Lazovick

The difference this year is that the faculty became more involved than before. The new language arts chairwoman, Clair Ransom, persuaded a new English teacher -- who minored in theater arts in college -- to teach drama and put on a musical. They persuaded Laurie Ben-Ami, the new cheerleading coach, to choreograph the production and the new music teacher to conduct the orchestra.

It's the sort of improvising districts like New Brunswick depend upon when trying to make up for a major gap in funding for extracurricular activities.

As the state has implemented the New Jersey Supreme Court's landmark Abbott vs. Burke decision mandating reforms among the state's 30 poorest districts, including New Brunswick, the focus has been more on improving test scores. At the same time, a large spending gap remains between what wealthy and poor districts spend on extracurricular activities...

Russell Lazovick, the English and drama teacher who is directing the play, said that since rehearsals began in March, he has watched with pride as a group of undisciplined students has transformed itself into a focused, polished, performance-ready cast.

"This is completely new to all of them, they've never done anything like this," Lazovick said.

The students have improved more than their performance skills, he said. Several are more ambitious, more connected to the school, more confident, more concerned with keeping up their grades.

Lazovick said that one surprised guidance counselor approached him recently with the news that one of the crew members, who

in the past had trouble getting motivated, was suddenly talking about going to college to be a stage technician.

"We've tapped into a lot of natural talent that has always been here and had no outlet," said David Benus, the music teacher who is providing the recorded soundtrack on a computerized sound system.

School officials declined to say why the high school has not put on plays in past years. "We're not focusing on that. We're focusing on the positive," said Penelope Lattimer, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction.

All involved, from the students to the administrators, said they hope "Once On This Island" -- which will be performed at 7 p.m. today and 8 p.m. tomorrow with no admission charge -- marks the beginning of a re-invigorated program in New Brunswick.

By all appearances, they have reason to be optimistic about a big crowd. Melissa Monroe, 14, thinks more than a dozen family members will turn out to see her play Ti Moune, a beautiful young peasant girl. Juan Figueroa, 16, said just about everyone he knows will likely show up to see him as Papa Ge, an island god.

Spells, who stars as the goddess Asaka, said she expected her whole family as well. That includes, most important, her 30-year-old brother, Bobby Spells, an Army sergeant.

"He wants to be involved in things that I do. This will be the first real big thing," Carlett said. "He hasn't really seen me at my best."

Musical Showcases New Brunswick High Talent

BY ALEXANDER LANE

After decades of near dormancy, the stage has come alive at New Brunswick High School.

The Auditorium's rusty old lighting system is back in action, having been tweaked into shape by tech-minded students. Fledgling actors are staying late into the afternoon, fine-tuning harmonies, dance steps and dialogue as teachers bark directions from the 10th row.

And after three months of rigorous rehearsals, it will all come together tonight, when 36 students do something that hasn't been done at the school in more than 20 years -- put on a school play.

At most suburban schools, a play or two a year is expected, even taken for granted. In this urban district, it hasn't happened since 1978.

It's not for lack of talent. At dress rehearsals this week for "Once On This Island," -- a musical about a young peasant girl who falls in love with a handsome aristocrat -- there wasn't a dancer out of step. The singing voices were full-throated, controlled and on-key.

"We've always wanted to do big things, but nobody really wanted to step up and help us," said Carlett Spells, a 17-year-old senior in the cast who has taken two years of drama classes at the school.