Students from Mansfield and Legacy High Schools have created children's theatre productions at each campus based on Dr. Seuss books for elementary school students and the public. Sisters Melissa McIntyre-Craig (Mansfield HS) and Melanie McIntyre (Legacy HS) each teach Theatre Production classes at their respective campuses. The class is taught as a Children's Theatre class where students spend the first semester writing plays and adapting children's stories into plays. The students rehearse and build their sets, props, and costumes to perform for elementary schools wishing to bus students to the high schools during the block as well as for the public.
“This class is the highlight of my teaching career,” says Melissa McIntyre-Craig. “I am so excited to see how my teenage students get some much joy from performing for the little ones and meeting them after the shows.”
Her sister, Melanie echoes Melissa's excitement. “This class inspires me so much as a teacher,” says Melanie of her class. “It's so hard to keep from crying when the elementary kids come to the show. Their laughter and excitement is so magical and contagious. It's beneficial to all parties involved: the elementary kids get to see live theatre, the high school kids get to perform and get gratification from their performance, and I am inspired to continue teaching theatre!”
The sisters developed and taught this same class together five years ago at a high school outside of Houston. The high school students are taught how to interact, perform and teach theatre to elementary kids. The class will eventually be geared towards students who want to be theatre teachers. “The class is different from other Theatre classes because we focus on the ‘style’ of children's theatre, which is sillier and more animated than the type of theatre I teach in my other classes. Louder voices, silly dialects, big movement, etc,” says Melanie.
MHS - Pictured are (Left to Right) Meghan Messer, Justin Tennison, Erich de la Torre, Patrick McDonald, Pete Kowalski, Pam Harrison, and Meredith Wimberly.
Mansfield High School Theatre presents SEUSS-O-MANIA
Student performances November 29 for students from Martha Reid Elementary and December 5 for Thelma Jones and Anna May Daulton Elementary Schools
Public performance Thursday, December 6 | 6:30 PM | $3.00 tickets at the door
Mansfield Legacy High School Theatre presents Dr. Seuss LIVE
December 10 and 12 for students from Mary Jo Sheppard, Alice Ponder, Glenn Harmon, Erma Nash, and J.L. Boren Elementary Schools
Public performance Wednesday, December 12 | 6:30 PM | $3.00 donation |
