The Sophian

Issue date: 4/20/06 Section: Arts

Founded last year, the Smith Kids Connection (SKC) currently has 41 members, all of whom are Ada Comstock Scholars with children. It started as an organization that got Adas and their kids together for activities like bowling, museum trips and outings in the park. About once a month, they would have a potluck and someone different volunteered her house, while someone else volunteered to watch the kids. After some time they decided to apply $500 in funding. In order to receive the money, they had to propose a project that would benefit the entire Smith community. Thus, "An Evening of Magic" was born. "An Evening of Magic" is a musical production featuring 19 children, though not all of them belong to Adas. The performance was opened to children of staff, faculty and people in the Northampton community. The entire production features only children and includes singing, dancing and of course, magic.

Lucy R. Rodriguez AC '08J, president of SKC, said that "The show is made up of two acts that each have six numbers." One of the numbers, the "SKC Village People," will feature children dressed up like the band and singing "YMCA." Though the band originally had five members, many more children wanted to take part in the number, so other costumes like that of a doctor were added to accommodate more people. "The show is about magic of different kinds, so we also tried to tie magic into every act," said Rodriguez. For instance, one of the numbers has ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man" playing while we discover the magic that happens while dressing up.

Rodriguez notes that while rewarding, the process has been "challenging." Their budget far exceeded $500, so the organization had to apply to various different funds, but luckily SKC got what it needed. Finding time to rehearse has also been a problem because many parents are students, and free time with which to take your children to a play rehearsal does not come easily. SKC settled on one long rehearsal a week. The kids often get exhausted and making them rehearse is sometimes difficult. Even so, the process has "created a path" for another possible performance in the future. "It would be great if everybody came," said Rodriguez. But more importantly, "Recognition for the kids would mean the world. We really want to applaud their effort."

As a result of this endeavor, Rodriguez and fellow Ada Comstock scholar Sylvia Sanchez '07 have put together a collaboration for next weekend on what happens when children, adults, parents and traditional students come together to create something special for kids. "There is magic in collaboration," said Rodriguez.

The show will take place in Helen Hills Hills Chapel on Saturday, April 29 at 6 p.m.

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