13
MIXED MEDIUM
THE ARTS AROUND
EASTERN OREGON
OCTOBER 13�20, 2021
Elgin students help create world of ‘Matilda’
By Lisa Britton
Go! Magazine
E
‘MATILDA’
LGIN — Beth Wasley has
painted sets for the Elgin
Opera House for about fi ve
years, and this year she is ex-
panding the project.
Wasley, the new art teacher
at the middle school and high
school in Elgin, wanted to involve
her art class in painting the set
for “Matilda,” a musical inspired
by Roald Dahl’s book of the
same name.
She proposed the project to
Dianne Greif, Elgin superinten-
dent.
“She was really excited and so
supportive of the idea to get kids
here to help at the Opera House,”
Wasley said. “It seemed like a win-
win situation.”
Greif said she’s pleased to have
the connection between Wasley
“Matilda” shows continue
throughout the month. Per-
formances are at 7:30 p.m.
Fridays, and 12:30 p.m. and
4:30 p.m. on Saturdays.
The last show is Oct. 23. To
purchase tickets, visit www.
elginoperahouse.com or call
541-663-6324.
and the Elgin Opera House. She
said she’s been working with Blue
Mountain Community College to
fi gure out a way to off er credits
for students who are involved in
Opera House productions.
“In the past we have had kids
involved in the Opera House pro-
ductions in many ways — acting,
choreography, sets, lights, etc.,”
Greif said. “My dream, some day,
is to have classes that fi t into
that same option of acting, dra-
Beth Wasley/Contributed image
Elgin High School art students
helped paint the set for “Matilda,” a
production that opened Oct. 1 at the
Elgin Opera House.
ma and production. We will get
there, and I am excited to have
Beth on board to help continue
building that relationship.”
Wasley and her class of 20
high school students rode a bus
to optimize their work time at the
theater. The paints were ready
when they arrived so they could
get right to work.
“The kids were awesome
— so enthusiastic and eager,”
Wasley said.
The real-world art experience
seemed to resonate with the
teens.
“I’m glad I got to do it because
it has helped me realize I want to
do more with the Opera House
— maybe set design or lighting,”
Abby Saff ell said.
For the foreign exchange stu-
dents, this art class diff ered from
those back home.
“It is something new and more
practical and hands-on — very
diff erent from art classes in
Spain, which involve a lot of art
history and taking notes,” Lucia
Garcia said.
Vittoria Pasquini, an exchange
student from Italy, thought it was
an interesting approach to art.
“It was fun and exciting and
new,” Pasqunin said. “I’m going to
suggest we paint sets to my art
teacher back in Italy.”
The students painted shelves
and applied a base coat on all the
books that represent the library
(Matilda, the main character,
is big into books). Back in the
classroom, they made 600 papier-
mache leaves to decorate the
fake trees on stage.
“That took a week,” Wasley
said with a laugh.
Their hard work was unveiled
on opening night, Oct. 1.
“It looks so cool,” Wasley said.
“There’s no way it could have
gotten done without a crew of
helpers.”
A few students painted on the
weekends too, and Wasley said
Elynor Harris was also a “major
contributor” who worked every
day at the Opera House.
“Matilda” continues on Fridays
and Saturdays through Oct. 23.
For information and tickets, go to
www.elginoperahouse.com.
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