KNIGHTS HEADLINES Cinderella Collaboration
Mr. David Zacarias’ Geometry Honors class and the fine arts department teamed up to provide a real world project for upper school students by way of incorporating geometry in the set design for the upper school musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. The class was challenged to create a design for the carriage. They divided into six groups to focus on the design for the different parts of the project: the harness, the front seat, the base, the wheels, back footstep, and the finances regarding the materials needed. The students utilized areas of rectangular prisms and circles as well as ratios and proportions in their design. Once it was complete, they presented their blueprints
to Mrs. Erien Booker, fine arts assistant, who coordinates all the scenes and props for the plays. “Mr. Zacarias came to me with the idea to see if there was a way to incorporate the class with the set design,” shared Mrs. Booker. “We met and I had certain aspects of the carriage that they needed to consider in their design concept. They drew up a design and presented it to me as a class. I took a picture of their design and then several of the students from the class came to help with the construction of it. It was great listening to their presentation and then seeing the end result.”
“I thought that the project was a really cool way to see geometry in real life, especially when it came to life onstage,” said freshman Katie Gowan. “The most challenging part of the task was finding a way to make each of the individual design components fit together, and figuring out how to make sure it would support Cinderella during the play. When I finally got to see the show it was amazing to see what a great job Mrs. Booker had done with our designs and making it really come to life.”
Blumey Teen Critic
Junior Maya Cauthen was selected for the 2018 Student Critic Program in association with the 7th Annual Blumenthal Performing Arts High School Musical Theater Awards Program presented by Wells Fargo. Maya was on the team of 14 area high school students who reviewed theater productions of the 46 participating schools. Each student critic attended three shows and then wrote reviews and submitted them to the Blumenthal. Maya previewed Lincolnton High School’s All Shook Up and theHUB@CBTC’s You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown. Unfortunately her third musical she was asked to review was canceled due to sickness in the cast. “This was an opportunity for students to delve into the world of being a critic,” shared Maya. “It was a great experience to grow as a writer. I was able to learn how to write a proper review and received good feedback. I liked Lincolnton’s play the most. I was really blown away by their diversity in race and voice types.” The goal of the Student Critic Program is to foster critical thinking and writing skills among high school students and to involve as many students as possible in the Blumeys. Each student was chosen through an application and selection process and then participated in a seminar on how to write a good review by a local journalism professional.
17 CHARLOTTE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL