ViewFinder: Colonial Hits the Stage with Professional Actors

Colonial’s kindergarten, first and second graders hit the stage with professionals from the Grumbling Gryphons Participatory Theater on Friday.

Thanks to the PTA's Cultural Arts program, Colonial kids spent all day Friday workshopping and learning the fundamentals of acting with Gryphons theater professionals. By day’s end, the students, teachers and thespians were prepared to perform a play about the importance of conservation and recycling.

The program was led by director Leslie Elias, a winner of the 2003 Connecticut Governor's Arts Awards for her contribution to the arts. An artist in residence at schools across the Northeast, Elias and her company offer theatrical training appropriate to students of varying ages and abilities. While older students may be selected to appear center stage, others get the chance to speak in an ensemble. The youngest pupils create their own costumes or props and participate from the audience.