Arts Academy’s “Shrek Jr.” Debuts At The Cultural Center For The Arts

By Ben Myers, Art Teacher

Arts Academy at Summit proudly presented Shrek Jr. as this year’s musical. Students took on numerous roles from on-stage to backstage. Mrs. Paulis, Mrs. Crone, and Mrs. Bryan prepared student actors on stage through after-school rehearsals of vocal practice, acting, and choreography. Student soloists got small group help from Mrs. Paulis to see that their character was brought to life during the performance. As the large audience experienced in early February, the students had it down! Music accompanied by wonderful pitch and tonality from student singers filled the Cultural Centers auditorium, leading to a standing ovation. Behind the scenes, Mr. Myers had student and PTO volunteers help in the creation and construction of set pieces. Building community through various Canton City businesses who helped donate materials to stretch canvas panels, build chicken wire rocks, and construct raised platforms. During tech week, stage crew moved from the construction trades to take on the roles of light and sound designers.

With follow spots, numerous microphones, and stage lighting fixtures, a lot was to be done. Our students stepped up, as leaders, to the challenge with anything and everything that was offered. Lifting each other up socially and emotionally, our students created a family that many are wishing still met each day after school. Using creative problem-solving and on-the-fly crit- ical thinking, all the students who participated easily worked through problems that arose on performance night.

It was truly a great experience both on and off stage for all those involved. After a few years without performances due to the pandemic, bringing the musical back to help students with social-emotional learning was meaningful. We used performances to express and manage each student’s needs, giving them added support from their peers and Canton City School Staff. Our students grew their excellence during their time on stage and as always we hope that each student walked away saying “I’m glad I was a part of that.”