CURTAIN UP! A Night of Theater at the Esteban School

The ESTEBAN SCHOOL students, faculty and staff are celebrating the success of their musical revue, “CURTAIN UP!” which was staged on the 5^th of March in the Esteban School grounds.  The revue featured the grade school and high school students performing excerpts from The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, Annie, and Grease.  The preschool students performed numbers from Fame and Hairspray. 

Mr. Emman San Jose, the overall director, conceptualized “Curtain Up!” as a way to raise funds for the replacement of resources lost during Typhoon Ondoy and as a means to further school spirit and camaraderie across year levels throughout the school.

Students from the Grade 4 class were asked to share a few memories of the magical night.  Here’s what a few of them had to say:

“The whole experience was so wonderful and it was full of surprises.  I know how it feels to be part of a real play.” – Audrey Buhain, the Bird Woman in Mary Poppins

“All of us students had the passion for this play.  Watching the other students performing while I was backstage gave me tons of inspiration.  But the pressure really got to me, making me very nervous backstage.  Despite all that, I forgot about all that and had fun performing in my role.  The intensity that scared me went away leading to a job well done for me and the other students.  We all had a good experience doing it.” – Marga Sibug, Jane Banks in Mary Poppins

 “I was nervous when the play was about to start, but I was also excited.   All of us were in character.  People said that we did a good job and that we performed well.” – Alessandra Songco, Mrs. Hannigan in Annie

“It was fun yet hard.  I liked it a lot. My parents were very proud of me.” – Stewart Raab, Banker in Mary Poppins

“That was the first play I was in, so I was extra nervous! ... I didn’t expect the fireworks…”  - Diego Norton, Kurt in The Sound of Music

“Being in The Sound of Music made my confidence grow even more.” – Carina Concepcion, Brigitta in The Sound of Music

“’Curtain Up!’ was for a good cause and the students enjoyed it.  It taught lessons: confidence (to perform on stage in front of so many people), patience (to wait for your turn), sacrifice (to be willing to do something you don’t want to do) and much more.  As Mr. Emman said, ‘We are doing this for the love of our school!’ It will be in my heart and mind to stay, forever.”  – Nicole Lhuillier, Annie in Annie

“It was exciting to perform for the first time on stage with all the lights and sounds that I see in concerts!  I was so happy that my parents were in the audience.”  – Julio Consuelo, Banker in Mary Poppins

“I think the play was good for everyone.  The school gets to buy things that we need and the parents enjoyed the show.” – Dong Hua Song, Orphan in Annie

“The whole experience went well.  It may have been exhausting, but at least I had fun.  And I think the whole point of the play is to have fun and do your best.  As long as you do your best it doesn’t have to be perfect.” – Angela Ozaeta, Orphan in Annie