At-risk students perform play following Theater of Youth encouragement.

Approximately 25 at-risk high school students contributed to the performance of Vern Harden's "Dirty Dredge of Cedaredge" at Erie 1 BOCES Northtowns Academy in late March. The afternoon performance took place before an audience that consisted of the student body, parents and administrators.

The Northtowns theater students were inspired to make their own production following a field trip to the Theatre of Youth (TOY) where they learned everything about what goes into the creation of a show. During the tour of the TOY Allen Street Theatre with the artistic director, Meg Quinn, all aspects from sound, lights and costumes to props and set design were discussed. The students also took a trip to the TOY scene shop on Seneca Street and saw how the sets and props were built, painted and stored.

"The theater allows at-risk students to reshape their reality," says English teacher Tammy M. McGovern.

In addition to connecting art, English, science and math skills, this theater activity also promoted teamwork, positive risk-taking, and goal-setting - all of which can take an alternative student out of his or her comfort zone.

"The theater project affords students who thrive on attention to get it in a positive way, and encourages others who may seek withdrawal through negative behaviors to explore who they are by trying to 'put themselves in the shoes' of the character they are playing," said McGovern.

Many people at the academy were involved in the production, the art students created the backdrop, caricatures, props and posters. Additional costume pieces and props were donated by staff. Teachers Dave Archibald and Nancy Amico were also heavily involved in the preparing for the production. The students prepared for the play in class for approximately eight weeks.

About Northtowns Academy

Serving multiple suburban school districts, Erie 1 BOCES Northtowns Academy provides a wide variety of programs for middle and high school students. At Northtowns Academy, every student is offered quality instruction in a nurturing, supportive environment that encourages each child to achieve academic and social success. Concentrated relationship building, non-traditional teaching strategies, maintaining a focus on individual strengths, and limiting class sizes are some of the ways Northtowns Academy is able to help each individual student to reach his or her potential.