Reed Fifth Grader Meaghan Elliot Takes To The Yale Rep Stage

By Susan Coney

Reed Intermediate School fifth grader Meaghan Elliot recently took part in a production put on by Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven. Meaghan was selected to be part of the 29-member youth ensemble, out of approximately 100 children who auditioned. Yale presented two one-act Czechoslovakian operas, Brundibar and Comedy on the Bridge; both are stories with themes intertwined with war and oppression. The production, which ran from February 10 through March 5, required a demanding schedule of all of the children who participated. Many times rehearsals ran until 10:30 at night.

Both plays were rewritten in English by Tony Kushner, award-winning playwright and author most recently known for writing the screenplay for the movie Munich. Mr Kushner said of the production, “Both shows are a testament to the creative power of human beings, even in dark times, to turn ugliness into music.” Mr Kushner collaborated with well-loved children’s author and illustrator Maurice Sendak, best known for his book Where the Wild Things Are, to design the creative set and costumes. Previously Mr Kushner wrote and Mr Sendak illustrated the children’s book Brundibar.

No stranger to the stage, Meaghan previously landed the lead role in the production of Annie put on by Broadway Boot Camp in Fairfield this past summer. She also played a primary role in a local production of The Little Princess.

Meaghan, a self-professed homebody, is relatively new to the theatrical world. Meaghan’s twin sister, Molly, is the athletic child in the family. She competes by swimming butterfly and freestyle for the Newtown Torpedo Swim Team, plays golf at Rock Ridge Country Club during the summer, and plays ice hockey, which her father Michael coaches. Meaghan, who had been feeling left out, was searching to find an activity she might enjoy. “I really wasn’t good in sports. I was always the last to be picked in almost every sport,” Meaghan shared.

A little over two years ago Meaghan’s Girl Scout leader, Linda Rotante, called Meaghan’s mother Cheryl to suggest she might want to enroll her daughter in voice lessons offered through the Newtown Parks and Recreation Department. Ms Rotante said that Meg spent a great deal of time singing during their troop meetings and that perhaps she might enjoy voice lessons.

Ms Elliot enrolled Meaghan in lessons offered through Parks & Rec and since then Meaghan has moved on to taking more advanced voice lessons at Creative Music and Arts Center in Monroe.

Now both girls have found a niche of activities to enjoy, keeping their parents very busy. Mr Elliot said, “We’re having an awful lot of fun right now. We are really busy but I know we will only have them here at home for about eight more years. We are really enjoying them.”

Meaghan has not always experienced success when auditioning for a part in a production. She was rejected at her first audition when at the age of 8 years old she tried out for a part in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Meaghan said that she learned a great deal from being rejected. She said that because she really loved singing and wanted to be in the theater she did not give up. She encourages other children not to give up on their dreams just because they are rejected at first. “Even if you are scared you just keep doing it, don’t give up,” she suggests.

As a result of that rejection Yale Repertory Company received Meaghan’s name from the Joseph audition list and contacted her about auditioning for a part in Brundibar and Comedy on the Bridge. Now she is hooked on theater and her dream is to sing and act on Broadway.

Her mother Cheryl said, “This experience with Yale has really opened some doors. We have a couple of things lined up in New York. I really believe a lot of the theater experience carries over into the classroom. The life skills and experiences she has come away with has helped her to speak in front of others and be a quick thinker. It is a tremendous confidence builder.”

A Real Trooper

Meaghan’s classroom teacher, Joan Cunningham, said, “Meaghan is a real trooper. She came in everyday. You could see on her face how much she loved it and how much she learned from it. She is a wonderful reader, with great voice quality and I think that comes from the acting.” Ms Cunningham continued, “Meaghan is very down to earth. She comes and goes and doesn’t make a big deal about it. She’s motivated. I’m happy for her. She makes it work.”

Reed Principal Donna Denniston said, “The research strongly supports that participation in the arts is one of those key assets, a predictor of future success. Meaghan is not only completing her schoolwork, through the creative process, she is learning many other valuable lessons as well. I am so happy that she is being recognized for both areas.”

Both her classroom teacher and her school music teacher, Michelle Tennenbaum, attended the production in New Haven. Ms Tennebaum stated, “It was amazing. The story was awesome with a fabulous performance. Meaghan really stood out because of her theatrical qualities. The set Maurice Sendak created made you feel like you were in a storybook. It was an incredible performance and the music was outstanding.” Ms Tennebaum said that Meaghan shared with her music classmates the story of Brundibar. “She told it with such passion and expression, the tragic story of the children of the holocaust,” she said.

Asked what her favorite part about participating in a professional level production and Meaghan quickly provided a dual answer. “I made so many friends. Now I have adults, kids, boys, and girls I shared this experience with. I love coming home and having met and made so many new friends. I also loved the applause when the curtain came down. We would take our bows and try to see how many people stood up in applause at the end. The last night everyone stood up,” Meaghan said.

Meaghan plans to begin taking some dancing lessons to help her prepare for future productions. At the present she is having a wonderful time and has successfully achieved the balance between schoolwork and her love of the theater.