Curtain up! Light the lights! This is not just another high school production. It is the Chartiers Valley Primary School second grade production of “Rats! The Story of the Pied Piper.”

At 7:00 p.m., on April 12, some 47 second graders from Ms. Sheldon’s and Ms. Schweikert’s class razzle-dazzled their friends and parents in a musical rendition of the acclaimed poem by Robert Browning.

The Pied Piper story revolves around an age-old encounter between the townspeople and the rats in their village of Hamelin. After the townspeople sing about their wonderful village, the rats invade. They steal books, balls, bread, money and even the policeman’s whistle. The townspeople and the town council sing and complain about the rats. Lo and behold, 2 pipers show up to make a deal to lure the rats out of the town. Fourteen rats sing “Ain’t it Great to be a Rat” and tell rat jokes until the pipers pipe them out of town. When the town council reneges on the deal, the pipers freeze the children until the townspeople shame the council into paying the pipers. The children are returned unharmed and all is happy again – or is it? As the rats slowly take the stage during the final song and curtain call, we are left to wonder over their future plans.

Ms. Sheldon and Ms. Schweikert have been giving their 2nd grade students stage experience for 11 years. Oral reading, fluency development, public speaking and developing oral expression are much more fun when using a script that can also be performed. Performing a play provides a multi-disciplined activity that incorporates active listening and engagement while developing teamwork and camaraderie.

Parents are invited to join in by serving on a number of committees. Some parents are able to help backstage, while others help with costumes, refreshments, props, and the program. Community involvement includes Chuck McCartney, chief PR person, who tapes the show to put on local TV for all to see. Sami’s Screen House manufactures T-shirts with the play logo and all the cast members’ names. It makes a great piece of memorabilia.

Ms. Sheldon and Ms. Schweikert take pride in seeing how many children continue to explore the theater at the middle school and high school level. Students who get their feet wet in a second grade play have gone on to win Kelly awards in high school. To ignite their interests and point children in a direction they may not have thought of is a goal of any teacher. “We love seeing the children who do not want a speaking part and would rather not even be in front of people become the biggest hams the night of the show,” say both teachers. “I feel these kids are as great as the middle and high school performers,” says Ms. Sheldon. “Most parents are amazed to see the quality of their children’s performance.”

This year will be the last on the small stage originally built for the Primary School 12 years ago. It will be removed to make way for a larger cafeteria. However, a new, “real” stage is in the wings. Lights! Curtain up!