GREENWICH, CT — After several months of rehearsals and set preparations, it’s time for the curtain to come up at Julian Curtiss School for the fourth and fifth grade performance of Disney’s “Frozen Kids.”
Students and staff have been hard at work since November preparing for the big night, which is scheduled for Thursday, March 7 at 6:30 p.m., at Julian Curtiss School.
The all-musical production, which is a condensed version of the traditional and wildly popular “Frozen” film, will feature singing, dancing and acting over about 30 minutes.
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Third grade teacher Sandra Grandinetti, who served as the producer of the show, said everyone involved — 23 student performers, six student crew members and three faculty members — are excited for the big night.
“For a lot of the kids, it’s their first time performing. They’re really excited, and also super nervous, but they’re excited to show off their hard work,” Grandinetti told Patch.
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She noted the whole process has been gratifying.
“It’s very rewarding to see students who can be quiet and reserved all of a sudden grab the spotlight and belt out a tune,” she added. “It’s also nice to see that students who have a tendency to sing and dance all throughout the school day now have the opportunity to shine for the whole student body.”
In her 10 years at JC, Grandinetti said she can’t remember staging a musical production at the school.
Thursday would not have been possible without help from the Greenwich Alliance for Education, which provided a $28,000 grant to fund the Julian Curtiss Theater Program. The school applied for the grant last year.
The grant grew out of the successful theater grant that the Alliance has been funding at New Lebanon School since 2021, according to Greenwich Alliance for Education Executive Director Julie Faryniarz.
In addition to funding the production, money will be put toward two field trips this spring to the Tarrytown Music Hall and Ridgefield Playhouse so the entire Julian Curtiss student body can see actual performances from professional actors.
“If it wasn’t for the Greenwich Alliance, we wouldn’t be able to allocate the funds for this,” Grandinetti said. “We’re incredibly grateful.”
Faryniarz said the Alliance jumped at the opportunity to enrich student education and experience through theater.
“Funding the Julian Curtiss Theater Program through our Reaching Out Grants was a high priority for the Greenwich Alliance. We have seen the positive impact theater has made at New Lebanon School – building public speaking skills, self-confidence and an increased sense of belonging for the students,” Faryniarz said.
“So, when JC came to us with this grant proposal we were all in. I am looking forward to watching ‘Frozen’ and seeing the students shine. Congratulations to the dedicated teacher team who have made this all possible for the school community,” she added.
A dress rehearsal for fellow students was held Wednesday morning ahead of Thursday night’s big show for family and friends.
Ariel Wilshaw is the director and choreographer, and John Ehlinger is the technical director. Both are Advanced Learning Program teachers at Julian Curtiss School.
The Greenwich Alliance for Education is accepting applications for Reaching Out Grants for the 2024-2025 school year until March 22, 2024. A link to the application can be found here.
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