“Acting is behaving truthfully under imaginary circumstances.”
-Sanford Meisner
The Drama Program at Kennedy is a popular elective choice for Kennedy students looking for ways to enhance their creativity, communication, collaboration and confidence skills. The 5 C’s! Students are placed in either Drama 1 or Drama 2, based on grade and previous theater experience.
Kennedy Middle School’s Drama Program is run by Ms. Sara Rosenbloom, who has been directing, teaching, and choreographing theater and dance for more than 15 years. Ms. Rosenbloom believes that “a study of the performing arts cultivates dedication and confidence. This work ethic and passion serve the students as tools to use in their entire education and everyday lives.”
Ms. Rosenbloom ensures that students enrolled in the drama program “will dig into the acting process and [gain] a wide spectrum of theatrical skills to further [their] drama education.” The class covers voice and movement, character analysis, performance, technical/behind the scenes, and many other exciting aspects of drama. For example, students will write, direct and perform a radio broadcast. Ms. Rosenbloom uses theater and performance “to improve your acting skills, feel more comfortable in front of a group, and gain confidence.”
Participation in the spring school musical is also a perk of joining Kennedy’s Drama Program. (Students not enrolled in the drama elective class can also participate as actors, tech crew, or ushers.) Last year alone, the spring musical involved 60 cast members, 40 tech crew students, 30 dancers, and more than 160 art students who helped create and paint the sets for “Matilda, Jr.” That’s more than 300 Cougar students hard at work helping create one of the strongest arts programs in the district! Participating in the spring musical is also a fantastic way for families to get connected and involved to help make the musical a success.
The Kennedy Middle School PTO has supported the Drama Program with funding for the past several years. Your contribution to the PTO allows Ms. Rosenbloom to invest in much needed theater equipment to ensure a quality performance, materials for improved technology, costumes, props, and professional theater staffing, such as assistant directors, vocal coaches and choreographers.
Past Kennedy musical productions include:
- 2023 – Matilda, Jr.
- 2022 – High School Musical
- 2021 – Little Mermaid (Zoom Edition)
- 2019 – Aladdin, Jr.
- 2018 – Shrek, Jr.
Here is what students are saying about Drama Class with Ms. Rosenbloom:
Drama Class:
“What I like about drama class is that it’s a creative form of art that has helped me establish more confidence in performing.” -L.B.
“I’ve become more confident with acting. My first year I was super nervous to perform and I’d do my best to avoid it, but after being in drama for two years it’s so much easier and so fun! Ms. Rosenbloom always makes fun ways for us to practice acting and is always super supportive of us.”-F.H.
“Through my two years in the drama elective I’ve learned a lot about acting and ways to work as a team. It’s also been really fun to put on mini-musicals and spring musicals because I enjoy singing and acting. It’s a fun way to spend time with my friends.” -M.D.
Tech Crew:
“I enjoyed that being [on] the spotlight, I got to see the play while still helping with it. I also learned how to use the spotlights, and a little bit about mics, lighting and sound for the play.” -K.M.
“I gained knowledge of learning how to put on mics.”- S.G.
“I enjoyed that I got to be part of the play without having to be in it. I learned more about the technical stuff that goes into how the play comes together and that what you see on stage is completely different then what’s going on the actual stage.” -L.O.
