Friday, March 1, 2013

Glenmoor Musical Theater--Stumped

Glenmoor Elementary School, a 2012 recognized California Distinguished School by CA Department of Education, in Fremont has an outstanding musical theater company called Glenmoor Musical Theater (GMT). The GMT has been around for many years and has performed musicals that outperform many would be expectations.  These must see performances are made possible in part to the tireless work of Mrs. Smith, Kindergarten teacher and head of the Glenmoor Musical Theater.

Parents of the performers must also volunteer their skills in order to make it all work however. As a result, there are directors, editors, set designers, costume designers and plenty of gaffs.

The latest production this Spring is The Rainmaker, set in a a jungle rain-forest backdrop that sends an ecological message. This is not the first eco message the children have sent us over the years. Native American themes have also had a presence on the Glenmoor stage.  There are, however, a few firsts for the Glenmoor Musical Theater this time around. For example, "Spoiler alert" there will be a tragic scene for the first time in Glenmoor Musical Theater's history. Another first, and on a lighter note, yours truly will be solely responsible for the designing and building of the rain forest fig stumps set stage left and stage right--hence the pun in the title of this blog post. I have the design in my head. Now, I just need to get it to work. I will be building the stumps this Saturday at the multi purpose room at Glenmoor Elementary. Hopefully, with the use of jigs and a template or two, I can get it done on time. I have 3 hours to do the job.

The children, including one of mine, have been working diligently on their lines and their delivery. My daughter is in the play as the Snake, and although her lines are becoming easier for her, it's her delivery and feeling that needs work. Who really enjoys a mumbling snake on the stage? Never the less, her confidence is slithering along nicely as are the rest of the performers who are all getting closer to curtain time. There will be Shamans in costume dressed in the colors of the rainbow, actors dressed as monkeys that actually swing, and a fully working rain forest waterfall.

I am sure that Mrs. Smith, together with all parents involved with costume and set design, and with the hard-working students on and off stage should command a standing ovation at the end.

After a very focused week of selling Fremont homes http://MyColdwellBankerHome.com It will be nice reconnect in a different way to the community that makes Glenmoor and enjoy the fruits our labor.

by Jeff Pereyda
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