Every year Pacific Northern Academy presents a number of shows…a winter concert, 2 spring musicals, a Martin Luther King Assembly, Graduation…WHEW!!! Thinking about it at the beginning of every year just makes my head spin. My goal is to find things that will not only interest and engage each student, but make them look back when the show is over and say “I DID THAT!”
I am amazed how these students rise to the occasion each and every year, put themselves in front of an audience and perform. I love to joke with them the week after a big show and say “Ok, did we lose anyone? We’re all still here! WE SURVIVED!” And somehow idea creeps into each students head and VOILA! Self-confidence blooms!
I thought it would be fun to hear from some of the students what their experiences have been like doing the shows at PNA. Some of these students have been doing the shows for quite sometime and for others this was their first experience!
I am amazed how these students rise to the occasion each and every year, put themselves in front of an audience and perform. I love to joke with them the week after a big show and say “Ok, did we lose anyone? We’re all still here! WE SURVIVED!” And somehow idea creeps into each students head and VOILA! Self-confidence blooms!
I thought it would be fun to hear from some of the students what their experiences have been like doing the shows at PNA. Some of these students have been doing the shows for quite sometime and for others this was their first experience!
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Rylie (7th Grade)
PNA shows have definitely boosted my confidence. I came from a school that for our winter concert we put on our Christmas dresses and sang carols. I like that PNA is different than that because each student has their moment and their time to shine no matter what age. A big challenge i feel like is we do have a time crunch on these shows, but in the end we pull it off and i think tonight’s show we did awesome and just gave it our all and had fun. None of this would happen without our amazing parents, the volunteers who help make costumes, sets, etc. and our amazing superhero of a music teacher Ms.Katie. We love you! |
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Hayden (6th Grade)
In PNA our shows are different, people are helpful, supportive, and courageous. They help students learn to sing and or speak in front of large crowds which could be needed later on in life. We also learn how to memorize lines in a short amount of time. What I really like about the school plays is that everyone feels important and needed. Sometimes it is hard to get all the dancing right and so that everyone moves at the same time. Overall it’s just a really great experience to have at a such young age. |
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Betty (6th Grade)
My experience participating in all of of the winter concerts I have done has been amazing. These shows have helped me speak in front of people with amazing confidence. Ms. Katie is the best music teacher and has always made the best shows come alive. Even though we have the best teacher in the world, we do have some struggles through the shows. This concert is on all of the different songs that came from broadway musicals, and has been really fun so far! The biggest challenge we, or at least to me, this year is remembering the choreography, when we have it. I can never remember what dance move goes to what lyric of the song, and I usually doing just the singing or just the choreography. It’s like patting your head and rubbing your belly, some people can do it, and some people can’t. I’m the mix that can kind of do it when I really try, and Ms. Katie always helps us become the people that can. |
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Anna (7th Grade)
I have been at PNA for nine years, so I have had my fair share of winter concerts. Every year the expectation for effort gets higher and higher. I have noticed that every year, the show gets less stressful, and my confidence grows. Ms. Katie has not only taught us to sing from our diaphragms, but she has also taught me to be confident, and not care what others thought of me. |
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Eugene (6th Grade)
*This is Eugene’s first year at PNA and his first show! I think that this PNA show is different because this year they are having multiple songs from different musicals. Also everyone has a solo and everyone’s character is unique in his or her own way. What i like about the songs is that they are a variety of different genres. I think that one challenge for me is remembering the lyrics to the songs along with the motions. My experience preparing for the show has been so far so good. We started off small but gradually grew. First we had to learn the lyrics to the songs. Then we had to learn the choreographies that go with the songs. Afterwards Ms. Katie gave us parts or solos for us to sing. And now we are working on more practice with the songs along with improving different parts of them that can help us. |
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Connor (6th grade)
My experience with the Winter play was very jam-packed and fun. All our rehearsals and choir taught me a lot about singing and got me to remember my lines! Since all the middle school got to have a solo, I also had to build up the confidence to sing in front of people. I also had fun learning the play with the middle school choir for the first time. That was my experience with the play this year. |
