The Dramatic Arts Stage

The Dramatic Arts Stage in Ralph G Reed Middle School is a group of students and teachers involved in the theatrical world. They work hard to make educational and entertaining theatrical shows for the Central Islip community and unite the community as a whole. They use their arts to spread awareness and education about different cultures in the community.

Dramatic Arts Stage backstory

Mrs. Brideau began working with her students the first year she was hired as a teacher.  Her  first show, in 1996, was presented to the Central Islip Board of Education for Black History Month.  The kids did a series of traditional African poems and proverbs followed by a traditional meal from the  Ivory Coast.    It was a hearty chicken dish with potatoes, yuca, carrots, celery, onions, tomatoes, served in a peanut based gravy. It was delicious.  The students, as well as Mrs. Brideau, dressed in traditional African clothing with specific patterns.

How does the dramatic arts help students?

The dramatic arts helps students get out of their comfort zone by performing and teaching them skills to get over their stage fright and public speaking. They do not just gain another club to join, but they also get a reason to keep going and continue to try their hardest to make the shows as entertaining as can be. 

Mrs. Brideau explained, “The dramatic arts gives students the opportunity [to] help students by enhancing creativity and self-confidence, improving academic performance and communication skills, and fostering empathy and social-emotional intelligence through collaborative experiences. Participation in music, dance, or theater encourages students to express themselves, develop resilience by stepping outside their comfort zones, and gain valuable real-world skills like discipline, critical thinking, and teamwork.”  Students like Jessica Adusei agree. “It has really helped me a lot by making me find some hidden talents that I have and also it has helped me face one of my biggest fears: performing in front of the crowd.”

Tackling fears and supporting each other is a great benefit of participating in the program. Adusei added, “Everybody inspired me because most of us were anxious and scared to perform but we did it. So I will like to tell everyone who participated that they really tried and did good.” This sentiment was echoed by program participant, Ashley Torres. When asked how having the opportunity to perform helped her personally, she responded, “It helped me represent my culture; of where I’m from.”

The Dramatic Arts Stage shows and spreading awareness

The Dramatic Arts Stage does entertaining shows that let students express themselves in many different ways, such as modeling, singing, or just showing off any talent they have. They also participate in events that bring awareness to specific months that deserve more knowledge. They do these shows because the arts are a great way to share one’s culture and promote literacy. The Hispanic Heritage show opens people’s eyes to hispanic culture by expressing hispanic culture and including different hispanic dances. Their black history shows bring awareness towards the struggles people of color had to go through.

Islip Goes Purple is a month-long event the whole town of Islip can participate in. It is also an awareness event that brings awareness of substance use disorder by expressing the importance of knowing what drug use can do to mental health and to close loved ones. The dramatic Arts team works with this by participating and volunteering to make a public service commercial to make it known, especially to students, the effects of drug abuse. Participating in this event helps students comprehend the facts of what drug abuse can do to a person–making them more likely to spread the word about it.

Thanks to the Dramatic Arts team, students can get out of their comfort zones and express themselves in unique ways. The students learn how to be leaders and overcome their fears as they gain more confidence in not just themselves, but also their peers.