NBC's 'SMASH' MAKE A MUSICAL, School #8 - Desert Sands Middle School, Phoenix
NBC's 'SMASH' MAKE A MUSICAL, School #8 - Desert Sands Middle School, Phoenix
By Cindy Ripley on February 07, 2012
![NBC](https://www.mtishows.com/sites/default/files/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/School-Sign-edited-300x224_0.jpg)
Phoenix, AZ
Reported by: Marty Johnson, Director of Education, iTheatrics
January 31, 2012
When I arrived at Desert Sands Middle School in Phoenix, I was immediately greeted by Ms. Hill, one of the NBC’s ‘SMASH’ MAKE A MUSICAL lead teachers, and the principal Dr. Randy Mahlerwein. As we were walking toward the main office to grab the materials for the day, we stopped by the teachers lounge so both Ms. Hill and Dr. Mahlerwein could drop off their contributions to "The Salad Club."
![NBC](https://www.mtishows.com/sites/default/files/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/kids-with-posters-edited-300x224_0.jpg)
What I didn't know then, was that this “Salad Club” is indicative of how the staff of Desert Sands Middle School works all the time. "I will bring my skills to the table. You bring yours. And when we add them together it will be even better than we imagined.” The “NBC’s ‘Smash’: Make A Musical” project is their next salad. There are two amazing lead teachers, Heather Gillen and Morgan Hill, who teach math and reading respectively, but are committed to bringing a musical to their school. The band teacher is planning to have his students provide live pre-show music for the production. The industrial engineering team has built flats for the theater, and has promised, "if they aren't what you need, we can build more.” And the advisor for the cheerleading squad has graciously offered to move the location of their practices so the students can rehearse onstage from the start of the rehearsal process. What a great example of each person adding what he or she can to ensure it is the best salad, I mean production, it can be.
![NBC](https://www.mtishows.com/sites/default/files/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/kids-in-a-row-edited-300x224_0.jpg)
Ms. Gillen told me one of the reasons they began “The Salad Club” was that it forced them all to leave their classrooms at least once a day and interact with other adults. From my point of view, “The Salad Club” started because these teachers intrinsically understood all the amazing things they could accomplish by working together. And “The Salad Club” is just one part of the recipe of what makes this school great.
“NBC’s ‘Smash’: Make A Musical” program is administered by iTheatrics under the supervision of Timothy Allen McDonald. For more information, or to apply to become a part of the program, logon to www.MAKEAMUSICAL.ORG.
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