Great notice and wonderful Paul Bilodeau rehearsal photos in the Gloucester Daily Times today! Performances this week on Thursday, June 9, and Friday, June 10, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are FREE but reservations necessary dbiondo@gloucesterschools.com

Read the article and see more photographs here

Plum Cove Elementary School: Spring 2022 musical performed by 4th and 5th grade students under the direction of Heidi Dallin. The photo caption notes Miss Hannigan played by Evelyn Taplett and Annie played by Bianca Numerosi.

Can you remember an elementary school performance or arts educator*? Chances are if you attended elementary school in Gloucester, you can. Gloucester has a long, strong and colorful history of professional theater artists enriching community theater for young and old, and prioritizing arts education in area schools. It’s no surprise that East Gloucester Elementary School (EGS)– only blocks away from Rocky Neck and former sites of Atwoods’ Playhouse-on-the-Moors, Little Theater, and Bass Rocks Theater–included a theater and stadium seating for little ones right in the school. Productions have been mounted in all the schools, and evidence shows year round activity in some decades. Poets and playwrights, choreographers, industry professionals (stage direction, lighting, costume design, etc), and insiders engage and collaborate. Nan Webber inspired generations at the GHS drama department and on Cape Ann. Heidi Dallin has devoted 30+ years to youth theater development.

Congratulations to all involved with this Annie Kids production! Enjoy this magic time.

*note: I don’t, but I did not grow up here. A couple of early memories that come to mind are the children’s museum recycle arts and crafts shop (fill a shopping bag), and seeing the Fantasticks at Priscilla Beach Theater, Plymouth, MA, summer vacation ca.1972-74.