Story By Deborah Welky
Photos By Adam Marshall/BellaMia Portrait Studios
After-school programs have come a long way since the days of homework help and craft projects. Students at Elbridge Gale Elementary School recently put on what can only be called a “major production.” It is part of a program that has become a major draw for the school, located on Royal Fern Drive in Wellington. “We offer cheerleading, sports and academic assistance, but the main thing now is drama,” said Patty Vico-Montalvo, afterschool program director. “We have children who want to come to our school because they’ve heard about our after-school program.” Aladdin Jr., a Disney musical script, was performed May 28 after nearly a year of work by students and program coordinators. “We hold auditions in September and October and then rehearse twice a week through May,” Vico-Montalvo explained. “We try to pick a play that features boys, and Aladdin had that
in both the main character and the soldiers. The exciting thing this year was that we formed a relationship with the Palm Beach Central High School drama department and it became kind of a ‘big brother’ thing. The high school boys helped out because we needed extra princes, and we needed to have Aladdin carried.” In the end, not only was the title character carried down the aisle on a prop that had been used previously in a PBCHS production, but high school students did the lighting, sound and sets for two dress rehearsals and the night of the show. The play was staged at Palm Beach Central. “The children did a great job, and the directors were amazing,” Vico-Montalvo said. WELLINGTONTHE THEMAGAZINE MAGAZINE••August August2010 2010 WELLINGTON
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