Just in time for Halloween, 40 MICDS fifth and sixth graders produced the play How to Get Away with a Murder Mystery by Don Zolidis. The students’ hard work was taken to the stage this past Friday to Sunday, October 25-27, in Freeman Theatre. And what a thrill their production was!
What’s the synopsis of the play?
From Playscripts: Five mysterious color-coded guests. A mansion. A murder. Can the killer get away with it? And how will the sleuths bring them to justice? A handy guide for how to escape the law when you just happen to be a prime suspect of a mysterious murder. Told in vignettes in a style similar to 10 Ways To Survive The Zombie Apocalypse, this show hilariously skewers the tropes of the murder mystery: an airtight alibi, a long-winded monologue by a detective with an accent, an impossibly complicated Rube Goldberg murder device? Check, check, and check!
The fifth- and sixth-grade play is considered an extracurricular opportunity for our students. Under the direction of Debra Mein, Middle School Drama Teacher, auditions and tech interviews were held at the end of August. Then, students began rehearsing for the clever play in September. Mein ensured that every student interested in being part of the play had a role in the cast or crew. There were so many actors and actresses that the group was divided into a Wednesday cast and a Thursday cast. Most of the cast rehearsed once a week after school, and those on the crew participated in “Techie Tuesdays,” where they worked each week on creating the costumes, designing the set, and perfecting the sound and lighting in their behind-the-scenes roles. Finally, at the end of October, they were ready to showcase the finished play through four performances, including a performance for their peers during the school day.
The play was well-executed, entertaining, and captivating for all who attended. The student tech team rose to the challenge, from the running crew moving furniture on and off to the students running lights and sound in the booth. The actors and actresses hooked the audience, with many on the edge of their seats trying to figure out how someone could get away with a murder mystery. Two seventh graders helped in supporting roles. Download the play’s program here.
Several of the play’s participants took time to share their experiences in this stirring production.
“I think the play taught me how to keep up with deadlines and memorize things,” said Priyanka Gandhi ’32, who played Narrator 2. “I really enjoyed the first showing we had because I had so much fun being there until the show was over—like eating pizza and chatting with my friends, and I even liked putting on makeup, which I rarely do. I think that it was just a good environment to be in.”
The Tech team also had a lot of fun with the play. James Moore ’32 shared, “My role was a sound technician (or “techie”) in the 5/6 play. My team and I created the sound effects for the play and I used the computer to play the sound effects during the play. I enjoyed working with my team to research creative sounds and music that fit with the show. My favorite part of my experience was helping to perform the play for the audience.”
Congratulations to our Middle School students, Ms. Mein, and all who helped the middle school get away with such a gripping performance! You killed it!