Front row; Joe Lapka, Gwenny Hessler, Alex Lapka, Mabel Hessler, Mabel Stevenson, Hudson Skelton, William Applegate, Ava Tougas. Middle row; Matilda Hessler, Loryn Neudecker, Maggie Applegate, Nora Stevenson, Abby Applegate, Silas Hessler. Back row; Sawyer Hessler, Audrey Stevenson, Land Neudecker. Missing; Brekken Tougas, Chloe Sharp, Cassidy Sharp.
Santa's Reindeer Design Department Mabel Hessler and William Applegate, explained in detail the inner workings of Santa's magical flying reindeer.
OVANDO - "Dear Mrs. Claus" was the name of the play performed Dec. 19 at the Ovando Gym. "How do reindeers fly? Why does Santa wear red?" and other pressing questions were flooding Mrs. Claus' mailbox just before Christmas. Mrs. Claus turned to the elves expert advice to send answers with help from Buddy, her Personal Elf Assistant.
A musical showcase began the evening with students performing music accompanied by Matthew Nord, of Tangled Tones Music Studio, Missoula. Nord has been teaching the music program since this fall. Ukuleles and xylophones were the instruments of choice.
Songs sung by the students and accompanied by Nord on guitar were "Gingerbread Jamboree" and "My Carrot Nose" to the tune of "Blue Suede Shoes". Musical numbers "Up On the Housetop" and "Let Me Be a Light For Love," with ukuleles played by older students and sign symbols performed by PreK-2 students, closed out the musical performance.
"These kids have done an amazing job of practicing on their own," said Nord. "They are a pleasure to work with."
Elf teams from departments such as wardrobe design, the mailroom, Santa's nutritionist, Santa's pit crew, the S.S.S.S. Santa's Secret Spy Service, Santa's personal trainers and Navigation and Reindeer Design filled Mrs. Claus in on the nitty-gritty details of Santa's job so she could respond to letters.
One letter writer wondered if Santa was fat, to which Mrs. Claus replied, "Very few people look slim in the color red."
To the question about how do reindeer fly, Mrs. Claus was presented with a flip chart of all the special adaptations of flying reindeer by the "Reindeer Design Department."
Each team of elves had a younger elf with them so that all ages participated together. Everyone participating together is a foundational aspect of the Ovando School program. Mrs. Claus' part was shared by Maggie Applegate and Matilda Hessler, with each girl leading for half of the play. The play has 27 characters, and Ovando School had 21 students participating. Older students covered several parts each.
"We chose this play because it was lighthearted and fun," said Ms. Tougas, Ovando School Head Teacher. "It looked like fun with all the elves and easy for all ages to participate in."
Practice began after Thanksgiving, with two rehearsals a day scheduled in between regular studies. After a month of practice, sickness kept a few students home at the last minute. The other students seamlessly filled in their acts and the play went on.
The living room scenery was made in a screen development workshop at Ovando School by Missoula Children's Theatre(MCT)five years ago. The set frame was made by Tony Lapka and another background done by Ms. Mitchell, Ovando School art teacher.
Ovando School recently upgraded their lighting and sound equipment. Abby Mosley, Missoula Children's Theatre, helped set up the equipment and install a light board donated by MCT.
"We wanted to be able to light up the stage so people could see the students' faces," said Tougas.
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