By Emma Alexander and Ava Elliott
This play is based on a short story by O. Henry. The performance is scheduled for October 11 during the 8th period and will be presented by Mrs. Beachy's and Mrs. Hunter's STEAM labs. This much-anticipated play explores how kindness and love can bring out the best in people or inspire them to reform. Jimmy abandons his life of crime when he falls in love with Annabel and experiences kindness in Elmore. The lead roles are played by Adrian McNeal as Jimmy Valentine and Harper Nation as his fiancée, Annabelle Adams. Annabelle's father owns the town's bank, which arouses suspicion in Detective Ben Price (played by Matthew Konst) because Jimmy was previously incarcerated for robbery. These labs have been working diligently from day one! Students who are not actors have been busy creating scenery, props, and sound effects, organizing costumes, crafting the playbill, or helping with stage management. Check out the pictures showcasing students hard at work!
Note: Lab Hour is derived from the concept of Genius Hour, a movement that enables students to explore their passions and fosters creativity in the classroom. To facilitate this, London Middle School has implemented a STEM & STEAM-driven curriculum, promoting creativity and metacognition (the practice of thinking about thinking) within the school. Students writing, creating sets, and acting in a play are prime examples of how the arts can seamlessly integrate with STEM subjects to form STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education.
