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December 13, 2006

Northern Hills students present ‘The Nutcracker’

Justin Martino

EDMOND — Snow days, limited rehearsal time and the size of the project were no obstacles for the third-grade students at Northern Hills Elementary, who had their first performance of “The Nutcracker” on Wednesday. The school will have two more performances today, one at 9 a.m. and one at 7 p.m.

“They were wonderful,” said Evelyn Workman, music teacher and director of the production.

“They’re just fabulous. I can’t say enough for the kids.”

The third-graders had only their music classes to learn the songs and dances for the performance, and only had three full practices where all the students were able to be on the stage, Workman said.

The practices themselves mattered less to the students than their costumes and the performance, though.

“I just liked all the dances and the music,” said third-grader Madison Pearson, who was a candy flute in the musical.

Beth Naylor, who played a Chinese tea, agreed she enjoyed the dancing, but Jack Wodarski, who was a Russian baker, said he enjoyed the music more.

“I liked the music more than the dance,” he admitted. “Dancing isn’t my favorite thing.”

Nellie Sizemore, principal at Northern Hills, said the production was “very ambitious,” but always remains one of the school’s favorites.

“It’s just a wonderful exposure to some classical music they don’t normally get at this age, and then they even get to be a part of it.”

Many more people than just the students worked to make the production happen. Parents helped design the full costumes and the set, and every teacher helped with lights, music and other aspects of the musical.

“All of our teachers pitch in and help,” Sizemore said. “They each have their job to do and that’s what makes it work.”

The school also used other methods to help motivate the students.

“Everyone that has a nutcracker at home and brings one to school,” Sizemore said, “We put them in a display and it helps get the kids excited before we even start.”

For students gathered together after the play, faces red from being in front of the hot lights and still in costume, missing 15 minutes of recess and putting in the hard work was worth it.

“It was so hot,” said Nikki Moriarty. “But we got it done.”

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