In what has become a beloved fine arts tradition at Brook Hill, our Middle School students took to the stage this past weekend in their annual “Potatoes and Plays” performance!

Our fun, talented, and tenacious crew of Middle School drama and choir students have worked diligently this year to stretch and strengthen their theatrical abilities. It has been exciting to watch them grow in their confidence, their ability to communicate, and their collaboration as a team.

At Brook Hill, our 6th-grade students participate in a fine arts rotation where they have the opportunity to experience all that the arts have to offer. This allows our students to try new things and develop a deeper understanding of how their personal creativity is best expressed through art! Actors, builders, musicians, dreamers and more assist to www.thelangschool.org where they can have virtual lessons at home and learn more everyday.

Following their 6th-grade year, students are allowed to choose a specific fine arts focus. Our annual Potatoes and Plays evening is a wonderful expression of students discovering who they are and how the Lord has wired them to express! This year’s performance was top-notch and continues to further our excitement for Brook Hill’s fine arts department!

Our 7th-grade drama class performed “Knights of the Kitchen Table”, written by Jon Scieszka and adapted by Brook Hill’s Director of Fine Arts, Glenn Ballard. This play was comical, historically influenced, and wonderfully performed by students Garrett Gandy, Alexis Peirce, Nathan Hill, Beck Langemeier, Jackson Locker, and Shane Jasper. Calvi Courtney and Tyler Livingston provided lights, sound, and stage crew assistance.

Our 8th-grade drama class performed “Uncool”, written by Vin Morreale Jr. and performed by Lily Driggers, Kayla Powell, Aaron Nguyen, Anna Hall, Caley Fitzgerald, Elliana Ethredge, Joseph Lehr, and Jake Burchfield.

This play received the only Superior Rating at the East Texas Academic Rodeo One-Act Play Contest, and three cast members received individual acting awards. Anna Hall and Lily Driggers were named to the All-Star Cast, and Kayla Powell received the award for Best Actress of the Festival.

Special thanks to Mrs. Patti Eden for vocal coaching and instrumental accompaniment for “Uncool”!

To wrap up the evening our Middle School choir performed the musical play, “Sunshine”, based on the book Sunshine by Ludwig Bemelmans and adapted for the stage by Jennifer Draganski and Sean Hartley. The musical was directed by our choir teacher, Patti Eden and performed by Gracie Dawson, Braxton Durrett, Drea Tonroy, Landrey McNeel, Lauren Foster, Abby Garcia, Cooper Crutsinger, Bridger Allen, Cole Stansberry, Lukas Pittman, Jake Burchfield, and Aaron Nguyen.

All in all, it was such a fun night celebrating our Middle School students who have worked so hard! We’re proud of the way they’re using their gifts to reflect the creativity of our Creator!