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no SMall feat arts lower School���s BiG approach to Musicals Lower school music teacher Manju Durairaj Lower school music teacher Manju Durairaj is not intimidated by the hubbub, noise and chaos of a large musical theater production. Nor is she fearful of the attention to detail or the organization that is required. Having taught classes of 50 or more students in India before coming to Latin, Durairaj explains, she is used to just about any activity looking like something out of Bollywood. So as she enters the final weeks of rehearsal for the lower school production of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, which involves a cast of more than 100 first through fifth graders, she doesn���t miss a beat. With a core group of dedicated parent and teacher volunteers who have become accustomed to the pace and are willing to work long hours to design choreography and create costumes, she knows the show will go on. ���We have seven more rehearsals, our basic blocking is done, and in April and May we will step it up a little bit,��� Durairaj said calmly during an interview in late March. ���The kids know what they are doing, and we have a great team.��� 101 Dalmations in 2010. 20 Latin Magazine Durairaj speaks from experience, having led hugely successful lower school productions of The Jungle Book and 101 Dalmations involving large casts, spectacular costumes, and lengthy dialogue and musical numbers. Throughout, she and her team have pulled it off despite being limited to weekly rehearsal sessions before school on Monday mornings. The endeavor works, according to Durairaj, because it is truly communal. Adults share their expertise and time, with a number of parents who are professional musicians and actors providing coaching. Older students are leaders, mentoring younger ones. Everyone has a job and is aware of his or her responsibilities. Expectations are high. Kindness, manners and civility are a must. At the same time, the children���s natural enthusiasm for singing, dancing and performing is the program���s greatest asset. ���The kids are amazing. They love the experience, and so much of what they do on stage is spontaneous,��� she says. Durairaj is determined to keep the focus on encouraging this natural love for performance in children and providing