INUVIK
When Katelynn Crocker decided she wanted to get involved in the East Three Secondary School drama production, she was unsure if she would be able to act.

Grade 8 students Katelynn Crocker, left, and Gabriella Prieto work on some acting exercises during a drama practice at East Three Secondary School on Feb. 20. Crocker is playing Humpty Dumpty and is the stand-in for Alice in Alice @ Wonderland, a modern adaption of the classic production, Alice in Wonderland. - Andrew Livingstone/NNSL photo

But when she began practising with more than a dozen other students, many who she didn't know very well, it was the beginning of something special for the Grade 8 student.

Crocker is playing Humpty Dumpty in the upcoming high school production of Alice @ Wonderland, a modern adaptation of the classic play and movie, Alice in Wonderland.

She said she was nervous about doing something she hadn't experienced before but knew it as something she was interested in.

"It was nerve-wracking," she said. "But I learned that showing emotion while you're acting and just letting go while you're on stage is really exciting."

Crocker is one of a number of students from all grades, and both male and female, that have dedicated their lunch break and time after school since October to learn their parts for the production that will be performed for students, parents and the community in June.

Letting loose on stage and connecting with the role you play isn't as difficult as the required memorizing of lines and understanding the play scene by scene, said Crocker. And as a figure skater who is used to performing in front of people, she said the intimidating factor of being on stage acting is something she knows how to handle.

"I tell myself that it's just that moment and they won't be talking about it the rest of their lives," she said, adding it helps her calm down and let her inner-Thespian take over.

Drama instructor and long-time acting enthusiast Abe Drennan said he wanted to bridge the gap he saw between athletics and the arts.

When he came to the school nearly two years ago, there was a lot of focus on sports, but not as much on music and drama, something he thought would give children more options.

He put together a group of teachers who were more enthusiastic than he had expected and they decided on the Alice in Wonderland adaptation, which he said the young actors and actresses have embraced.

What he's seen thus far from students is growth in important life skills that will help them be successful.

"It builds confidence and teaches teamwork and gets them out in front of people," he said of the public speaking aspect of performance art. "It builds leaders and creates a sense of community for the kids."

He said a number of those performing in the production are also athletes, and he said this helps the student body see that you don't have to just be an athlete or into acting.

"It breaks down the boundaries and cliques," he said. "We want to build a theatre program that will help the younger students be prepared for the future lead roles."

Building the program, he said, has its challenges. Funding is a big issue, however, he said the limited money they have to put on the production has allowed them to channel more creativity and the students are really into it.

The program is hoping the community can help with donations for costumes, materials for stage construction and props for the play.

"We wanted to find a script that was engaging and something the kids might know," he said. "We're really excited about this opportunity."