Ellis Theatre was a hub of excitement when over 300 students from Buies Creek Elementary made like busy little elves for Christmas. The event was the first ever Santa’s Workshop, sponsored by the Campbell University Theatre Arts Department, Thursday, Nov. 29. “It’s Sad, so Sad when an Elf Goes Bad,” a comical play about a rogue elf and his mischievous effect on Christmas performed by Theatre Arts students, got the elementary students in the mood for the workshop that followed. Then children, ages kindergarten through 5th grade, filed onto the Ellis Theatre stage to begin work on making projects for Christmas–brightly painted ornaments, intricate wooden birdhouses, basketball hoops and herb garden planters. The toys were donated by Lowe’s Home Improvement. Milk and juice were also provided by campus Food Service.”Everyone involved was willing to go above and beyond for this project,” said Theatre Arts Professor Keith Hight. “We could not have done this without them.”Hight said the idea to conduct a Santa’s Workshop came out of his creative dramatic class. “The students wanted to have a nontraditional final,” he said. “I think this project really helped my students understand how theatre can impact the community.”Everyone clearly enjoyed themselves.”The play was fun. I liked it when Santa Claus made all the elves fall down,” said kindergartner Kiara McLean.First-grade student Tierra Hardy concentrated on painting her wooden ornament green. She affixed a picture of herself to hang on her family’s tree.”I liked the whole workshop, but I really like it in the play when Santa ate all of the cookies,” she said.”This activity gives theatre in the community a wonderful boost,” Hight said. “It shows students there is a need for educational theatre.”As soon as they cleaned up after the workshop, Hight’s students performed the play again at Harnett Middle School. “Our program is getting noticed,” he said.One point on which everyone agreed was that they didn’t want this Santa’s Workshop to be the last. “The children think this is awesome,” said kindergarten teacher Velvit Klonka. “They’ve all been asking, ‘When will we get to come back?'”Photo Copy: Second graders Emily Moreno, left, and Rebecca Sorrell busy themselves making Christmas ornaments at the Campbell Theatre Arts Department’s Santa’s Workshop Thursday, Nov. 29
Santa’s Workshop makes a joyful noise at Campbell