Fourth Grade "The Suffragist Play"

The play is a true ensemble project with students involved in every aspect of the production, from building the sets and costume pieces to handling set changes and transitions during the performance. Additionally, students are engaged in the research and development process given the Fourth Grade Play focuses on either a woman whose life has impacted society and culture or a historical movement or event that has impacted women.  

 

The Class of 2029 began their preparation for the performance in the Library - a fact that was reflected in the play as well! They researched historical details of the movement and learned about leaders of the women's suffrage movement. During the research and workshop phase, fourth-grade students have the opportunity to present their ideas for scenes and dialogue for consideration and act as creative partners from playwriting to creating choreography and blocking and are able to work as both part of an ensemble and develop distinct individual characters. 

 

Lower and Upper School Theater Teacher Ms. Larsen sees a central theme of the play as “How women seem to know that having power in society and culture is both individual and communal, and we have tended to work in both ways when seeking to create change and have a voice and equal representation in places that have sought to exclude us. One thing we learned (the 4th Graders and myself) when doing our research was that the term “suffragette” was a derogatory response to women who were seeking the vote calling themselves “suffragists” and that the press introduced the term as a way of making fun of women who seemed overly militant in their fight for voting rights. So the question comes up for our students in looking at how one keeps her dignity yet maintains and perseveres and moves forward, as being both something we seek to cultivate as a life skill and as a theme we recognize again and again when we look back at history and how change happens.”

 

Historical footage, photographs, and film clips were featured throughout the production, researched and collected by Ms. Larsen, and edited into a video with animation by Upper School Makery teacher Mr. Swagerty. Special thanks to Lower School Music Specialist Ms. Mandelstein, who choreographed and taught the finale song for the production, This Is For Our Girls, a contemporary uplifting pop ballad, and 4th Grade parent Sarah Kim, who worked with Ms. Larsen to assist with costumes, and Lower School Makery Facilitator Mr. Santosa for supporting the production by making props, set pieces and more. Mr. Labrakis, our Music Technology Support Specialist, offered technical support along with the fourth-grade teachers to run the screens and sound cues, manage the backstage activities, and costume changes and props. Theater is a genuinely collaborative and communal experience, and each year, the  Fourth Grade Play Play reveals the strength of the community here at Burke’s.