Imagine it: thirty two pre- or early teens keeping track of their costumes and props, listening for their cues, and remembering their lines, the words to the songs, the steps to the dance! Actually, you don’t have to imagine it, just come witness it—three times a year at Burgundy! The Middle School theatrical and musical productions for 6th (Burgundy on Broadway), 7th (a dramatic production) and 8th (the spring musical) grades are not just important curricular elements, but they are traditional events for Burgundy families from all grades.

To a five or six year old, the Middle Schoolers on stage are a little larger than life. He or she likely knows some of them (through buddy activities or pizza deliveries) and there they are—on stage! The story they are telling is so different. It’s not like TV or a movie. It’s not like a parent or teacher reading a book. For many, it is their first taste of live theater. It certainly was mine!

I remember attending ALL the Middle School shows when I was too young to be in them. There would be the preview at assembly, which created great anticipation. It meant later that week my mom (and sometimes dad) would drive me back to school one evening and we would watch the whole thing together! As a little kid, I got to sit in the front on the floor so I could see better. I couldn’t imagine missing the show!

When I entered middle school, I got to take part in working hard for weeks (very hard the last week which is tech week) to make it come together with my classmates! I remember how many parents came to help during tech week with sets, costumes, pinning hair out of our eyes, and helping us apply make-up so we didn’t look like ghosts on stage. I got to know parents I hadn’t known before. And performing with all my classmates in front of a real, yet friendly, audience was hugely memorable.

Now that my own 6th grader is working on BoB, I’m one of those parents helping and getting to know students and other parents alike. The productions have changed a bit, BoB is new since my time at Burgundy. But I have an understanding of it, because I have been attending BoB performances for the last seven years since Annabel was in JK! She couldn’t imagine missing a show, either.

BoB is particularly good for the youngest Burgundians because it is a review with lots of singing and dancing and lasts just 90 minutes with an intermission in the middle. This year’s BoB is called Jazz Nation: Don’t Throw Away Your Shot. It will be filled with songs celebrating New York City over the past 100 years, including tunes written by Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein and Lin-Manuel Miranda!

It is wonderful that kids can stay at school now (through the Thursday ExDay “watch the show” program), but parents should really make an effort to come to a show, too. It gives you a glimpse of what is to come. It gives you something to talk about with your child or children. And those Middle School performers need you to be an audience for this major class project.

I hope you will put the three Middle School productions on your calendars and plan to attend. You won’t regret it, now and when your child is in Middle School.
6th grade Burgundy on Broadway (BoB) – Nov 21 & 22
7th grade play – February 20 & 21
8th grade musical – May 14, 15 & 16

Mary Quillian Helms ’85