LOS ANGELES–On June 4 and 5, the upper elementary students of Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School put on the perfect production to end their school year. The two night event was a wonderful display of the 3rd through 5th grade students’ unequivocal talents.
June 4 was a night at the theater. The two fourth grade classes presented a production of an original play written by their 4th grade teacher, called Keeper of Mine. The play explored the tribulations that an Armenian family goes through moving from their beloved country to the United States.
The story was told from the children’s point of view and involved colorful characters like Asha, an imaginary friend and later hero to the children, who helps them survive the experience of leaving their country and loved ones behind. The students acting abilities impressed the audience and moved them to tears.
The maturity and passion that the students brought to the production both on stage and backstage, would make and Broadway producer proud.
June 5 was a night of travel. The two 3rd and 5th grade classes took the audience on a spin around the world. Each class presented a whimsical and entertaining tour of different countries that the students had been learning about throughout the year.
The tour started in France where the 5th grade class ravished the audience with a most energetic Can-Can dance and also managed to bring a bit of France to the crowd through a most insightful skit and song.
The second 5th grade class took the audience back to the times of the great Homer, Aristotle, and Plato where courage and wit ruled all of Greece. The battle scenes of the Great Trojan War were perfectly executed by the talented students. After Greece, the audience was taken to the bountiful land of Italy.
The 3rd grade class introduced the audience to the beautiful nights of Italy where the sweet, gentle ride of the gondolas lulled the audience into the perfect mood only to liven things up with a highly energetic fashion show displaying the best designers that Italy has to offer. After Italy, it was off to India where the second 3rd grade class once again transported the audience to the mysterious and enchanting land of India. With the Taj Mahal as the background, the 3rd grade students beautifully entertained the audience with a dance that would make Bollywood envious. The students’ storytelling abilities filled the stage with the colors, sounds, and legend that is India.
Both nights’ productions ended with a rendition of “It’s a Small World,” which was a perfect way to end the evening showing the audience that no matter what land, what country we’re in, we’re all in it together.