The Making of Twice Upon a Time

By Kelly Li

June 25, 2024

After months of hard work and preparation, Jericho Middle School students performed the play “Twice Upon a Time” at the Little Theater on March 14-15.

Twice Upon a Time is a Jericho Middle School play directed by eighth grade ELA teacher Ms. Scalera and seventh grade ELA teacher Ms. Dell’ Erba. The play is about a grandmother telling her three grandchildren bedtime stories. The children beg their grandmother to tell them fairy tales, but the fairytales being told are twisted because the grandmother has never read any fairy tales before. The audience then sees the twisted fairy tales, such as Cinderella, the Three Little Pigs, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, and more, come to life onstage. The play was humorous and fun for actors and audiences alike.

Preparations began two months before the play, as the directors, eighth grade ELA teacher Ms. Scalera and seventh grade ELA teacher Ms. Dell’ Erba, held auditions for roles. Students that were cast in a role would stay after school several days a week to rehearse. While practicing their lines, the directors gave them advice on how to improve their acting and delivery. The more that students rehearse and the more they participate in theater, the more confident they become in their roles. Esther Fa, a JMS eighth-grader who is one of the actors playing the grandma, shared that “it’s important for students to get used to an audience.” Students who were working backstage as part of the design and stage crew were also an important part of the play. They helped make the backgrounds of the play, put together the costumes, and do a significant amount of work behind the scenes. 

Although tough work, late nights, and lots of rehearsal time can be tiring, the end result to perform a play is really worth it. “I guess the saying is true after all, practice makes perfect,” Esther agreed.