Daycroft Students Perform Spring Play, The Music Man, to Delighted Audience of Parents, Families, and Friends
All Students Participated in Production — Acting, Singing, and Playing in Band. Students Also Created Play’s Sets, Props, and Costumes Themselves
Ann Arbor, MI (May 27, 2010) — The young students at Daycroft Montessori School won over some of the entertainment world’s toughest critics — their parents, families, and friends — with a rousing performance last night of the popular musical play The Music Man.
In fact, the reviews from audience members were nothing short of raves.
Said one parent, “It was incredible!”
Another parent was equally impressed: “The levels of performance, sets, and costuming were amazing. It was better than anything I’ve seen in a high school play.”
The event was Daycroft’s annual Spring Play, in which all students participate. The main cast primarily came from Grades 3 through 6, with selected younger students taking key roles. All other students sang in the chorus or played in the band. Daycroft students also created the sets, props, and costumes for the play.
“Students were engaged in every aspect of the play’s production,” said Abby Knue, a Daycroft kindergarten head teacher and the play’s producer and director. “Students handled as much of the work as possible themselves. Think, do, and learn — this is completely in keeping with the integrated Montessori approach to education.”
Cheryl Theis, Daycroft’s music teacher, was the play’s musical director. The performance took place at Daycroft’s Elementary Campus on Zeeb Road.
All students from Daycroft’s Elementary Campus participated in the production. Students not in the main cast sang in the chorus or played in the band. Students also created the sets, props, and costumes for the play.
About the Play
The Music Man, with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, tells the story of a con man named Harold Hill, who poses as a bandleader and sells instruments and uniforms to the naive townsfolk of River City, Iowa before skipping town with their cash. The town’s librarian, Marian, sees through Harold’s scheme, but when he helps her younger brother, Marian begins to fall in love with Harold, leading to complications that all, of course, end well.
The Music Man opened on Broadway in 1957, quickly establishing itself as a major hit. It won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, that year, and racked up 1,375 performances in its original run. It also won the first Grammy Award for “Best Original Cast Album.” The show's success has led to many revivals, as well as a popular 1962 movie adaptation and a 2003 television remake. Professional and amateur theater companies frequently stage performances.
About Daycroft Montessori School
Daycroft Montessori School blends the distinctive student-centered teaching methods of Maria Montessori with traditional and progressive teaching methods. Daycroft thus accomplishes its educational mission: to provide a personalized learning environment that appreciates individual differences, nurtures the whole child, and enables students to develop at their own pace and achieve to their full potential.
Daycroft is one of Washtenaw County's leading independent schools. It began as a preschool program in 1968. Daycroft has since grown to include a full-day kindergarten program, an elementary school program through 6th grade, before-school and after-school care, summer camp programs, and enrichment classes.
Daycroft has earned accreditation from the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS; www.isacs.org). It is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS; www.nais.org) and is affiliated with the American Montessori Society (AMS; www.amshq.org).
Daycroft Preprimary School (preschool and kindergarten) is at 100 E. Oakbrook Dr., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Phone: (734) 930-0333.
Daycroft Elementary School (grades K through 6) and Daycroft's administrative offices are at 1095 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Phone: (734) 662-3335.
Media Contact:
Chris Kochmanski
DesignHub, Inc.
(734) 944-8705
chris@design-hub.com
Daycroft Open Houses
Oakbrook Campus (Pre-K)
November 2
January 4
Zeeb Campus (K-6)
November 4
December 2
January 6
All open houses are from 9 to 11 am.
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