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General News: Arabian Nights Takes to the Stage
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| The Sultan wants only the best for his beautiful daughter, Jasmine. |
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| The Sultana worries about her daughter's future. |
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| Princess Jasmine finds the magic lamp that is the source of many powers. |
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| Aladdin goes from poverty... |
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| to riches thanks to a genie. Photo by Heather Lupo. |
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| Jammal, the Evil Wizard, and his wicked sister, Halima. |
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| Aladdin's mother and sisters plead to the Sultan. |
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| Handmaidens to the princess. |
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| A noble prince. |
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| The girls sing "You Can't Hurry Love." |
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| The Blues Brothers make an appearance. |
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| The dancing villagers. |
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| The camel. |
February 06, 2009
Take a magic carpet ride this weekend to Shammar, the far-off desert home of Aladdin, who finds the power to win a beautiful princess in this musical, “Arabian Nights.” The production tells the story of Aladdin, who must face an evil wizard and the princess’s own parents -- the sultan and the sultana – before he wins her hand.
The Willow Avenue Elementary School Drama Club is staging two performances of the musical play this Saturday and Sunday. This year, 83 children from first through fourth grades are dressing in elaborate flowing costumes and learning the choreography for dance numbers that are sure to entertain.
The beauty of this play is that so many children get a chance to have a role on stage. The first-graders delight when they appear as the magical wares in the second scene and the second-graders are magnificent as the dancing villagers of Shammar. Who doesn’t love a parade of third-graders waving scarves and carrying sabers with a camel following close behind?
Against a beautiful backdrop of an ancient city wall, you will find a bustling marketplace, a monkey, and a poor boy looking for love. When the wicked Jammal tries to stop his efforts to win Princess Jasmine, Aladdin enters a secret cave where he steals the magical lantern. The genie inside the lantern helps Aladdin become a prince, but he is foiled once again by the evil wizard.
The musical is not limited to gongs and Arab-influenced music. Throughout the play. theater-goers also will see entertainers from a more contemporary era, with Elvis singing "Blue Suede Shoes," the Blues Brothers, and a group of girls who recall the style of The Supremes.
The year’s drama production is put on with the support of the school’s PTO, whose members work tirelessly behind the scenes to make it happen. Christine Cleeves is directing for the sixth and, she says, final time, as her youngest child has already moved on to the middle school. She is assisted by the able producer Karen Corby, returning for her third year, and many other parents who created the sets, designed and made the costumes, supervised the choreography, oversaw tickets, took photos and chaperoned the young acts in between scenes.
The curtain raises on “Arabian Nights” Saturday, February 7 at 7 p.m. and again on Sunday the 8th, at 2 p.m.
Click on any photo for a larger view.
Comments:
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Thank you Nancy, for the beautiful write-up and the wonderful photos of the children. It was so nice of you to take the time and interest in the upcoming production! The children have been working so hard and are ready for their opening day performances. If you get a chance to come see the show... they will surely put a smile on your face!
Thank you to Christine Cleeves & Karen and Steve Corby for your expertise, patience and dedication to all of the children. :)
posted by Heather Lupo on 02/06/09 at 11:09 AM
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