"The play's the thing…"
--- from William Shakespeare's "Hamlet"

For the past six years, the play's been "the thing" at St. Mel School in Woodland Hills.

Close to 100 seventh and eighth graders participate in the St. Mel Drama Club founded by former garment manufacturer Paul Faris. Though he had no background in theatre, Faris volunteered his managerial skills in 2000 to form a Drama Club at his children's alma mater.

Beginning with the club's first production of three "I Love Lucy" TV episodes followed by musicals such as "Annie" and "The Little Mermaid," the annual shows draw increasingly large crowds of parishioners and community members.

This year's double-cast production of "Beauty and the Beast" attended by a 2,000-plus audience had a six-performance run in the Msgr. O'Connor Center during two consecutive weekends in February. The "castle" stage was dominated by a 14-foot-high stained glass window and a spiral staircase where performers descended to the stage dressed in elaborate costumes.

"What makes the drama club unique is the level of professionalism that it achieves. The costumes and sets are equal to those of many colleges," said Faris. However, it's the camaraderie the drama club produces among the students and the adult volunteers that Faris most appreciates.

"It's especially fulfilling when you see a shy child overcome their fears and get up on the stage in front of hundreds of people to deliver their lines. That's what it's all about for all of us," said Faris, who's aided by more than 14 adults who run the program.

"Producing a play of this size is not about knowledge of theatre as much as it is assembling a cohesive group of adults who can work together successfully. That's what any business is about," said Faris, who started volunteering as the drama club director/third grade math teacher at St. Mel School on a part-time basis before selling his company in 2005.

Faris has seen many benefits develop from the Drama Club. Besides the annual play, "where thousands of people can come together to socialize and renew acquaintances," notes Faris, the club provides a safe environment where the students "learn to put aside their 'cliques' while they work toward a common goal and bond with one another."

Sarah de la Garrigue, 14, who this year played "Mrs. Potts" in cast "B," said students "earn a lot of respect" from their peers by tackling challenging acting and singing roles. She agreed that Drama Club, which she attended for two years, helped her eighth grade graduating class grow closer. "We experienced a lot of funny moments together," said de la Garrigue, who will be a freshman at Chaminade High School in the fall.

Luigi Marx, 15, who played "The Beast," said his two years in Drama Club gave him "a window of opportunity" to explore acting with his friends. "Acting is another way to not be yourself and experience your friends in a different way --- it was ok to be goofy," said Marx, who plans to pursue acting at Notre Dame High School.

"Everybody really connected and ended up being good friends. Without Drama Club, we would have been more separated," said Kaitlyn Wolf, 14, who played "Mrs. Potts" in cast "A." The Notre Dame High School-bound Wolf added she enjoyed Drama Club's "fun, energetic family environment."

For many, participation in the club is a real confidence booster. "I've seen children who really didn't talk come on stage and perform at amazing levels. Their parents are in shock, and it's not unusual to see parents cry as their child takes his bow," said Faris.

"Beauty and the Beast" actors and actresses received rave reviews from Dr. Peter Grego, theatre chair at Cal State University, Northridge, whose department has generously contributed set materials and costumes. He told Faris after attending a performance: "Your kids seem more professional and disciplined than many I've seen at the high school level."

Next February, The St. Mel Drama Club players will perform the children's classic, "Peter Pan." Faris promises the production will be full of spectacular special effects, including "flying" actors. "We feel blessed to be able to put on these events," said Faris. For more information about next year's performance of Peter Pan, call Faris at St. Mel School in September at (818) 340-1924.