GAP School Theatre Project: The Show Must Go On

GAP School English Language Learner (ELL) students will once again write and develop a drama program throughout third quarter. The program will tell stories of the students’ lives before they came to America and what they have experienced. Each student will work to write their own story and together the group of students will combine the stories into a larger narrative. This project has been a tradition for many years and is one that both staff and students look forward to.

The students are lead by a local actor and director, Janelle Ranek, who has directed groups of GAP School students for projects such as this one for over 20 years. GAP School teachers, Laura Ott and Ethan Knuti, work alongside Janelle to bring this program to life and help students write, practice, and perfect their stories.

Many of the students are still working to learn the English language, and have never performed in front of a group or audience. This project helps to build confidence in both their language and social skills.

The project usually culminates with performances of the program at the nearby Neighborhood House community center, as well as for students at local schools. With the recent of the presence of ICE in our community, many students involved in this project have chosen to attend school virtually. Unfortunately, it is uncertain if the performance portion of the project will take place due to safety concerns. The hope is that the show will go on again, if not this year, in future years to come.

Picture of 2025 student performance held at Neighborhood House