Students in grades 5-8 at the Center for Teaching and Learning in Edgecomb transformed themselves into students and teachers at a school for aspiring wizards during two packed performances of ‘Puffs: Or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a School of Magic and Magic’ on April 15. 

The production, directed by Angela Lathem-Ballard, drew from a script by Matt Cox, and featured all of CTL’s middle school students as its cast. The actors inspired laughter and moments of awe in the audience with their performances that were by turn, hilarious, heartfelt, and ultimately meaningful. As Lathem-Ballard remarked in her Director’s Note, “Puffs is about the kids who study hard, try their best, stand a little off to the side, and keep showing up anyway. It’s about loyalty and friendship and what it means to be ordinary in a world that celebrates extraordinary. Which, in many ways, feels exactly right for middle school.”

The CTL drama program under Lathem-Ballard emphasizes knowledge of all aspects of play production. In addition to the onstage role each student brought to life, the middle schoolers took responsibility for planning and executing the show’s lights, sound, special effects, choreography, costumes, props, and stage management. Because of the mix of grade levels, older students were mentoring younger ones, showing the ropes as they passed on their knowledge of these details of theatrical performance they’d learned during previous CTL productions.

Lathem-Ballard’s passion, preparation, and effort as the director was matched by the students’. Before the performance, she noted, “What looks effortless (we hope!) has been built on four months of courage, problem-solving, and showing up for one another … We hope that you see young artists discovering that their voices, their ideas, and their unique and wonderful selves belong together.” This was certainly evident to audiences at both performances.

To learn more about CTL, please visit our website at www.c-t-l.org, or contact CTL’s Head of School, Katy Inman, at katy@c-t-l.org.