Waverly Park Stages Inclusive Musical “Bounce”

Waverly Park Elementary School is taking a new approach in its choice of musical this year: relatability.

Lauren Behan, the director of the school’s music department for the past five years, is organizing the production with the help of Beat by Beat Press, a New York-based company that produces musicals for elementary schools.

The musical is called “Bounce,” and follows a gender-neutral character named Reggie who has a hard time paying attention in school and navigating the world. The challenges the energetic Reggie faces include acting appropriately with their friends and focusing in class, and they discover that movement — specifically bouncing — helps them cope with the classroom environment.

The theme of the play is that everyone is different and has their own way of moving through life, and it is intended to inspire students to find their own way. Throughout the story, Reggie, played by fifth-grader Sadie Ingber, meets classmates with a variety of personalities and challenges of their own who offer insight.

“It’s a little bit of a coming-of-age story,” Behan said, “in the sense that we’re trying to find out what works for us, our place in the world, and where we function within our classroom.”

The mission of Waverly Park’s Drama Club, she added, is to promote inclusivity and expression.

“This show means a lot to me,” Behan said. “Anything that I can do in my position to get kids into the theater department, get them on stage and help them express themselves is something that we love to do here.”

Behan credited her co-directors, Carly Tansky and Michael Berrios, for their support in putting the play together. Tansky is a Kindergarten Center Red Class Teacher, and Berrios is a Waverly Park staff member and a Lynbrook High School play director.

“We want the kids to really show who they are through the repertoire,” Behan said, “which is why it was important to find an age-appropriate show they could connect with.”

With about 55 student performers divided evenly between fourth and fifth grades, the musical encourages them to connect with its characters and scenarios in ways that reflect their own school experiences.

There have been three to four rehearsals per week since October, reflecting the students’ commitment to the Drama Club. “Some of the students are here from 7:30 a.m. until 7 p.m.,” Behan said. “Their dedication truly shows with that.”

Fifth-grader Maya Gendelmen, who plays a soccer player and Reggie’s understudy in “Bounce,” said that while she was initially a bit disappointed with her role, she grew to enjoy it during the rehearsals. “I like acting, reading and memorizing lines, and Ms. Behan is the best teacher,” Maya said.

She described rehearsals as fun — especially a scene in which Reggie kicks a soccer ball at a teacher, causing her to drop a mug.

Even during long hours of practice, the performers have found humor and enjoyment. The show’s playful, unconventional moments give them a chance to experiment with acting and discover what works for them.

Fifth-grader Skylar Kastin, a member of the Drama Club for two years, said, “Practice is really fun, and for the past two weeks we’ve been practicing every day. My favorite song from the play is ‘Best At Just Being Your Friend,’ because it’s kind of emotional.”

Parents also play an important role in supporting the music department, encouraging at-home practice and supplying costumes for the plays each year, which helps get students excited about their roles.

The best part about the fourth- and fifth-grade show, Behan said, is the friendships it creates among the performers, who bond over having to memorize songs, dialogue and choreography.

“The way they’re singing it is fantastic,” she said, “and with the kids being engaged with the musical through the characterization of the smart student, the one always waiting for lunch or the super-good friend, they have that attachment where they can pinpoint someone in their life that is that to them.”

The show is both school- and family-oriented, and Behan expressed immense gratitude to the community for its support.

And, amid the already close-knit environment at Waverly Park, she said, “You see more kids playing at recess together, engaging in the hallway, and if they didn’t have this opportunity, they probably wouldn’t have formed the same connections between grades.”

The show, which is about 40 minutes long, will be presented on Thursday, at 7 p.m., in the Waverly Park gym, and Behan encourages all to come and see it. It is free and open to the public.