Eighth Grade Operetta

In our Bernard Zell on Broadway program, seventh and eighth graders collaborate on theater performances. The work they do throughout these years culminates in an 8th grade play—the annual Morton Reisman Eighth Grade Operetta, where students perform musicals such as Fiddler on the RoofJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, or The Pirates of Penzance, The Sound of Music, High School Musical, Jr., Shrek, Jr., Frozen, Jr and more! 
There are no resources or collections to display
CAST A Performance
Thursday, January 26, 7:00 p.m.
CAST B Performance 
Sunday, January 29, 2:00 p.m.

Cast Biographies

Operetta Archive

Operetta News

🎭 Get Excited for Operetta!
Ms. Ehrlich-Menard, MS Humanities Teacher and Advisor, and Mr. Shapiro, 8th Grade Humanities Teacher and Tiyul Coordinator
Kol HaKavod, Class of 2023, for their 8th Grade Operetta Performances!
Lisa Ehrlich-Menard, Director of Performing Arts

For this year’s 8th grade Morton Reisman Operetta, the Class of 2023 transported their audience back to high school for Freaky Friday, a heartfelt and comedic musical of a mother and teen switching places to appreciate one another’s struggles, learn self-acceptance and realize the immeasurable love and respect between a mother and daughter.

Watch: The Class of 2022 Presents: Shrek Jr.
Brandon Becker, Director of Performing Arts

The entire Bernard Zell community is so incredibly proud of our 8th-grade performers and hope you will join in celebrating their success by clicking the link for their performances below.

Shrek Jr. Operetta Set and Props: We Walk the Talk with Recycling!
Gili Sherman, MS Art Teacher

What do recyclable materials and this year’s Operetta have in common? You guessed it!  Almost all the scenery, sets and props for Shrek Jr. were made using brown grocery bags, old cardboard boxes and paper towel rolls. Can you guess what students used for the tree trunks, the puffy leaves on the vines or the flowers on the curtains?

Announcing Shrek Jr., the 2022 Morton Reisman Operetta
Brandon Becker, Performing Arts Director

The Class of 2022 has been busy at work since January rehearsing for the return of the Morton Resiman operetta. In addition to learning the choreography, music and staging for Shrek Jr., they have also been creating all of the techinical elements that will give the musical that special "magic touch."

Videos: 64th Morton Reisman 8th-Grade Operetta
Brandon Becker, Director of Performing Arts

Since 1957, the Bernard Zell Morton Reisman Operetta has provided our outgoing eighth-graders 64 years of unique production opportunities and most importantly—an opportunity to collaborate and grow together as a class. Demonstrating their creative genius on the big screen for our community to stream together while apart? That's just an added bonus!

Frozen Jr., the 2020 Morton Reisman Operetta: Purchase Tickets March 17
Brandon Becker, Performing Arts Director

Frozen Jr., the 2020 Morton Reisman Operetta is fast approaching! Join us as we celebrate our first operetta in the Pritzker Pucker Performance Space for a truly magical and memorable production! Tickets will be available on Tuesday, March 17 for $10.

Do You Have These Items? Clothing Donations Needed for 8th-Grade Operetta
Brandon Becker, Performing Arts Director

The debut of our annual Morton Reisman 8th-Grade Operetta is almost one month away and you can see that while we have gotten a solid start on costumes, there are still many empty slots to be filled! Click below to see items needed for this year's production.

8th Grade Operetta Reveal
Brandon Becker, Performing Arts Director

Watch this year's Morton Reisman Eighth Grade Operetta reveal!