Young Pine Island playwright's first work debuts Friday afternoon

Pine Island — “Swimmer and Friends,” a fable written by second-grade student Alexa Yuen, makes its theatrical debut Friday, June 8, at 2 p.m., in the Pine Island School auditorium. “Alexa has learned and accomplished many amazing things as the eight-year-old playwright,” said Pine Island Elementary Principal Jane Hamburger. “She thought of each member of her class as she wrote her play to include them in the cast.” “Swimmer and Friends” is a story about friendship. The main character, Swimmer, finds himself in uncharted waters when he plays a trick on his friends. Things get more interesting as Swimmer learns more about what it means to be a friend. All 20 students from Della Powderly’s second-grade class have roles in this play. There are ballet, solo guitar and duet performances throughout the play. The class mothers and fathers also contributed costumes and the set design. “Part of our school philosophy believes that it is through the arts that the young children who attend can often best express themselves,” Hamburger added. “Whether it is through their music, dancing, painting, or, in this example, theatre, children find their voice to say what is on their minds.” Recently the school was featured in the Cablevision program, “Neighborhood Journal,” in a special segment about reading that featured guest author and illustrator, Barbara Lanza. Pine Island School maintains its agricultural roots atop one of the “islands” in fertile Black Dirt country. Its student population reflects the diversity of the region, with its homes for farmers, artists and people in business and service. This article was prepared by Peter Lyons Hall, creative director of WarwickInfo.net.