Through the glass doors of a stone pebble building, Ms. Sheri kindly greets you and points you down the hallway to where you need to be.
“Projection! Articulation! Diction! Annunciation!” chimes Martha Sawicki, a student volunteer.
The young kids line the built-to-size stage and wings, framed with red velvet traveler curtains, so they can soon begin their days Art Intensive Session (AIS). Monday would be a drama session and they would rehearse the script of timeless Grease, the kid’s version.
“Are we performing this in front of the beginners?” Amethyst quietly asks Ms. Sawicki.
“…And the intermediates…and all the teachers,” she responds.
“Oh, poop!” Amethyst says as she turns back around.
Then a young girl, “Miss Molly,” wearing a purple sparkly shirt, embroidered capris, glasses, and braces, steps forward on the gray stage with more authority than her innocent appearance reveals. As an actress she will play the role of Patty in the play.
“Cha Cha! What are you doing here! I am going to have to ask you to leave!” She announces proudly.
The young group continues rehearsing and each one giggles when the word “cutie pie” is read in the script.
Drama is only a fraction of what goes on in the after-school program, Campus Infusion. Offered by the Springfield Art Museum, the program provides busing from city and parochial schools to the local facility. Upon arrival, the children will be given a light snack then off to their AIS of the day, which typically lasts an hour. Beyond drama, dependent on a student’s focus, these sessions also include art, music, and dance.
“What’s the difference between an overture and an entr’acte?” quizzes Ms. Sawicki, but it seems fun than educational for everyone involved.
Alex, a freckly faced boy hidden behind glasses, helps his friend who is having trouble with the question to get both answers correct. Then, in his white adidas soccer jersey, jumps and fist pumps the air for his achievement.
“300 more points for Alex!” he cheers loudly. Alex had already been generous enough to grant himself 10 points prior for answering another question right about what “off the book” means. Intensive accurately describes today’s session.
Soon, it nearly 5 o’clock and the excitement is interrupted by some early arriving parents. The rest of the group will take a 15 minute break to collaboratively clean the Loft, where they will spend the rest of the time catching up on school work. The head advisor, Ms. Nuggie, motivates the kids to clean by placing bets that she can collect more dust on her Lysol wipe then they can.
