{"id":37133,"date":"2022-11-23T17:14:34","date_gmt":"2022-11-24T00:14:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/cortez-middle-schools-musical-theater-production-teaches-confidence-commitment\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T02:35:37","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T08:35:37","slug":"cortez-middle-schools-musical-theater-production-teaches-confidence-commitment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/cortez-middle-schools-musical-theater-production-teaches-confidence-commitment\/","title":{"rendered":"Cortez Middle School\u2019s musical theater production teaches confidence, commitment"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Brian
Brian Sanders as Fagin and Landon Hurst as Nippers in Cortez Middle School\u2019s production of \u201cOliver! Jr.\u201d (Courtesy photo
\n)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Montezuma-Cortez Middle School\u2019s musical theater program has been running for more than eight years now, and it has no intention of slowing down.<\/p>\n

The program recently completed its ninth show Nov. 4-5, and director Angela Gabardi and musical director Marla Sitton said 67 CMS students participated.<\/p>\n

The show, \u201cOliver! Jr.,\u201d was a take on the classic play \u201cOliver Twist.\u201d Each semester, the play is selected based on the children who are involved or new students who might decide to participate.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe pick shows that\u2019ll interest the kids, challenge the kids, and also things we can do as far as sets and costumes and stuff like that,\u201d Gabardi said.<\/p>\n

\"The
The Cortez Middle School cast and crew of \u201cOliver! Jr.\u201d (Courtesy photo
\n)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Because of the number of boys interested in being in one of the program\u2019s musicals, Oliver! Jr. was chosen for the fall semester.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a large population of boys who had been interested in musicals, so Oliver! Jr. is a nice show to showcase not only some of our strong female leads and roles, but it also gave our gentlemen a chance to really dive into musical theater too,\u201d Gabardi said.<\/p>\n

The program has received support from the high school band, choir and drama program, which Sitton and Gabardi said has encouraged younger students.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really cool to see the middle school program and high school program have a sense of community too,\u201d Gabardi said.<\/p>\n

During opening weekend, the play drew nearly 600 community members, family and friends.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot only was Marla teaching them pretty challenging music, and not only were they diving into some darker characters than we\u2019ve had before, but they also had to do that while speaking in a Cockney accent,\u201d Gabardi said. \u201cWe had to dive in there pretty deep too. We were trying to run rehearsals speaking in a Cockney accent. We had a lot of fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gabardi and Sitton pointed out that shows are student-run, with help from parents and guardians.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just fun to get to collaborate with these amazing kids and amazing parents,\u201d Gabardi said. \u201cWe did say it\u2019s 100% student-produced, but we have outstanding parents and guardians who come in and hang out with us. We had probably at least 20 parents, brothers, and grandparents who hung out with us the whole tech week and through the shows and help with ticket sales and stuff. I think that\u2019s my favorite thing is just how it builds this community.\u201d<\/p>\n

To Sitton, teaching musical theater with one of her former students has been one of the most memorable parts of her involvement. She has been a teacher in Cortez for nearly 28 years.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was actually Angela\u2019s teacher at the high school, so it\u2019s really fun for me to get to work with my former favorite student and now she\u2019s one of my best friends,\u201d Sitton said. \u201cI really enjoy working with the kids and watching their growth because some of them start out, and we put some of them in a character where they\u2019re like, \u2018There is no way I\u2019m going to be able to do that,\u2019 and then it gets right down to it and they just knock it out of the park.\u201d<\/p>\n

To Gabardi and Sitton, musical theater means much more than just putting on a play. It\u2019s a way for students to learn teamwork, collaboration, commitment and hard work while growing confidence in their abilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would hope that they would gain a confidence in themselves that they did not come in with,\u201d Sitton said. \u201cI hope they would gain confidence within themselves that carries on into other things.\u201d<\/p>\n

She also talked about the emphasis they place on commitment.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re going to start something you need to see it through,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The next CMS musical theater production will take place in March \u2013 \u201cThis Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing,\u201d from Australian playwright Finegan Kruckemeyer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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