By Jacob B., Sixth Grade, Krieger Schechter Day School of Chizuk Amuno Congregation
For the past 25 years, the eighth-grade students at Krieger Schechter Day School of Chizuk Amuno Congregation have wowed audiences with their all-Hebrew musical productions from “Oliver” to “The Wizard of Oz” to “My Fair Lady” and many more. This year, the class of 2018 was thrilled to be part of this tradition and present this year’s eighth grade play: “Annie.”
Pioneered by Dafna Tasch, former head of the Middle School Hebrew Department, the eighth grade play enables KSDS students to show off their knowledge of Hebrew as well as their acting, singing, and dancing talents in an exciting, not-to-be-missed production.
The process starts with the big reveal. Every year, eighth-grade students anticipate the announcement of their play. Teachers and administrators creatively give students clues related to the selected show. For example, this year the clues included an apple (because “Annie” takes place in the “Big Apple”) and posters of Superstorm Sandy (the name of Annie’s dog).
Piper J., who played Annie, noted that when the announcement was finally made, “We were screaming really loudly, and I’m pretty sure the whole middle school could hear us.”
After just a few rehearsals, the eighth-grade students strengthened their already solid friendships and bonded as a cast. “I like singing with my friends; this brings us closer together as a grade,” Piper added.
In preparation for the all-Hebrew musical, the Hebrew faculty translates the script, including all of the music, into Hebrew. Shuli Raffel, a middle school Hebrew language teacher, has been teaching at KSDS since the inception of the Hebrew plays. “What’s hard about translating is that sometimes we need to translate while rhyming the songs. It’s also hard because it’s not the same tempo or the same number of syllables,” she explained, noting that students “wait from kindergarten to perform in the play in eighth grade. . .and it is amazing that they can present a whole play in Hebrew.”
Every eighth grade play needs a director. In her fourth year, Natalie Pilcher, affectionately known as “Pilch” to the students, directed the 25th annual eighth grade play. “I really enjoy working with the students and getting their ideas about the creative process, figuring out who the characters are, and understanding how these student actors are going to bring those characters to life,” she stated.
Pilcher also plays a role in casting the play, an exciting part of the process each year for the students who eagerly wait to discover their assigned parts. Pilcher has her own philosophy on how to cast for the play. “Partly it’s based on the student’s talent, but it also depends on their voice,” she said. “Sometimes I would rather the student’s voice not be so fabulous but that the student be so invested and completely into that character, so, as an audience member, you will love that person as that character.”
Another tradition is the KSDS alumni night, which includes a special dinner on the evening of the second performance, as well as a shoutout of all previous plays prior to curtain-up.
Gillian Blum, a 2017 KSDS 2017 graduate and a current Bryn Mawr School freshman, played Iago in last year’s eighth grade play “Aladdin.”
“I loved doing the play with my class. It was important to fulfill a tradition that has been around for 25 years,” she said. “To this year’s class: remember to just have fun with it. I hope all classes at Krieger Schechter have as much fun as our class did.”
The eighth grade play highlights the Krieger Schechter calendar. Faculty enjoy seeing their students onstage, and the audience loves being entertained with all of the Hebrew knowledge students have learned throughout their years at KSDS. At the end of the experience, the eighth-graders are very proud of all their hard work. This year’s eighth grade play, “Annie,” is expected to continue KSDS’s tradition of great Hebrew musical theater.
Jmore Juniors Noah S. and Eli S. take a look at the differences between the Jewish communities of Baltimore and Chicago.
Madeline L., a seventh grade student at Krieger Schechter Day School, writes about the phenomenon that has been Starbucks over the past half-century.
An eighth grade student at Krieger Schechter Day School, Jmore Juniors writer Micah B answers an array of questions from his peers.
Jmore Junior Eitan Beck writes about the pros and cons of having electric cars in the future.