THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 24, 1995 TAG: 9512220218
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Education
SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
Angela White wanted to teach her Red Mill Elementary School students a lesson about self-esteem without being too preachy.
So, the innovative music teacher and drama club sponsor used the medium she knows best - theater - to get her point across.
She had the chance to share her message with Red Mill students, staff and parents Tuesday, when her holiday musical ``The Wish Elf'' premiered in the cafeteria.
The play - which involves a large cast of characters including narrators, actors, actresses, singers and dancers - tells the story of a little girl named Lisa, played by fifth-grader Sarah Gayle, who can't get what she wants for Christmas.
One day, however, she meets an elf, played by fifth-grader Chris Martis, who awards her three wishes. To be rich and famous are the first two she picks.
However, Lisa soon realizes that having a ``rich father,'' played by fifth-grader Philip Villeneuve, and switching roles with a movie star, played by fifth-grader Regina Guzzo, don't make her happy. So, her final wish is to be back to normal.
And the moral of the story, according to narrator Jessica Talley, is ``You shouldn't always ask for everything you know you can't have. Don't be greedy. Be happy with what you have. Christmas isn't always about receiving.''
To liven it up, White incorporated six original songs including ``It's Christmas Again,'' ``I Wish I Wasn't Who I Am'' and ``The Bully Song.'' She played the tunes on the piano, while a few soloists and a chorus of fourth- and fifth-graders sang.
``You can get your point across without the students feeling like they're being lectured at,'' White said.
She also worked with fourth-grade teacher Sonya McGee to bring dance into the performance. McGee, who sponsors the school's dance club, worked in ``Vogue'' by Madonna.
``The music and dance makes everything come to life for them,'' McGee said. ``I think that in this particular program, it's not just a good message for the audience; it's a good message for the kids in this play.
``They worked really hard and were able to apply the moral of the story.''
White chose to put together this original play for the annual holiday program since ones such as ```The Night Before Christmas'' have been done time and time again.
``Those are cute programs,'' she said of the more traditional productions. ``But I think it's good to have something new and fresh.
``It always makes the kids feel special that they get to perform something for the very first time,'' she said. ``That's basically why I do it. The focus is definitely on the children.
``It's very gratifying to see the kids bring to life what I put on paper,'' said White, who has been at the school for seven years.
``The Wish Elf'' is the fourth original play she has produced at Red Mill. Others include an anti-drug piece called ``Just Say No,'' one about manners called ``Rude Prince'' and last year's holiday program, ``The New Year Steps In.''
She started working on ``The Wish Elf'' at the beginning of the school year. White said when she writes a musical, she first picks the point she wants to get across. Then she writes the lines and comes up with the song titles, lyrics and melodies.
White picked the theme of self-esteem because she sees confidence lacking in a lot of adults. ``Starting with them at an early age is a good time to deal with issues like that,'' she said.
The play ended with three lines White hopes the audiences will remember:
``The grass isn't always greener on the other side.
``Sometimes happiness is right where you are.''
And finally, ``Christmas isn't always about receiving new things, but appreciating what you already have.'' ILLUSTRATION: Music teacher and drama club sponsor Angela White wrote ``The
Wish Elf'' to teach students about self-esteem.
Photos by HOLLY WESTER
Red Mill Elementary School students Chris Martin stars as The Wish
Elf and Sarah Gayle plays Lisa.
by CNB