They put in hundreds of hours of work and practice before hitting the stage, and it pays off every single year at Southland Elementary School.
On this episode of the Supercast, meet the woman behind 14-years of school musicals at Southland. Find out why this is her final curtain call, and how students and volunteers make every production the experience of a lifetime for everyone involved.
Audio Transcription
Anthony Godfrey:
Hello, and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. They put in hundreds of hours of work and practice before hitting the stage, and it pays off every single year at Southland Elementary School. On this episode of the Supercast, meet the woman behind the 14 years of school musicals at Southland. Find out why this is her final curtain call and how students and volunteers make every production the experience of a lifetime for everyone involved.
We're with Sharon Kartchner, the director of the Adventures of Lewis and Clark put on by Southland Elementary and it's just about showtime, so thanks for taking time to talk with us.
Sharon Kartchner:
You bet. I'm excited. The kids are excited too, as you can hear from the roar coming in the auditorium.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yes, and the crowd is excited. They showed up really early for this. Tell me, you've been doing this a little while. This is not your first rodeo.
Sharon Kartchner:
This is my 14th year involved with the musicals, and it started way back in 2008. Our first performance was in 2009 and our first Lewis and Clark performance was in 2010. So I've been doing it the whole time that we've had musicals at Southland.
Anthony Godfrey:
That's three US presidents ago that you started doing this. I think it's really amazing the time that goes into this. I saw it several years ago and I was blown away. It is not the type of you expect. It's really immersive, the kids know it stone cold. They work really hard. And they've been working since October. Tell me what it's like with the kids over that period of time.
Sharon Kartchner:
You know, they're super excited in the beginning. We usually start with about 120. We kind of dwindled down to about 104, which is a little bit more manageable for us. So that works out, but there's definitely times when you can see them glazing over. So, then we try to add some fun things. Sometimes we sing like opera singers or something like that to just change things up and lighten it up. But they work really hard. We have tryouts kind of towards the beginning so that people learning their lines can pick up their lines and be able to learn them. This year we had understudies for the first time because of COVID. And so some of the kids not only had to learn their lines, they also had to learn a main character's lines in addition to their own. And then we were able to kind of let them perform for their peers at one of the rehearsals so that they at least got a chance to perform that.
Anthony Godfrey:
It's obvious to me that there are many layers to the learning that happens here. There's great value in memorization. There's great value in learning to be part of a team and the content of the musical. By the time they're done performing and practicing, starting in October, they have learned the facts about this particular part of American history stone cold. American history is the theme, is that correct? All the way through?
Sharon Kartchner:
Yeah. So the three musicals that we rotate through, one is Lewis and Clark, that is the fourth grade curriculum. Then we wrote our own America show, Quest for the Stars and Stripes, which is fifth grade. And then we also do Dig It, which is an ancient civilization show. So that covers the sixth grade curriculum. So they all get to be in at least two of them, if they would like. And I kind of give 'em a quiz towards the end. Not really, but I just say, “So who is the President that sent Lewis and Clark?” You know, “Thomas Jefferson”. “What years should they go?” “1804 to 1806”, you know, making sure that they, that it all sunk in and they know stuff now that they wouldn't have known otherwise. And it's awesome.
Anthony Godfrey:
And like you said, it sunk in and it's gonna stay in those brains because just going over it and really inhabiting that adventure as a character, playing it on the stage is the deepest kind of learning we can possibly imagine.
Sharon Kartchner:
For sure. And that's why we picked the ones that we did pick so that they would actually be learning something. And when we didn't find one about America that we liked, we just decided to write our own so that they could learn even more.
Anthony Godfrey:
And that's the one I saw and it was incredible, it was fantastic. So you've been doing this since the start, and this is your final year. How does that feel?
