While Broadway theaters were dark and quiet for much of the last month, two smaller theaters in Auburn were bright and very noisy. Under the auspices of Partnership for Results, the Extended School Day program includes 40 children at Genesee and Casey Park elementary schools in a theater arts program.

Both casts have been rehearsing since early October for musical productions after the holiday break.

Students at Casey Park are in the fourth year of an organized program, after a handful of children in 2004 appeared in the joint Tyburn Academy/SS. Peter and Paul production of “Oliver!” as orphans. From that small beginning, the Casey Park drama program has built from a few students featured in small parts in full musicals to third through fifth graders performing shows of their own.

The success of last year's production of “OperaTunists” led me to a script by the same playwrights, Jill and Michael Gallina, “Of Mice and Mozart.” “OperaTunists” used familiar opera tunes, with humorous limericks, to teach opera.

The Casey students ate it up, and Principal Phyllis Price remarked, “I can't believe I have 9-year-olds strolling through the halls singing opera!”

“Of Mice and Mozart” uses the same theme, using well-known tunes by the young composer to teach the story of Mozart. Their excitement about the show is obvious; many have checked books about Mozart out of the library, rented the movie Amadeus and Googled the life of the composer.

“Of Mice and Mozart” uses an imaginary family of mice who are supposedly descendants of the mice in Mozart's house to tell the story of the ill-fated young composer. The mice are supposedly privy to a few choice facts that are not known to historians. The finale includes an apology to “Mozart purists!” Parents have already been digging in their closets and attics, as we plan to costume the show in the style of the late 1700s.

After seeing the popularity of the drama program at Casey Park, last September we initiated a similar program at Genesee Elementary with a musical each semester. Students there presented “Schoolhouse Rock, Live-Jr.,” based on the cartoon series and “March of the Big-Eared Nasties,” written by Bob and Bev Miller, long-time theater participants in Auburn.

This year's first offering at Genesee will be an original musical specifically written for them, “Don't Go in the Woods.” The mixed up fairy tale includes Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Three Blind Mice and a Big Bad Wolf, with a number of other characters running through the trees toward a surprise ending.

I've wanted to do such a production for years and have taken advantage of one of our exchange students at Tyburn this year to fulfill my wish. Austin Park, from South Korea, just happens to be a talented pianist/composer, and has been able to take my one-finger tunes and turn them into fully accompanied songs for the Genesee cast. The kids have really enjoyed working with him and are looking forward to performing in late January. While I've written the script, they've come up with many suggestions themselves for improving and expanding it, and I've incorporated a lot of their ideas.

In keeping with the Partnership's theme of continuing education in the Extended School Day program, we also have lessons in occasional rehearsals. In addition to rehearsing songs and dialogue, my assistant, Sara Fraher, and I work with the children to teach simple dance steps; we stress the importance of warm-ups, practicing vocal exercises and simple stretching.

The cast members are also required to learn related vocabulary words, on which we give a quiz to test their knowledge of theater terminology. They learn what responsibilities the members of the production and technical staff have and how they are necessary to the show. We also incorporate a bit of math, reminding them that nothing is free - costumes, scenery and makeup all cost money. They learn about production costs, how a playwright earns money and what are royalties.

This year, both casts will assist at painting their scenery, making costumes and building props and will help with publicity, designing posters and writing articles.

Both productions will be performed in school for their classmates and will have a public performance as well. The Genesee production of “Don't Go in the Woods” will be performed at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, in the auditorium.

The Casey Park production “Of Mice and Mozart” will be done at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8.

Both public performances are free, last about an hour and are suitable for all ages. There will be a reception in the cafeteria following both shows to which all are invited.

Barbara Murphy has worked with the Extended School Day's theater program for several years.