Crossroads kids like their scenes in "Julius Caesar"

Drama students at Crossroads School are excited about their scenes for the Metro Youth Shakespeare performance of "Julius Caesar." One of their scenes includes the killing of the Roman emperor.

They even had a "fight choreographer" come in to help them get the most drama out of the slaying.

Crossroads School is one of 10 St. Louis area schools that will combine to stage "Julius Caesar." Drama students from each of the schools are assigned different scenes and then all get together to stage the whole play.

The public performances will be Friday and Saturday, March 3-4, at Harris Stowe College. (For ticket information, you can call the Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis at (314) 361-0101 or visit www.sfstl.com)

Sydney Frasure

Sydney Frasure is the student director for the Crossroads School scenes. The killing scene comes at the beginning of Act III of the play.

The junior from Ladue said, "The fight choreography is very cool." The actual killing action takes only about two minutes but the kids wanted to get the most out of it.

"We had a choreographer who specializes in fight scenes to come in so we could get the most out of the action," she said.

Although confined to a wheelchair since 3rd grade, Sydney has been active in theater all of her life. This is her second experience as a director, instead of a performer.

"It's hard to take myself off the stage and look at the play in the third person. It's hard but it's really fun," she said. Although she's the director, Sydney said preparation of the scenes is "more of a collaborative effort."

"I learn from the actors also," she added. There are 12 Crossroads students in the play.

She said working with a Shakespeare play is always a special challenge. She said there are always multiple dimensions to his plays. But, she thinks she's prepared.

"I've read a lot about him on my own. I've been in lots of Shakespeare plays. And, I've taken classes outside of school to learn more," Sydney said.

"And it's more fun to do a play with my friends," she added.

Madeline Emery

Madeline Emery also is a junior at Crossroads. She lives near the independent school in the city of St. Louis.

In "Julius Caesar," she plays Cassius, one of the chief conspirators against Caesar. Cassius is the one who recruits Brutus to do the actual killing. After he is stabbed, Caesar says the famous line, "Et tu, Brutus."

Madeline said she also likes Shakespeare plays because of their increased "depth of intellect." She said her first Shakespeare role was in "Midsummer Night's Dream." But, she added, "I was only a fairy and didn't have any lines."

Drama students at Crossroads take part in at least two plays a year. Madeline said she likes acting "because it helps me understand people better."

Audrey Martin

Fourteen-year-old Audrey Martin is an 8th grader and lives in Maplewood.

In the play, she plays a messenger who delivers a note to Caesar, warning of the conspiracy to kill him. But, she said, "He didn't read it."

Audrey gets help in understanding Shakespeare at home. Her father, Tom, is one of the producers at the annual Shakespeare Festival. "I know as much as my father has told me," she said.

About the lessons from her drama classes, Audrey said, "I learn patience." She said it also helps her be more articulate and "how to face my fears." She admits to being nervous before a performance.

Other schools that are preparing scenes for the joint performance include:

Carr Lane Visual and Performing Arts Middle School, Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, Clayton High School, Francis Howell North High School, Lutheran North High School, Roosevelt High School, University City High School, the St. Louis Home School Network and Harris-Stowe University.

Preparation for the March performances began last December.

About their future career plans, Audrey Martin and Madeline Emery said they haven't decided as yet.

Sydney Frasure said, "I'd like to be an actor. But, if it doesn't work out, I'd probably be a drama teacher, like Gina." She was referring to Gina Shannon who handles the drama classes at Crossroads.