Sharon Kartchner:
You know, it's a mixed bag of feelings. I'm relieved on one hand, but I'm also sad because it's been awesome. I might talk him into letting me do the videography from now on, but then I don't have the four months stint ahead of time. But it's been really fun. I was actually privileged to direct two of the shows in the middle there when my girls had already graduated from elementary, but my little caboose, Jason, hadn't gotten old enough to perform yet. And so I loved it that much that I'm like, ‘I'm gonna keep this going until he can and have a chance to participate as well.’ I feel really confident in the ladies that are working with me, that they're gonna carry the torch and keep it going. And I have no problem handing it over because they're amazing. All of 'em.
Anthony Godfrey:
I'm super impressed with the legacy that you leave behind having done it for so long and dedicated so much time to it. What do you hope is the outcome for the students that you've worked with over the years?
Sharon Kartchner:
You know, I've already seen some of the outcomes. I've seen some of them go on to be actors in the middle school and high school plays. I've had one girl that said, you know, ‘because I had a solo in your musical, I was able to go and try out for a city musical and have total confidence that I could do it’ because she had built the confidence here. I've had other ones that have graduated with computer science degrees from college and other ones that are married and have kids. And so it's just fun to see that they just go off in life and are all successful.
Anthony Godfrey:
It's incredible what happens in the life of a child in 14 years. You talked about the confidence that it builds, and I think that's one of the great values in the arts. It builds your confidence. It shows you, ‘I didn't know this. I didn't know how to do it. And now I'm doing it in front of people.’
Sharon Kartchner:
Yeah. I've seen some kids that have started out just really quiet and then they get up there and we practice and we laugh like, ‘okay, do it like this’. And of course I do it extra big, so that they'll do it maybe a little bit bigger. But then they do it, and then they get in front of these guys, you know, the crowd and they just beam. And it's just fun. Even some of the kids that don't look enthusiastic at all when they're in practice and we're like, “please just smile”, they're here and just beaming. And they just are so excited to perform for people. It's just fun to see that transformation.
Anthony Godfrey:
What a great experience for everybody involved. You can hear the enthusiasm of the families. I hope I can find a seat in there because there are a lot of people in there. And you know, you mentioned earlier, there are over a hundred students involved. That's another thing I just love, is how many people can find a role. Can find some way that they're helping and contributing, and that makes them feel a part of something.
Sharon Kartchner:
Definitely. And Lewis and Clark has the fewest speaking parts in that particular musical. There's only about 16 speaking parts, but there's still like ribbon dancers and water wavers and fork in the road dancers and all these other parts that we let them be a part of. The other musicals have even more speaking parts, which is really fun, lots of scene changes. It gives the kids an opportunity to try to learn something and be something, but all the musicals, they are a part of it and they feel a part of it. And it's really fun to see.
Anthony Godfrey:
Thank you for doing this. Thank you for making it such a rich learning experience. And thank you for inviting me and I get to watch a great musical tonight. I'm looking forward to it.
Sharon Kartchner:
Enjoy the show.
Student Actor:
Thank you everyone for a warm and enthusiastic reception. The name of my report is ‘Every Single Day in the Three Year Long Expedition of Captain Meriwether Lewis and Captain William Clark’. I'm sure you'll find it fascinating as well as lengthy. I mean…thorough.
Anthony Godfrey:
Stay with us. When we come back, we hear from two students in the musical. Find out how much they learn from their experience on stage and what the cast walks away with once the final curtain comes down.
Break:
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Student(s) singing:
O, my name’s Napoleon Bonaparte and have I got a deal for you.
I’m in danger of being blown apart so I make this appeal to you.
All eyes are fixed on you! All hopes are fixed on you!
It’s yours, you’re really in some luck, for fifteen million bucks!
O his name’s Napoleon Bonaparte and has he got a deal for you.
Anthony Godfrey:
We're talking with Megan and Jason, who are in tonight's performance of the Adventures of Lewis and Clark. Megan, tell me about being in this production.
Megan:
It's really interesting. We get to talk and dance and it's really fun.
Anthony Godfrey:
You're all decked out. You guys look great. What does this mean to you? What's most exciting about this for you?
Megan:
Making my family be able to watch this.
Anthony Godfrey:
Yeah. There's a lot of enthusiasm. Are your parents excited to see this?
Megan:
Very.
