By Laura Lane
Alice and Harvey Stein's two daughters, Shira and Loni, are in college. But all of the Steins take part in Chatterton Elementary School's fifth- and sixth-grade theatrical productions because the past is something that they all treasure, especially the years when the family was involved in Chatterton plays when Shira and Loni were children.
The Steins have spent the past two and a half months working with Chatterton sixth-graders to present "The Music Man," which Alice refers to as a "family project," an opportunity for all of the Steins to experience once again the magic of the theater as a family.
"I love doing this; it gives us something in common to share," said Alice. "We're very lucky that we have this bond, and I'm so proud of my girls."
Shira, 22, is directing the production, and Loni, 19, is helping her older sister, acting as the assistant director. Alice and Harvey are enjoying working together as the play's producers.
For Shira and Loni, being in charge is amazing, considering they both are Chatterton graduates who years ago acted in the school's theatrical productions.
Shira attributes much of her personal growth to those moments when she was a cast member. "I was always very, very shy," said Shira, who will graduate this spring from Hunter College with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. "Being in 'Annie' at Chatterton was my first play, and that was when I thought, 'Oh, I like this.' That's when I got hooked and started doing theater."
A Calhoun High School graduate, Shira acted in many community theater productions on Long Island. She doesn't have the time to do that now, but said she's satisfied working with the children on plays at Chatterton.
Loni was also in Chatterton's productions. Even though she acted, she remains a shy person. But she still found a way to remain involved in theater. Loni is a stage manager who has been hired by Long Island venues like the Broadhollow Theatre, The Stage in Merrick, by various churches, and for "A Bite of Broadway," an AIDS benefit theatre group that presents productions through Equity Fights AIDS.
She will graduate from Nassau Community College this spring and transfer to Adelphi in the fall, where she'll study to become an audiologist.
This isn't the first year that the Steins have been involved as a family in a Chatterton production. It's Alice's second year, but Harvey has been involved in one way or another since his girls attended Chatterton.
And Shira and Loni have been a part of the productions at Chatterton for a number of years. Shira co-directed for six years and has been the director for the last three years. Loni was the assistant director for three years and ran tech for six years, including the lights.
The Steins like to make the experience of being in a play special for the fifth- and sixth-graders. They take the work seriously, insisting that their approach encourages children to do the same.
"We put on Broadway shows," said Shira. "And we like to take it beyond a typical school play and try to make it as professional as possible."
Harvey is an electrician. Along with his producing responsibilities, he also rebuilds the stage at Chatterton each year, creating a stage that is larger but can be disassembled after a production ends. "My husband and a group of his friends who are carpenters built the stage out," said Alice. "And he also builds the set for each play. Harvey puts a lot of time and work into the productions at Chatterton."
Shira and Loni try to pick plays that include many characters. They want to be able to give a line or two to as many students as possible. "Everyone who auditions gets a part," said Shira. "Being in these plays gives the kids confidence to be in front of an audience, and they can use this confidence later in school, like when they present a project to their class."
There are 38 Chatterton sixth-graders acting in "The Music Man," as well as 10 to 15 kids on the tech crew. "A lot of kids that are in the tech crew in the fifth-grade play end up auditioning in the sixth grade and get a leading part," said Shira. "This show is difficult. We needed a lot of talent, and we have that with this group."
Shira believes that being in one of the Chatterton plays can help a child to grow. She said she's seen children "transformed where their whole character changes. The play gives them something to connect to."
Musical director Jonathan Ross agrees. He said he saw a change in his own son Ben when he went to Chatterton. "It's a different experience with a play," said Ross, who is a music teacher in the East Meadow School District. "All the kids work together, and you see how it develops and comes together, the camaraderie. My son was upset when the play was over because he said the experience was like a family. It had a lot of meaning for him, as it does for all of the kids that are involved."
Alice agreed that being in the play is a wonderful experience for the children at Chatterton. "Two days a week they're doing something safe, different and fun, which I think is just great," she said.
Comments about this story? Llane@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
