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QUOTH THE RAVEN: 'FOREVERMORE': Nightfall with Edgar Allen Poe leaves lasting impression on students
The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation’s All Kinds of Art program continued its 14-year mission to stimulate creativity in kids by presenting “Nightfall with Edgar Allen Poe” to Destin Middle School students on Tuesday.
During 6th period, eighth graders crowded into the cafeteria for a suspenseful and intriguing performance by the Eckerd Theatre Company from Clearwater. The five-person acting troupe recreated scenes from “The Raven,” “The Fall of the House of Usher” and “The Telltale Heart.”
Diane Kelley, principal of Destin Middle School, said this was not the students’ first exposure to Poe’s work. They read the short stories in their language arts classes.
“We try to provide a multitude of experiences for them,” Kelley said. “This performance supports our whole literacy movement.”
The actors engaged the students during and after the performance, making them laugh and open their mouths in awe. After they had taken their bows, the troupe stayed on stage to answer questions about the play.
One student was so taken in during a scene that when an actor asked, “Do you feel the iciness,” he exclaimed “I feel it!”
Another student personified the goal of the All Kinds of Art program. During the performance, Nathan Kight, 13, sketched the set created by the theatre company on a notebook he carries with him everywhere.
“When I see something, I kinda want to sketch it to show how I see it,” Kight said. “I really liked the performance. I thought it was interesting how they used the music to create a sense of surprise.”
The inspiring performance was funded by the Charity Wine Auction Foundation, and a board member donated lodging for the theatre group, which came down on their price to bring the play to local schools.
“Art is usually the first thing they cut in the school system, and this is at no cost to the taxpayers,” said Marcia Hull, executive director of the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation. “We’re all about stimulating the artistic, creative side of kids and keeping the arts alive.”
