Decked out in colorful leg warmers and shiny star-shaped sunglasses, the third, fourth, and fifth graders in the cast of the Lower School musical “Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr." dazzled their audience in the Yarnall Auditorium. Their one-night performance was the culmination of two months of rehearsals; in mid-September, the 24-student cast began meeting three times each week after school to learn their lines, blocking, and choreography. 

Early Childhood and Lower School Theatre Movement Arts Teacher Sarah Gordin chose this script primarily because she wanted an ensemble piece, where every child would be able to shine on stage. She also enjoyed the throwback nature of the show.

“The songs are nostalgic for a lot of parents, grandparents, and teachers,” she said. “And the songs truly do teach you things, as well; these kids will probably be able to recite the preamble to the U.S. Constitution for the rest of their lives after learning ‘The Preamble’ song for the show!”    

Gordin noted that, similar to theatre productions for older kids, putting on a show with Lower Schoolers required a lot of rehearsal and repetition. One thing she put special emphasis on for this age group was making sure that every actor had a line or a solo. 

“We wanted every kid to have their moment and to be challenged in some way or another,” she said. “And we focused on making them comfortable on stage—we talked a lot during tech week about how nerves and excitement are the same thing, how if there are any mistakes you just keep going, and how everyone in your ensemble and the audience is supporting you.” 

Just like in the classic “Schoolhouse Rock!” animated shorts, there were songs all throughout the performance, including well known numbers like, “Conjunction Junction,” “I’m Just a Bill,” and “Interplanet Janet.” 

Gordin always uses live music for plays instead of recorded tracks, as this allows for more flexibility in the moment, and helps the actors to recover more quickly from mistakes. She credited Music Director John Kairis, a GFS music teacher, for his expert and responsive piano accompaniment. She also mentioned the help of Lydia Overton ’77, a Lower School teaching assistant, who kept rehearsals and the performance running smoothly.  

Before the show, Gordin said there was lots of nervous, excited energy among the cast. To prepare the actors for the stage, Gordin gathered them into a “focus circle” where they held hands and worked through a few theatre exercises like meditation, energy squeezes, and body shake outs. Everyone huddled up before they took their places. 

“There was really that ensemble feel,” she said. “Once the curtain rose and they saw their loved ones, knowing they had that support, they settled in and had a great show.” 

After the show, the audience was invited to stay for a potluck, which Gordin said gave the cast and their families time to celebrate and build community before heading home. 

“Schoolhouse Rock Live!” Jr.” is the second extracurricular musical that GFS has offered for Lower School. It’s becoming an annual tradition that Gordin is excited to continue; she’ll also be adding a Lower School play this Spring.