Anthony Godfrey:
Now, Jason, I know your mom is excited to see this. As the director she's a little bit invested in this. Tell me, what do you think about being in these productions?
Jason:
It's really fun how we learn and do fun actions and be able to do different things that you wouldn't think you would be able to do. And then you just are able to do them.
Anthony Godfrey:
You're wearing an animal hat of some kind and for those listeners, there's lots of fringe. So tell me about your outfit and your character.
Jason:
Well, my character is Clark and so I'm wearing some leather stuff and a raccoon hat.
Anthony Godfrey:
You look fantastic. You look exactly like I picture Clark on his way through the wilderness, so well done. Megan, tell me about your character.
Megan:
I'm a soldier, one of three. And I'm wearing this vest and hat and a sword.
Anthony Godfrey:
You look great, you really look great. Tell me what is something that you learned from this production about history that you didn't know before?
Megan:
I actually didn't know that soldiers actually went on an adventure. And so to be one of the soldiers is actually quite interesting.
Anthony Godfrey:
So you learned about it and now you get to act it out. I really feel like there's a deeper learning that goes with acting out something that you just learned.
Megan:
Yeah, that's very true, because you're not just learning it, but you're having fun learning it and I think it helps you learn it more.
Anthony Godfrey:
Jason, tell me what you learned most. What stands out to you about American history that you didn't know before?
Jason:
Well, I haven't learned about the entire trip, so learning it like early, before I actually learned it in school was very fun. And it was interesting to just be able to know something and help your friends learn it with you.
Anthony Godfrey:
And that's the exciting part. You're helping other people learn it, not just your friends, but there'll be a lot of people in the audience, including me, who I know will learn some things about Lewis and Clark that we didn't know before. Now, you guys have been practicing since the middle of October last year. That's a lot of work and that's a lot of dedication, especially at your age. Tell me about the friendships you've developed and the fun you've had over that period of time.
Megan:
A lot of the people that I didn't know before are in this play and I've grown a really good friendship with a lot of them. It's really interesting to see how many people actually wanted to do the play.
Anthony Godfrey:
And how about you, Jason?
Jason:
Well, since I'm in a Chinese Immersion, I'm usually just friends with the people who are in the immersion with me, because I've been with them, only them, for my entire like grade thing. So being able to get people, not just other people in this grade, but people in different grades, like I never would've been friends with Cassie, but now we're great friends because we are able to do this amazing performance together.
Anthony Godfrey:
I love that. That's a really important part of it. Making those connections. Is this giving you the acting bug? Is this something you want to keep doing?
Megan:
Very much so. I'm really hoping I can in middle school and maybe high school too.
Anthony Godfrey:
Okay, great. I look forward to that. How about you, Jason?
Jason:
Definitely. Like it was really fun being able to do it three times and have these unique things each time and like no one, you know, no one will know what you're going to do next.
Anthony Godfrey:
I was in high school theater all the way through and I highly recommend it. I'm glad to hear you guys have enjoyed it so much. It's exciting to be at Oquirrh Hills. Does that feel like the big stage?
Megan:
Definitely. It's way bigger than I would've expected.
Jason:
Well, I can't say it was bigger than I expected cause I've done it since first grade, but it's still giant compared to where we practice at the beginning. So it's like, feels like you finally got there.
Anthony Godfrey:
You're a three timer. So you've been doing this for quite a while.
Jason:
Yeah.
Anthony Godfrey:
You were a skeleton in first grade, right?
Jason:
Yeah. We had these glow in the dark costumes where they turned off all the lights and we started glowing. We got to do this really fun, cool dance.
Anthony Godfrey:
Well that's an admirable range as an actor to go from skeleton to Clark. So break a leg. That's a good thing, to tell you to break a leg, and I can't wait for the performance looking forward to it tonight.
Jason:
I'm super excited too.
Megan:
Me too. I'm really excited for my family to see it.
Students Singing
Anthony Godfrey:
Thanks for joining us on another episode of the Supercast. Remember education is the most important thing you'll do today. We’ll see you out there.