Trillium Charter School

Portland, OR

Reported by: Marty Johnson, Director of Education, iTheatrics

April 6, 2012

It’s so great to walk into a room and have a group of middle school students run up and start telling you about all the cool things they have been doing during rehearsals for their musical, BUGSY MALONE JR. The students at Trillium Charter School did just that when I visited them last week. One of the kids showed me the business card he had made for his character, "Knuckles.” Another one talked to me about her character bio and the exciting backstory she had created. And perhaps my favorite exchange happened when one of the students came up to me and looked me straight in the eye and said, "Thank you for bringing musical theater to our school. It's amazing!!!"
Meet SAM from Trillium Charter School


Grade: 8 Favorite color: Neon Blue Favorite sport: Paintball Hobbies: Dungeons & Dragons, video games and writing What’s interesting about you and your family? My sister has lymphoma, and my dad teaches history at Lewis & Clark. What do you want to be when you grow up? A professional actor Role in show: Bugsy Malone Favorite part of the musical's story: The scene where Blousey gets mad Favorite part of rehearsal: Blocking the scenes Hardest part of being in the show: Memorizing lines How has being in the show changed you? I feel closer to the people in the show. What do you think your family will say when they see the show? "Good job," even if they don't mean it. :)
Meet VELVET from Trillium Charter School


Grade: 8 Favorite food: My grandma's cannoli Favorite color: Rainbow Favorite band or singer: Emilie Autumn and Kerli Hobbies: Writing, singing, playing guitar and crafting What’s interesting about you and your family? My dad, brother and I live together, and we all love “Star Wars.” What do you want to be when you grow up? Musician/Rock star Role in show: Velma/Opera Singer Favorite part of the musical's story: How they all get along at the end and the comedy Hardest part of being in the show: Balancing it with school What do you think your family will say when they see the show? I think they will be proud. Do you think it is important for other kids to be in a musical? Yes, because it helps build confidence and helps people learn to work together. If you could travel in time and visit yourself right before you perform in the show, what would you say? Don't worry, and remember to tell a story.


*Read about the "Make A Musical" Team's first visit to Trillium Charter School!*
“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.