This spring, Saint James students took their first exciting steps into the world of musical theatre through our inaugural Page to Stage showcase!
Designed as a musical theatre workshop experience for students in grades 2–8, Page to Stage focused on building confidence, creativity, collaboration, and storytelling through song and performance. While this was not a full-scale stage production complete with costumes, sets, and props, it served as an important “tester year” for what we hope will become a growing theatre program at Saint James in the years ahead.
What makes this showcase especially unique is that every song performed came from a musical based on a beloved book or literary work. Students explored stories and characters from productions such as Matilda, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and more — bringing pages to life through music, acting, and movement.
Since January, students have dedicated themselves to rehearsals once a week after school, working within just an hour and fifteen minutes of rehearsal time each session after setup. In total, the entire showcase was built in only 17 rehearsals — a testament to the hard work, determination, and enthusiasm of the students involved.
Throughout the process, students learned vocal performance, choreography, staging, ensemble work, and character development, all while growing in confidence and supporting one another as performers.
Most importantly, Page to Stage gave students the opportunity to discover the joy of theatre in a welcoming and encouraging environment. Watching these students step outside their comfort zones, take creative risks, and shine on stage has been incredibly rewarding.
We are so proud of all they accomplished and deeply grateful to the families, staff, and community members who supported this new endeavor. We look forward to continuing to grow the arts at Saint James and can’t wait to see where Page to Stage leads next!
To see photos and a video of the performance click here.