JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY CHRISTOPHER M. VERY, PRINCIPAL
“To Be or Not To Be…”:
Creative Dramatics Comes to Jefferson Elementary School
There is a certain “buzz” in the air among
many students in the fourth and fifth-grade
classrooms on Tuesday afternoons… the day
that the Pittsburgh Public Theater visits Jefferson
Elementary School to offer our students their
unique Creative Dramatics after-school program.
Over the past 25 years, Pittsburgh Public Theater
has partnered with area schools and teachers,
like Mrs. Lori Gephart (Gifted Support Teacher),
to afford this opportunity to fourth and fifth
grade students. During this time, six schools
from diverse neighborhoods paired up for a
collaboration whose end result was a performance
on stage at the O’Reilly Theater in Pittsburgh.
This year, thanks to Mrs. Gephart and funding
from the EQT Foundation, two more schools have
been added: Jefferson Elementary and Clairton
Elementary. Teaching Artists from the Pittsburgh
Public Theater visit each school separately for
eight sessions to engage our blooming artists in
acting exercises to prepare them to perform an
adapted version of a Shakespeare work, such as
“As You Like It.” During this time, students also
have the opportunity to work at the theater on
two occasions and to work at their partner schools.
Additionally, students from both districts were
provided the opportunity to visit each other’s
schools to work collaboratively to learn various
adapted versions of Shakespeare. During this time,
students had the opportunity to get to know each
other through teacher-led activities, and they
enjoyed having lunch together. However, Creative
Dramatics teaches more than self-expression;
the program provides opportunities for students
to develop teamwork, focus, self-confidence,
acceptance, and tolerance.
While all of us throughout the district were excited
about this opportunity for the JES students,
we wanted to engage students from all
three elementary schools to be part of
this innovative program. Invitations were
afforded to select students throughout the
district, and transportation was provided
in order for those students to be able to
attend the program, which is “housed” at
Jefferson. Both partner schools will meet at
the O’Reilly Theater for a technical rehearsal
before performing in front of a live
audience on Saturday, December 16, 2017.
A special thank you to Pittsburgh Public Theater,
the EQT Foundation, and Mrs. Lori Gephart for
providing our students this wonderful experience.
58 West Jefferson Hills