Long Wharf Theatre Joins Meadowside School in Milford May 13

Long Wharf Theatre's education department is working with Meadowside School in Milford to create an evening of children's classics, which will be performed on May 13.

Long Wharf Theatre is in the midst of the six-week residency, sponsored by the Meadowside School PTA. It is the second year Long Wharf Theatre has worked with the elementary school, which is led by Principal Robert Davis. "I am thrilled and thankful that the Meadowside PTA brought Corey Morrison back to work with so many talented kids," said Director of Education Annie DiMartino. "We find that when kids are introduced to the theatre at a young age, it become an intrinsic part of them for the rest of their lives."

Morrison, Long Wharf's education program manager, is teaching 84 students grades three through five. He is working on a number of projects with the students, including adaptations of the stories The Prince and the Pauper and Alice in Wonderland. The residency will culminate in a performance at Foran High School on May 13. Approximately 300 parents and friends saw last year's performance.
"As a child, these were some of my favorite stories," Morrison said. "Alice was particularly my favorite. It is so surreal and there are so many different possibilities. The idea of a magical world, a place where things don't make sense but actually do, was really appealing to me ... I love it. I've noticed that I've been changing my Facebook status often to how much I love my job because of this opportunity."

Morrison believes that engaging in theatre arts helps young students improve language skills and helps with the development of certain social skills, like public speaking and learning how to work in a group. In an era where often times the arts are sacrificed in lieu of standardized tests, Morrison praised Meadowside for providing their students will a crucial creative outlet. "It's not Broadway and it's not supposed to be. For a lot of the kids, it is a first time experience. You can see the development of their minds creatively. It is a good outlet for them to express themselves," Morrison said. "Their energy is contagious."

For more information about Long Wharf Theatre's education programs, visit www.longwharf.org.

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