Grant brings beloved musical theatre program to life
Students perform a musical number at 鈥淢T Stage: The Hamilton Experience鈥� summer enrichment program.
After a 15-year absence, a beloved musical theatre enrichment program returned to the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, thanks to a grant from the Arkansas Department of Education.聽
Hosted by the糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Jodie Mahony Center for Gifted Education, 鈥淢T Stage: The Hamilton Experience鈥� provided a unique opportunity for high-ability and gifted students to learn about musical theater, stagecraft, and civics June 26-30 at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. It was funded by an Academic Enrichment for the Gifted and Talented in the Summer grant.鈥淭o us, this program was an exciting opportunity to bring a very missed student enrichment program back to campus,鈥� said Dr. Christine Deitz, program director. 鈥淭he Jodie Mahony Center was beyond thrilled to offer this program again to Arkansas students.鈥�Program participant Margaret Rood, a rising ninth-grader at Malvern High School, spent much of her life dreaming of becoming an actor.Growing up in the small town of Malvern, Rood didn鈥檛 know other aspiring actors.When 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock hosted a musical theatre program for seventh- and eighth-graders in Arkansas, Rood jumped at the chance to get a taste of acting life during鈥淢T Stage: The Hamilton Experience.鈥�鈥淭his was my favorite thing to do all summer,鈥� Rood said. 鈥淢usical people are a very small niche in my hometown. It was great to be surrounded by like-minded people.鈥�After participating in the camp, Rood plans to pursue acting and theater opportunities in Little Rock to give her more experience before college.During the program, students attended civics and musical theatre history classes to learn about the history behind the Broadway play. Students studied aspects of Greek theater, Shakespeare, and modern theater. In civics class, participants discussed immigration, citizenship, and the Bill of Rights. 鈥淵ou could see the talent, passion, and commitment of these children in their eyes from the moment they came to campus,鈥� Deitz said. 鈥淚t reminded me of why I came into teaching.鈥�At the end of the week, participants performed music and choreography inspired by the Broadway hit, 鈥淗amilton: An American Musical,鈥� during a June 30 student showcase in University Theatre on the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock campus.Gabbie Stokes, a rising ninth-grader from Ozark, was thrilled to play the characters of Thomas Jefferson and Lafayette.鈥淚 have never done theatre or drama before,鈥� Stokes said. 鈥淭his camp was the highlight of my summer.鈥�Participating students include:
听听听听听Emma Barrett of Jonesboro
听听听听听Trinity Bell of Little Rock
听听听听听Tyler Childers of DeWitt
听听听听听Taryn Oitker of Cabot
听听听听听Grayson Siebert of Blytheville
听听听听听Makiya Stuffs of Little Rock
听听听听听Kennedy Arnold of Little Rock
听听听听听Eva Grace Barrett of Jonesboro
听听听听听Lucy Box of Jonesboro
听听听听听Taylor Chandler of Huntsville
听听听听听Rachel Estep of Springdale
听听听听听JahLayae Freeman of Jacksonville
听听听听听Mia Hartley of Texarkana
听听听听听Alexandra Lanier of Alexander
听听听听听Zaria Montgomery of North Little Rock 聽
听听听听听Margaret Rood of Malvern
听听听听听Gabriella Stokes of Ozark
听听听听听Emily Wheat of Sheridan
听听听听听Benjamin Wilson of Texarkana
听听听听听Alexandria Wright of Jonesboro
Students and staff involved in 鈥淢T Stage: The Hamilton Experience鈥� include: Front row (L to R): Dr. Christine Deitz, Sara Cooke, Dorothy Gantz, Dr. I. J. Routen, and Laura Dowling. Second row: TeLeah Allen, Alexandra Lanier, Trinity Bell, Makiya Stubbs, Gabriella Stokes, Blair King, Tyler Childers, Eva Grace Barrett, and Alexandra Wright. Third row: Tyler Chandler, Emily Wheat, Kennedy Arnold, Mia Hartley, JahLeah Freeman, Lucy Box, and Taryn Oitker. Fourth row: Rachel Estep, Zaria Montgomery, Tripp Wilson, Grayson Seibert, Margaret Rood, and Emma Barrett.
