For
eighth-grader Samantha O’Connell, her love of sewing led to important
role as the student costumer for the middle school’s recent play, “Peter
Pan.”
“My dad told me that, since I sew, I should ask them if
they needed help with costumes,” O’Connell explained. “So, I brought in
my portfolio and showed it to them. They talked it over and came back to
me in a few days and told me that I could help out.”
O’Connell
created designs, purchased materials and sewed the costumes for six
fairies, six mermaid tails, Peter Pan and Tinkerbell.
“I tried to
do two costumes every weekend, and a bunch over winter break,” she said
of her working method. “I’m really excited to see all of the costumes
out on stage.
”The play’s success could be the beginning of a
potential career for this young designer, who plans to pursue fashion
studies in the future.
“The most impressive aspect of this
production was that, aside from the three adults on the production team,
the entire event was presented by middle school students,” said Vincent
Green, the district’s director of fine and performing arts. “Many in
the audience were certain that there had to be high school students in
the background keeping things running, but it was all powered by
11-13-year-olds.”