Upland High," Maedel said. "They're the president of thespian, they're the assistant directors, they're the lead in the show -- their whole life is theater and it all starts back in fifth, sixth grade."
C.C. Chiu, 18, participated in the drama club when she attended Magnolia Elementary, and helps Maedel get organized for performances, such as tonight's "Comic Book Artist."
"Aside from just being a fun activity, it was a really great way to learn how to begin to express yourself," Chiu said. "I was always a shy person and Mr. Maedel's drama club really helped me as it does a lot of the students."
The club has been rehearsing for nearly three months for the "Comic Book Artist."
"It's like a comic-book story that comes to life on stage. It's villains and good guys and characters with flaws and then the good guys win in the end," Maedel said. "So it's kind of like a total fantasy and it's a satire on how silly some comic book characters are."
Tyler Shively, 12, plays "Star Guy," a comic-book character whose only power is to make girls swoon.
"He's pretty much conceited. He loves himself. His main weapon is the charisma ray, which will make anybody fall to their knees screaming his name and begging for an autograph," Tyler said. "It's fun because I get to be with a bunch of my friends and it's kind of fun getting into Star Guy's character."
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