Navigators spin webs of inclusivity during unified theater performance

December 19, 2024

North Star High School students spun webs of encouragement and inclusivity this fall during a unified theater production of a widely-read story.
 
More than 40 Navigators took part in unified theater performances of “Charlotte’s Web” for the community. One of their productions took place in front of scores of fans from Belmont and Campbell elementary schools. The young audience cheered and applauded as North Star cast members presented a storyline that has been taught in hundreds of American classrooms.
 
North Star senior Ayak and sophomore Wade both said they have enjoyed their time in the unified production. Ayak performed the role of Charlotte, and Wade brought Wilbur's character to life on stage. They said their unified castmates allowed everyone to create memorable moments in North Star’s auditorium.
 
“I loved working with everyone on stage,” Ayak said. “Getting to see all of their hard work pay off like that was really fun. It’s been great to see how everyone has developed over the course of the semester.”
 
“They really did a great job,” Wade said. “They’re very talented.”
 
Lindsay Masin teaches English classes and directs play productions at North Star. Unified theater is one of many performing arts activities that North Star students can participate in.
 
Unified productions have taken place in the fall semester each of the past three years, and Masin has led a unified theater class each of the past two years. She said it was encouraging to watch how all North Star students have embraced unified activities.
 
“Over the past three years, we have not only seen the number of participants grow, but we have also just seen the support in our community grow,” Masin said. “Our unified programs in all areas are so well supported in LPS, and we are very thankful for the ways in which students are getting to meet people from all backgrounds.”
 
The goal of unified theater is to build an inclusive community that helps everyone feel valued and respected. Students with and without disabilities share the stage during the productions.
 
A unified theater class took place in seventh period each day this fall. Nineteen students became familiar with the “Charlotte’s Web” story, memorized their lines and learned where they needed to be on stage. The unified students joined larger rehearsals as the calendar moved closer to the public performance dates.
 
The activity meets the school district’s 2024-29 strategic plan in multiple ways. Unified theater promotes student wellbeing by helping them form friendships with people throughout their schools. It increases family and community engagement during the public theater productions, and it teaches inclusivity to people of all ages who fill the seats to watch the actors and actresses.
 
“Charlotte’s Web” focuses on the friendship between a spider named Charlotte and a hog named Wilbur. Charlotte becomes concerned that Wilbur may be eaten by his owners, and she spins words such as “Humble Pig” in her web to impress the farmers. Her plan saves Wilbur’s life and teaches everyone the importance of caring for others.
 
Ayak said she enjoyed weaving the storyline for all of the elementary students. They filled many seats in the front section of the auditorium and remained engaged the entire way. They laughed during humorous moments, stayed quiet for serious scenes and clapped when the Navigators took a group bow after the final lines.
 
“I loved seeing all of the little kids have fun today,” Ayak said. “They brought such a high level of energy to the auditorium. It was so exciting to have them here.”
 
Wade said the performance also gave members of the cast, stage crew and technical team valuable practice. They learned how an audience would react to verbal and nonverbal cues on stage, and they could work through any nerves they may have had before performing. They also gained confidence knowing they had made other people smile throughout the afternoon.
 
“It was a lot different than rehearsals,” Wade said. “It was good to figure out how everything would look in front of an audience. It was a lot more rewarding than just doing the play in front of an empty auditorium.”
 
Masin said she hopes the interest in unified theater will continue to grow in the future. She felt the 40-plus students in this year’s production would spin fond memories when looking back at the “Charlotte’s Web” playbill.
 
“Our kids look forward to this every year,” Masin said. “This is something that they’ll always remember.”

To learn about our English Language Arts curriculum like theater, visit our website at https://home.lps.org/english.
 
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