Students at Niwot High School will perform “Descendants: The Musical” on May 3 at 1:15 p.m. The performance is the first done by the school’s Unified Theater class.
The unified program in the St. Vrain Valley School District fosters an inclusive environment for students with and without disabilities to work together. Schools across the district offer co-curricular and extracurricular activities such as bowling, basketball, percussion, field days, robotics and more.
The 2023-24 school year is the first time schools in the district have implemented a theater program. Frederick High School was the first school to create such a program with its performance of “Full Moon Over Route 66.”
“Full Moon Over Route 66” was created by the students in the program who chose the themes and characters for the production. Kendle Butterworth, Frederick High School drama teacher, used artificial intelligence to write the script.
The Niwot production of “Descendants: The Musical” brought together a cast of talented students, a news release from the district stated. Unified students were paired with other students to help them learn lines, remember cues and escort them from the stage.
The theater team meets during a regularly scheduled class block which counts as an elective credit. It is a place where all students are welcome to have an opportunity to participate in the theatrical arts.
“I want my class to be a positive place where students can express themselves and be who they want to be. I feel it’s important and amazing to collaborate with students from all walks of life, and I want everyone to feel like they belong,” Foust said.
