Drama

The drama program at Bement is based on the premise that being able to "play" enhances performance in a formal play. With this in mind, sixth and seventh graders create much of their own material, building on verbal and non-verbal exercises. Sometimes a full-length play is created. Some of the themes of past plays created by students: a German family shelters a Jewish girl; twins are born in a village where it is considered bad luck to be a twin; archaeologists are competing to find rare fossils; a shipboard murder mystery; magic has vanished from the kingdom.

The eighth graders have the opportunity to participate in a play each term. While no one has to be in a play, shy students often enjoy taking a risk by being in a small role. Like being on an athletic team, a play can be a wonderful vehicle for promoting self-confidence and the ability to work cooperatively with others. Some of the plays performed in the past: A Bridge to Terabithia, A Doctor in Spite of Himself, The Imaginary Invalid, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, A Mad Breakfast.

 

By 9th grade, students are ready to work on monologues or on short scenes. In the spring, the culminating event for the 9th grade year is a musical. All the students act, sing, dance, help with the scenery, and in the making of costumes. Some of the musicals performed in the past: Tom Sawyer, Alice in Wonderland, Flapper, Kodiak Flapjack, Hurricane Smith, The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan.

The drama program is run by Amy Gordon, who has not only been at Bement inspiring students since 1981 but has found the time to write numerous children's books: The Talking Bird and the Story Pouch, Midnight Magic, When JFK Was My Father, The Gorillas of Gill Park, The Secret Life of a Boarding School Brat, Return to Gill Park, and Arietta of the Artichokes.