History Comes Alive at Corpus Christi Wax Museum

By ERIKA MARTIN | Reporter

Photos by RICH SCHMITT | Staff Photographer

An illustrious cast of characters including Neil Armstrong, Clara Barton and Sacagawea hobnobbed at Corpus Christi School last Thursday, March 17, as the second grade put on its Wax Museum.

The annual event showcases the students’ history knowledge and performance skills as they line the perimeter school’s gymnasium like statues in a museum, dressed as their favorite historical figures to deliver speeches on that person’s life.

Taryn Wood, as suffragist Susan B. Anthony, said the project was kind of hard but her work paid off. “I enjoyed learning new facts about how she fought for women’s rights, and I thought that was really cool,” Wood said.

The students ran the show—picking the character they would portray, researching that person’s life, then composing and memorizing a 30-second address.

The theatrics were heightened with amazingly detailed costumes and props. Lucy Neilsen as Frida Khalo, for example, completed her ribboned peasant blouse and full skirt getup with a large palette of colors, an easel and, of course, a drawn-in unibrow.

Devon Lopes, who portrayed Margaret Thatcher, said she picked the former British Prime Minister because she was an inspiring woman.

“I liked how she didn’t give up,” Lopes said. “And it’s cool how she was Prime Minister for so long but only died a few years ago. That made it more recent for me.”

Sloan Mayer, who selected Jane Goodall, said she was drawn to the common interests she shares with the famed primatologist.

“I really like animals, and I figured she would be really interesting to pick,” she said. “She liked to play outside and get messy and she didn’t care, so I really liked that.”

Each student had to recite his or her speech at least 25 times, and all were impressively dedicated to staying in character as wax figures in between monologues.

Ronald Reagan was depicted by Owen Camacho, who was lucky to have some personal ties to his character.

“[Reagan] was a member at Los Angeles Country Club, and I am a member at the same golf club,” said Camacho, who was surprised to learn the President saved 77 lives as a lifeguard during his youth.

Others went out of the box with their characters, like Stella Kennedy, who portrayed Dr. Seuss. “I really like his colorful books and since I’m a girl, another girl would have been easy to act out,” she said. “So I picked him because I wanted a challenge.”

Corpus Christi Principal Ryan Bushore expressed pride when surveying the second grade’s display. With students picking figures they are inspired by, he said the project allowed for self-exploration through history.

“For them it’s bringing history to life,” Bushore said. “It makes it more real and takes it off the page, which at this age is so important.”