Middle‑school students describe months of work staging 'Madagascar'

Members of the middle‑school cast of Madagascar told the Southern Door County School District board about months of rehearsals, friendships formed and the sense of accomplishment on opening night.

Seventh‑grader Brielle told the board, “Through Madagascar was many months of hard work, and there were a lot of fun moments that we experienced.” She said learning choreography and the first read‑through were among her favorite moments because they brought cast members together and sparked new friendships.

“Auditions all the way back in November and we're already done the show in March,” said Grace Vogel, who played Alice the Lion, noting that the production offered cast, crew and tech opportunities for sixth through eighth graders; she said “we had over 50 middle schoolers involved.” Lila, who played Maurice, said the experience "builds character" and that directors made rehearsal “fun and easy.” Ariana Vogel, who said she played the giraffe, praised new friendships and the directors' role in making the run enjoyable.

Superintendent Kevin thanked the students and noted the wide community and volunteer support that goes into school productions, citing sponsors and local groups who helped put the show on stage.

Why it matters: School productions are a common avenue for student engagement, arts education and community involvement. The students' remarks highlighted the production's role in skill‑building and connecting students across grade levels.

What's next: Students and staff were acknowledged by the board; directors were invited to introduce themselves immediately after the presentations, and the board moved on to routine reports and the superintendent's monthly update.