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 Roof, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, or The Pirates of Penzance, The Sound of Music, High School Musical, Jr., Shrek, Jr., Frozen, Jr and more!
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CAST A Performance
Thursday, January 26, 7:00 p.m.
CAST B Performance
Sunday, January 29, 2:00 p.m.
Operetta Archive
Operetta News
Lisa Ehlrich-Menard, Director of Performing Arts
Without further delay, the Bernard Zell Class of 2023 would like to formally debut the community premiere of Freaky Friday, Jr.!
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.
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.
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?
Drew Lufrano, Class of 2022
The Class of 2022 is proud to present Shrek Jr. at the annual Morton Reisman Operetta this Thursday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m. and this Sunday, March 27 at 2:00 p.m. Read more from 8th grade student Drew Lufrano, a cast member in this year's live performances.
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."
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!
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.
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.
Brandon Becker, Performing Arts Director
Watch this year's Morton Reisman Eighth Grade Operetta reveal!