Celebrating the arts

WESTFALL — Delaware Valley High School was the scene of the May 6 “Presentation Night,” for the Writers Project. The project was a spring event in which eighth graders read John Steinbeck’s, “The Pearl,” and were then treated to visits from a host of local professional artists, each of whom brought his/her particular talents to classrooms and enhanced the students’ appreciation of the book and of Steinbeck himself. Developed by the American Readers Theatre (ART), the Writers Project welcomed artists from the worlds of music, visual arts, culinary arts, film, drama, and dance. Presentation Night not only recapped a month of eclectic events but also allowed eighth graders to participate, responding to “The Pearl” with their own original poems, dramatic readings, and musical performances. Hosted by ART founder and director Jeffrey Stocker, and including the participation of many faculty members, the evening climaxed with a new ballet inspired by the novel, choreographed by John Magnus and featuring Portland Festival Ballet dancers Josie Buck and Joshua Murry. The packed house enjoyed a wonderful variety show and a vivid understanding of how the Writers Project promotes literacy and creativity. The Writers Project was made possible by Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) grant funds from Dime and Wayne banks and a contribution from the Pike County Public Library.