Colony Rocks

PALMER �” Earlier this year, Colony High School (CHS) Drama Club leaders put their heads together. They wanted to produce something fun, entertaining and valuable, but educational, historic and on the level of community service. After much consideration, like ideas gelled and for the first time in CHS history, the Drama Club is putting on two completely different shows at the same time.

First up, staff decided to offer up a show particularly suited for elementary kids.

Director Brian Mead arranged for several local schools to come to CHS’ Theater to witness live renditions of the ‘70s and ‘80s hit television cartoon series, “Schoolhouse Rock.”

“School House Rock, Jr.” a non-stop, one hour musical extravaganza, was showcased during two school days last week for Mat-Su Valley school children who were bused in for the occasion. The cast will follow up with an encore performance for the public at 2 p.m. this Saturday at CHS’ Theater in Palmer.

CHS’ music director Steve Byrd said parents should bring kids (through middle school age) to see Saturday’s matinee show in hopes they’ll fall in love with the educational gaiety of songs such as “Conjunction Junction,” “Three is the Magic Number” and “I’m Just A Bill.”

Every Saturday morning between 1973 and 1985, cartoon characters assembled for a few minutes at a time on the ABC Television Network to help kids learn in-between Scooby Doo and other kids’ shows. The institution of learning was called “Schoolhouse Rock” which produced 41 animated shorts over 12 years that gained in popularity over the years and stuck with that generation, now in their 30s and 40s.

In the CHS musical, the main character, Tom Mizer (Elliot Gilbert), wakes up to the thought of facing his first day as a teacher. He’s a bit nervous, turning on the television to calm down. He sees Schoolhouse Rock and is about to turn it off when the singers talk directly to him, demonstrating how he can teach his lessons in a fun way on his first day.

The School House team, all dressed in tie-dyed attire and bellbottoms, pulls Gilbert right into the music where he learns songs on all subject manner familiar with grade school kids.

“It seems that Saturday’s matinee had the adults who watched the show enjoying it as much as the performers and the kids in the audience,” Byrd said.

Singers include Darlene Wilson, Destiny Poulsen, Ashley Kangas, Kitty Mahoney, Carlie Belanger, Jordan Guinn, Tori Haag, Heidi Wilson, Jessika Brocker, Taeler Pfeiffer, Emily Williams, and Jessica Roberts, along with a special appearance by Alex Albrecht, the voice of Audrey (the plant from outer space) in last season’s “Little Shop of Horrors.”

On the same stage as “School House Rock, Jr.,” playing tonight and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., is the British comedy “Blithe Spirit,” written by Noel Coward. Some audience members may be familiar with this production, involving a ghost, as it was the model for “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir,” a 1960s television series that lasted two seasons.

“Blithe Spirit” is managed with fluency and style by a clever and experienced group of actors under the direction of CHS teacher, Gena Graham.

“Graham brings a black and white style to the show that makes color important, indeed,” Byrd said.

In the play, Charles (Michael King), a writer, wishes to bring a psychic (Sofia Fouquet) to his home to conduct a s�©ance, so that he can witness “the tricks of the trade” for a novel he is writing. He is a skeptic to his soul and intends to make fun of the profession in his upcoming book. Charles’ current wife, Ruth (Jess Young) talks to him about his first wife, inquiring about her attractiveness in comparison with her, which he won’t touch with a ten-foot pole. Another couple is invited to the exciting endeavor, Doctor Benopaul and his wife (Yorel Simmons and Roxie Thorpe), providing yet more skepticism toward the actual possibility of “crossing over” to talk to the dead.

The real fun begins when Charles’ deceased first wife (LeeArron Simon), appears to him, but not to Ruth. Taylor Campbell adds to the comedy as the maid.

“It’s a very British play,” Byrd said. “A lot of it is very improvisational, which gets quite hilarious.”

“The kids do a great job,” he said. “Gena trained and kept them at it. Kids usually drop an accent in the middle of a production, or add over-the-top pronunciation, but these are experienced actors who wanted more meat and character development, so they pulled it off nicely.”

Brian Mead, director of “School House Rock, Jr.,” designed sets for both productions, keeping it simple with the musical; fairly British and detailed for “Blithe.”

Byrd said the CHS Drama Club has seen its fair share of financial and recruitment problems over the years, but that it manages to produce hit due in large part to the interest of the students.

Byrd said in “Blithe,” Sofia Fouqet, a Colony High sophomore, steals the show in every way possible as the nutty psychic looking to pull off her hoax.

“She’s really stepped up,” he said. “She’s had minor parts in just about everything we’ve put out in the past two years. She’ll be a commodity if she sticks with it.”

“It struck me how ‘School House Rock’ has about 14 girls performing, many of which have never been in shows before. I think next year we’ll have quite a group of fine actors on board.

Byrd said next year he plans on showcasing “The Diary of Anne Frank” and his most ambitious endeavor yet, “Les Mis�©rables.”

“It’s mind boggling to think we could pull that off,” he said. “My wife will be directing ‘Les Mis.’ She’s had successes at Colony with ‘West Side Story,’ ‘Fame,’ and ‘Grease.’ Musicals always do it. Next year we’re going to rock ‘em, sock ‘em for that show.”

Byrd said a bonus for him this past year has been watching his after-school kids develop into real experienced cast members.

“We set new records with ‘Shakespeare in Hollywood,’” he said. “These guys can sing, dance, act and have shown real dedication to stage presence.”

The Colony High School Drama Club is a non-budgeted after-school organization that has raised its own funds to promote and design productions since 1991. Typically, Byrd said, $1,500 to $4,000 is needed to fund a new school production, money Byrd said comes from audience support.

“Musicals are huge numbers and always sell well, especially if it’s a known show,” he said. “It’s the same thing at VPA. Unless it’s a main play, like ‘To Kill A Mockingbird,’ it’s harder to rope people in. Unless you’re the parent of one of the actors, that is.

This club pays for itself completely and these students make it happen.”

“School House Rock, Jr.” will finish its week run at the Colony High School Theater at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Admission is $6 at the door.

“Blithe Spirit” premieres tonight and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on the Colony High School Theater.

Admission is $7 at the door.

Contact J.J. Harrier at valleylife@frontiersman.com.