'Pirates' offers many great benefits

To the editor:

Congratulations to the 100-plus students and community members who made up the cast, crew and orchestra of Central High School's production of "Pirates of Penzance." Projects such as these provide many benefits for our students and the community. What may appear to be merely an after-school diversion is actually a valuable learning experience -- a laboratory where students study music, literature, art, history, communication skills, movement and cooperation with fellow students and faculty, all of which require meticulous critical thinking and reasoning skills.

I was very proud as I watched a chorus of men singing, dancing, and acting with exuberance usually only seen in the end zone after a touchdown, and of our young ladies in their roles, large and small, as they graced the stage with conviction and vocal confidence. These students have shown that with dedication, leadership, hard work and commitment they can achieve virtually anything, whether it is on stage or in the pit. This work ethic will carry over to the classroom and all walks of life.

Bravo to Cindy and Joe Bradshaw, Steve Schaffner, Brandon Hahs and Michaelyn Burns for a wonderful production, and a sincere thank you for the hundreds of hours donated in rehearsal and preparation. Finally, thank you to our administrators and parents for supporting this and other similar programs. The investment of time and resources yields tangible and valuable products: talented, well rounded, intelligent, confident students and a greater quality of life for our community.

CHRISTOPHER GOEKE, Cape Girardeau