Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Susie Pickering

Oak Lane Day School

137 Stenton Ave, Blue Bell, PA 19422

Phone: 610-825-1055

Fax: 610-825-9288

Email: spickering@oaklanedayschool.org

Sixth Graders Stage a Production of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night"

The play's the thing wherein the Oak Lane community witnessed the poise, confidence, and acting chops of the sixth grade class as they staged their production of William Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night." Starting in January of this year, the 12 students in teacher Martha Butler's class began their preparation, which included intensive study of Shakespeare's language and its meaning, themes in the play, and the Elizabethan theater. Their hard work culminated in an evening show for Oak Lane sixth grade families as well as other students and teachers.

Claudia S. played the role of Viola, the ship wreaked heroine who finds herself in the land of Illyria and must make a new life for herself. Claudia began her own journey at Oak Lane in the third grade and has been active in the performing arts since then. She has been a member of the drama club since fourth grade. Claudia gives credit to a cousin of hers who teaches Shakespeare for introducing her to "The Bard" and sparking her theatrical interest. When asked what drew her to the part of Viola, Claudia replied, “I thought that she was funny and very quick on her feet. I liked that about her. Also, I was ready for a big role. I felt like I knew the part and could have a lot of fun with it.”   As a whole, the sixth graders threw themselves whole-heartedly into this project and have nothing but fond memories of the experience. In fact, Claudia had some words of encouragement for the fifth graders for when it is their turn: “You may not understand at first, and you may feel uncomfortable with the language, but once you get into the play, you'll have a blast!”              

Play productions by the sixth grade as the final showpieces of a curriculum that emphasizes the performing arts has been a long-time tradition at Oak Lane Day School. Many years of experience has led up to the oldest children of the school taking the stage and producing sophisticated works. Throughout their time at the school, Oak Lane kids often perform before a crowd from the pre-primary years when students act out skits for school-wide assemblies through the intermediate grades when narrative story telling and acting drive the Third Grade Readers' Theater and immersion in the life of the theater occurs during the Fourth Grade Drama Residency. These are but a few of the myriad programs with which Oak Lane Day School carries out its commitment to guide children towards building strong self-esteem through their own creative expression.

Oak Lane Day School Information

An independent elementary school, founded in 1916 and located in Blue Bell, Oak Lane Day School serves a diverse population of boys and girls. Oak Lane honors each child's unique individuality while fostering intellectual, creative, academic, and personal growth within a diverse community of active, engaged learners. Small class sizes and an atmosphere that encourages children to develop their academic and social skills are priorities at Oak Lane, where learning is a meaningful and joyous pursuit. Oak Lane's country-like property of 30 acres along Butler Pike and Stenton Avenue boasts a stream, pond, woods, meadows, and specimen trees as well as athletic fields and playgrounds.

Oak Lane Day School is accredited by the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS), and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools (ADVIS).