European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 19, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday december 19, 1988 the stars and stripes Page 9 education putting on Snow in f Oil hoho to As kids know Byro Jensen staff writer Butzbach West Germany four Days before inc Christmas program a the Cle Memary school in Sulzbach this year san la Claus broke his Arm. H s not inc worst thing that s happened in the 13 years Danna Henc has been creating Holiday musicals at the school. A s unpredictable when you re working with kids. One year 1 had one a Inland one throw up the tul la Texas native said. Santa s or my her Matthew Armstrong s Bro Ken limb was the Only major setback this year but that old show business axiom was brought to life when he show went on. Matthew is too much of a trouper to miss the production which was performed four times tuesday. It s an experience Saij the ii year old sixth grader and Veteran of past productions. I jus think it s fun to act. I just like dressing up and acting As someone  Matthew and other students at Burbach have plenty of Opportunity la exercise their thespian tendencies. Behne develops Afri slams and Spring program each year using students from various grades and often Cre ates programs for particular grades. This year s program was railed Santa and the Elf factory a Light talc in which Santa agrees to Lake so Craf children to his North pole workshop to meet the elves who were dressed in Bright red hats White tops and red or White tights. Santa we be been Good Girts and boys please take us to see inc elves and toys a girl implores. The rhyme is intentional. Al the colourful factory decorated by artwork from the classes of Art teacher Davina Judis an Elf says look at this list look at its size i la have to gut some More  although the scrip is original the songs Are not. This years program featured eight tunes mixed with the dialogue. I Start with the Story and put in songs that fit with the Story Behne said. Sometimes i have the kids make up the Story but that lakes a lot of  every program is Lime consuming. Rehearsals for this year s production began Well before people were in the Holiday spirit. We pick kids in september and they Start a chars ing in  a conc said. It s kind of funny. They re pulling up halloween decorations and singing Christmas  Behne spends two or three weeks in her music classes listening for voices that will til the program she has planned. This year so children from the third fourth fifth and sixth grades were chosen even with All that time it was a close race to the opening curtain. A waterline break cancelled school and rehearsal one Day. Snow slopped another rehearsal. A week of rehearsals was missed when classes moved to a new building and another week was can celeb during Parent conferences. Yet another practice was called off when Behne s flight from London was delayed by fog. I thought we were going to have to cancel the pro Gram she said.  then Santa broke his Arm carrying a ladder across the gym. That was the Las Straw Behne said. 11 would be easier if a conc simply taught the Chil Dren a Tew carols stood them in a line and had them King. Out that s Loo easy and Rio enough of an Educa Tion. V \ kids enjoy the music being tied together with acting. Children remember something that s visual teacher Donna Behne conducts 80 Bini coach elementary students in a singing session for the Holiday musical. She said. If they arc chosen to be in it they la remember it the rest of their  parents Loo remember inc special programs. Mat thew Armstrong s Molher said Behne is the reason. Obviously the program is her Maryjane Arm Strong said. 1 think she s wonderful. The children love her As parents i think we tend to take it for granted but we re just extremely pleased. She has never repeated a program.". Principal Harold so Jirberg said the original pro Grams mean a lot to the school which has an enrol ment of nearly 1,000. It s so important for this Community to feel that their children Are getting an experience that is outside the Ordinary he said. Tiff Sulzbach Community feels isolated because of its location in a Small town he said. Plus members of the 3rd army div stationed there Are on nearly con Stant Maneu vers. They re out All the time. Dad s gone ally he Lime Schyberg  makes a conc s original Holiday and Spring pro Grams even More sign i Fichani he added. The children notice too. Sixth grader Erica Ashe who played mrs. Claus said Behne has Pui the acting Bug in. Her. She caches me my parts Well and tells me not to be scared to talk loud she said. You play different characters and it feels neat. When you go up on stage you become a new person.". A conc said she is always thinking about possible Story ideas for the programs. Usually her stories arc guided by the children available. Mainly 1 look at the kids and think whal sort of program could i do with them ". She  it is never too Early to got started Bechn e said i already know what i m going to do in the  Elf. Georgiana Cillis gets a helping hand from mrs. Taus played by Erica Ashe. Both Are a a Gra