CURTAIN CALL KIDS WORK AFTER HOURS ON 'LORAX'.

Byline: Alex Dobuzinskis Staff Writer

BURBANK - Bret Harte Elementary School will stage a traditional school play next month, but preparing for the show has not been a regular exercise for the 72 children in the production.

With schools focusing on improving their standardized test scores in reading, writing and math, many elementary schools no longer have time to make theater part of the regular school day. So instead, Bret Harte made the stage production of ``The Lorax'' by Dr. Seuss an after-school activity.

Parents put together the program with the support of donors and more than 40 volunteers.

``Mostly we want (children) to get excited about the theatrical arts, and also to know that there's more to it than just acting,'' said parent volunteer Mary Cutone, 41, who is producing the show.

A series of weekly workshops began in February, and students are learning about improvisation, voice acting, lighting design and other subjects from volunteers who have worked in the arts.

In one classroom last Tuesday afternoon, students learned how to animate a child-size puppet made of tubing, cardboard and other recycled materials. With four children making the puppet move, volunteer teacher Addie Dugger taught the class about bringing the inanimate object to life, and chided the children for giving the puppet poor posture.

``Does anybody stand like this?'' Dugger asked as she slouched over. ``Maybe King Kong.''

In another room, students were given flashlights capped with paper cups and colored filters to learn about stage lighting.

Ann Ouellette, who is one of four regular teachers at the school who volunteered for the project, said she has enjoyed the experience.

``It's a new experience teaching dance from teaching math, science and reading all day,'' Ouellette said.

The last time Bret Harte staged a school play was 1990, said Principal Diane Berger. In addition to the pressures of improving standardized test scores, funding constraints have prevented the school from putting together an annual school play, she said.

Organizers were able to pay for props, lights and other materials with more than $4,500 in donations, most of which came from the Burbank Federal Credit Union, the Kiwanis Club of Burbank, The Walt Disney Co. and Warner Bros. Studios. Students were also required to pay $25 each to register.

While Tom Kenny, the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants, will have a voice-over role in the play, the children are doing most of the work and have already penned a song that will accompany the play.

``The kids pretty much control the show,'' said Eli Peppmuller, 11. ``And you don't have to be in the show, like if you have stage fright you can shoot videos of it and make the set.''

Hawley O'Brien, 9, said she wants to act in the show.

``I enjoy being on stage and talking to people and expressing myself,'' she said.

Alex Dobuzinskis, [phone]

alex.dobuzinskis(at)dailynews.com

IF YOU GO

--The production of ``The Lorax'' is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 19 and April 20 at Bret Harte Elementary School, 3200 W. Jeffries Ave. Admission is free, but donations are accepted.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

Photo:

(1) First-grader Max Wiesman practices in an after-school pantomime class taught by Addie Dugger at Bret Harte Elementary School.

(2) School kids involved in putting on ``The Lorax'' act out a scene with their custom-made Dr. Seuss-inspired puppet.

(3) Voice acting instructor Leslie Rudolph offers advice to students participating in the theater project.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer

Box:

IF YOU GO (see text)