During the last week of school, while the rest of the students were busy finishing up classes, going on picnics, and enjoying end-of-year celebrations, the eighth grade was going full throttle in the production of an Academy tradition: the eighth grade play. This year the students put on "Little Shop of Horrors" under the direction of music teacher Marion Chrisner.

"As I think about the eighth grade play, I look carefully at the personalities of the class: what kind of humor do they have; what is their work ethic; how creative is their group imagination; how well are they able to support one another; and how much are they willing to share of themselves," says Mrs. Chrisner.

The next element is to cast the show in a manner that gives each eighth grader a part that showcases his or her unique personality, to make the parts as equal as possible, and then to provide a chance for each student to contribute to the overall production. For this year's play, this resulted in six trios, fourteen Audreys, eight Seymours, three dentists and three reporters.

The final criterion for the show itself is to divide the creative portion of the show so that each student takes responsibility for a particular area such as sound, lighting, costumes, construction, and "all the small details that bring success." According to Marion, "Ownership in the final product is a matter of pride and an outstanding lesson in learning."

The results, from the standpoint of those who attended the final performance on June 10, were spectacular.