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Paris (8th Grade)
*I have had the privilege of working with both of Paris’s older siblings! Both of whom graduated from PNA! My experience at PNA with preforming the shows has been wonderful! It is always so fun getting to see the set come together, and learning the songs are always exciting! The winter concert this year has been a total hoot! It has been a lot of fun learning a little history behind each song. The theme of the concert is on broadway and learning songs from Annie to Hamilton has been really fun. I never thought that I would have to go onto stage and yell at children as Mrs. Hannigan but with Mrs. Katie’s guidance and knowing she put you as that role because she knew you could do it it has helped me embrace my roll as a mean nanny. I don’t like to yell at the children but I also don’t want the character Mrs. Hannigan to be boring. Constructing the sets are always crazy but they are always fun. We get to hangout after school and help construct the the props and the set. That is my favorite part of the process of creating the winter concert! There is ALWAYS a glitter mess and people with there hands covered in paint but that’s what makes it exciting. I have been to public school plays they are awesome but I think we have better ones because since everyone is in the play we get to experience everybody’s talents. You get to learn that a second grader can sing better than you and that lower school kids make good orphans! Every time before a show I get a little nervous but I know that Mrs. Katie believes in me. I go up on stage and when the lights his us we all start to sweat a little but when we are singing and dancing we forget about the nerves. By Mrs. Katie’s pushing for us to step outside of our comfort zone I has caused me to realize that it’s okay to make mistakes and that everybody is different but with singing and dancing we all come together as one. I’m really sad that this is going to be my last winter concert at PNA and that next year I’ll be going to high school but I know that I can always come back to PNA and help with the construction night and that Mrs. Katie has a spot for all of us in her heart! If there is one main takeaway from doing the shows it is that be okay to do something different and trust Mrs. Katie and her plans, because at the beginning is may not seem like the best idea but in the end it is always fun! |
One of the most exciting things for me is when a student shares their talents with the Anchorage community. Right now, THREE PNA students are performing with local theatrical productions!
I couldn’t be more proud!
I couldn’t be more proud!
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Iris (7th Grade): ATY’s Haunted Christmas
When I saw there was a chance to audition for an Alaska Theatre of Youth production, I didn’t hesitate to take the opportunity, even though I was nervous. I think PNA has helped me become more confident on stage, since I have been doing performances led by Ms. Katie starting in first grade. However, this ATY production is a little different than a regular stage play. It is being presented as a live radio show, meaning I will be on stage with my castmates behind a microphone with a live audience, but we will also be broadcasted live on the radio. Since no one who is listening on the radio will be able to see us, I have to show much more of my character’s emotion in my voice than I am used to. I feel honoured to have a big role, and while it’s honestly taken a lot time and energy, it was definitely worth it. It’s a challenge, but also a great and fun opportunity to learn. The show is called Haunted Christmas and tickets are available at http://www.alaskatheatreofyouth.org/shows.html. On December 13th, there will be two performance times. One at 5:30 PM, and one at 7:30 PM. They will both be at Alaska Experience Theatre/Out North at 333 West 4th Ave. |
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Connor(2nd Grade)…A Christmas Carol!
This will be my 3rd year performing with Perseverance Theatre’s A Christmas Carol, and this year I have the pleasure of sharing the stage with Connor, a second grader at PNA! Connor will be playing the iconic role of Tiny Tim! Make this show part of your holiday by going to CenterTix. https://tickets.centertix.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=1815 It will be playing at the Anchorage Performing Arts Center from December 15 – 29! |
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Elias(3rd Grade) Anchorage Ballet’s The Nutcracker
Elias is dancing in Anchorage Ballet’s Nutcracker for the third year in a row. This is his fifth year dancing with Anchorage Ballet and his fourth show with them (he was in Giselle as a kindergartner). He currently takes a boys’ dance class and modern dance. His favorite things about taking dance are the fun friends, getting to perform on stage, and that it makes him stronger at other sports. The show is this weekend — Friday night (Dec 8), a Saturday matinee, and Saturday night (Dec. 9) Tickets are available at: https://tickets.centertix.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=1864 |
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