SILVER CREEK - Spring Thing 2012: "Find Me A Rainbow" was recently presented in the Silver Creek High School gymnasium. More than 300 pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, first grade and second grade students representing 21 primary classrooms gave the annual presentation to a full house of guests which included parents, grandparents, relatives, neighbors, teachers, students and friends.
Introduced by Elementary Principal R. Scott Rudnicki, the performance included large and small group songs and poems depicting the colors of the rainbow beginning with the opening song "Find Me A Rainbow" by Peter and Janice Schmutte. Classrooms were then ushered to the choral risers for individual presentations by grade level. The pre-kindergarten classes opened the program with prepared songs and poems about the color red, which included a wonderful choral arrangement of "The Little Red Hen," sung with the children by pre-k teacher Tracy Ciancio. This was followed by yellow songs and poems presented by the kindergarten classes.
A second large group song followed with the presentation of "Colors" by Hap Palmer. The first-graders donned shades of green for their presentation of green songs and were assisted by first-grade teacher Lynn Feeley on "Bein' Green," first made famous by Kermit the Frog and the Muppets. They were ably followed by blue songs and poems presented by the second-graders. The presentation closed with a traditional rendition of the Spring Thing signature song "It's A Small World," featured at Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
The production was conceived and presented by Elementary Choral Director Daniel L. Bromsted and Elementary Instrumental Director J. Nicole Zenns, and was rehearsed during general music classes over the past several weeks. The music teachers, appropriately clad in their own rainbow outfits, provided accompaniment on piano or guitar and ably led the children through each presentation complete with T-shirts or outfits in the appropriate colors, some handmade or dyed in their individual classrooms, and hand motions or choreography to enhance each poem and song.
This performance represented a fine collaborative effort, from the support of the primary faculty, to additional sound assistance provided by Kevin Rice. The custodial staff under the supervision of Michael Daniels completed the set-up of choral risers, chairs and set pieces. Large wooden trees designed and built by Butch Shields provided an appropriate backdrop for the program, and were decorated as well with the four featured colors. Special thanks are also extended to High School Principal Jim Klubek and the physical education faculty for the use of the high school gymnasium, the SCCS administration and Rudnicki, as well as the parents and the community for their continued support of this annual program.
Spring Thing was first conceived in 1963 by now-retired music teacher Nancy A. Krestic to provide a performance outlet for primary-aged children not yet old enough to participate in the choral or instrumental music programs offered at the school. These end-of-year productions now span well over 40 years. This year's production was the 17th for Bromsted and the first for Zenns, with themes of past performances including Story Time (three one-act musical plays), An Aesop Adventure (moral stories in song), The Circus (circus acts and songs), A Disney Spectacular (Walt Disney songs), A Visit With Mother Goose (nursery rhyme songs and poems), It's A Jungle Out There! (animal songs of friendship), and It's History! (a celebration of the American Folksong) to name a few.
Next year's production is already in the planning stages for Flag Day, June 14, 2013.
