Brief History of J.A.G.:

J.A.G. (The Jefferson Actors Guild) is a theater group, consisting of students at Jefferson School. Now in its 23nd year, J.A.G. was created to help bring drama to our students. Each year, J.A.G. produces one play. From the beginning, J.A.G. has emphasized the process over the product. It is our goal to bring a positive drama experience to each year’s cast and crew. Teamwork, personal responsibility, and dedication are all emphasized throughout the 4-month process. Jefferson teachers Jeff Fluharty and Kristen Shuman run the J.A.G. program. Mr. Fluharty co-created J.A.G. in 2001 and he has been running it with Mrs. Shuman since 2016. This year’s J.A.G. play is titled Saving Serendipity. It is an original play written by Mr. Fluharty. In addition, Mr. Fluharty has 4 other plays that are published by Pioneer Drama Services. All of these plays were previously performed at Jefferson School.

 

Memorable J.A.G. / SPARC Moment:

In the spring of 2022, we were thrilled that J.A.G. was fully back at Jefferson School! As a result of COVID, it had been 3 years since we were able to do a J.A.G. play on the Jefferson stage. Little did we know when we finished our play in April of 2019 that it would be so long before we would get to do another live performance with an audience. The wait and the many challenges to get back made working on our play this past year a truly special experience. It was amazing to see our 5th grade actors get on stage and work together after such a long hiatus. The camaraderie and collaboration among the cast and crew were a much needed return to something that once again felt normal. We are grateful to SPARC for providing equipment and funds to our program, and we believe that the J.A.G. show this past spring was a tremendous success. It was incredibly rewarding for the cast and crew (and for the directors as well!). Thanks again to SPARC for helping to make this happen!

 

Goals for the J.A.G. Program:

  • To continue J.A.G. at Jefferson School and for us to build upon our success. This after-school drama group consists of approximately 35 fifth grade students (and possibly some 4th grade students) at Jefferson School. The focus of J.A.G. is to produce one full-scale play in the spring of 2023. The play will be performed three times: once during school for the students and teachers of Jefferson School, and two times in the evening for parents and community members. This experience will accentuate many of the goals in our curriculum by exposing students to all facets of the production of a play.
  • To expose students to an authentic, hands-on dramatic experience.
  • To teach students about the technical side of producing a play (i.e., running the microphones, using sound cues, set design, running the lighting, designing costumes).
  • To teach students about the performance aspect of producing a play (i.e, learning lines, acting, movement, speaking on stage in front of an audience).
  • To build camaraderie, promote teamwork, and increase participants’ confidence and self-esteem.
  • To get the students of Jefferson School excited about the dramatic arts.
  • To give the entire school a quality drama experience by viewing a play, and through pre-show and post-show activities
  • To give our students experience with producing a play so they are prepared to participate in the plays at LCJSMS.


Ways for the community to support J.A.G.:

  • Continue to donate and support SPARC
  • Purchase advertisements in our J.A.G. program (This is one of our biggest fundraisers)
  • Buy tickets and attend the J.A.G. talent show fundraiser
  • Attend one of the J.A.G. performances in the spring

 

The Jefferson Actors Guild, aka J.A.G., was founded in 2000 to help bring drama to Jefferson School. Over the past 20+ years, J.A.G. has produced:

2001: The Wizard of Oz

2002: The Fairy Tale Courtroom

2003: Kids to the Rescue

2004: Schoolhouse Rock

2005: Lion and Mouse Stories

2006: The Princess’s Gift

2007: Twinderella

2008: The Princess King

2009: Hydrangea Albright, Comedy or Tragedy?

2010: If I Had a Million Dollars

2011: A Trip To The Fairy Tale Courtroom

2012: Lion and Mouse Stories

2013: Haphazardly Ever After

2014: Something Special Happened

2015: Fairy Tale Misfits

2016: It's All About Baseball

2017: The Princess King

2018: Hydrangea Albright, Comedy or Tragedy?

2019: Haphazardly Ever After

2020: Fairy Tale Misfits (canceled)

2021: Virtual Play: Fairy Tale Courtroom

2022: Fairy Tale Misfits

2023: Saving Serendipity

2024: The Princess King

 

During this time, over 800 fourth and fifth graders have participated in J.A.G. Many of our J.A.G. alumni have gone on to participate in Summit Middle School and Summit High School plays. From the beginning, J.A.G. has emphasized the process, over the product. It is our goal to bring a positive drama experience to each year’s cast and crew. Teamwork, personal responsibility, and dedication are all emphasized throughout the 4 months process.

 

 

Special thanks to all our supporters, especially