Local high schools plan plays, musicals

Theater buffs can watch an iconic musical about towns that have banned dancing, watch Dorothy try and get home to Kansas and see a play that is one of the most produced for high schools in the country.

Local high schools are planning their musicals and plays for the seasons. Hundreds of local students work hours after schools learning lines, building sets and perfecting songs.

Here is a look at the shows local high schools are planning for the fall:

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Show: “The Wizard of Oz”

When: Nov. 8-11

Tickets: Tickets are $10; children 5 and under are free. Purchase online at www.cgtheatre.org.

How many students are involved: There are nearly 100 high school students involved as well as around 50 elementary students.

What is the play about: This is the classic tale of Dorothy Gayle, who dreams of a magical world somewhere over the rainbow where she can get away from the hopeless jumble of her life. Of course, as happens with wishes, when this one comes true, she finds a whole new set of problems to overcome. However, with the help of some newfound friends, she just might make it back to Kansas — and there really is no place like home!

Why was this play chosen: We wanted to do a show that would involve as many Center Grove corporation students as possible. There are students from every single elementary school in the district who will be playing munchkins. We also wanted to do a show that audiences will connect to and treasure.

Source: Ashlee Vitz, director

Show: “Footloose”

When: 7 p.m. Nov 1 through 3 and 2 p.m. Nov. 3 and 4

Tickets: $12, $10 & $8

How many students are involved: 78

What is the play about: When Ren and his mother move from Chicago to a small farming town, Ren is prepared for the inevitable adjustment period at his new high school. What he isn’t prepared for are the rigorous local edicts, including a ban on dancing instituted by the local preacher, determined to exercise the control over the town’s youth that he cannot command in his own home. When the reverend’s rebellious daughter sets her sights on Ren, her roughneck boyfriend tries to sabotage Ren’s reputation, with many of the locals eager to believe the worst about the new kid. The heartfelt story that emerges is of a father longing for the son he lost and of a young man aching for the father who walked out on him.

Why was this play chosen: “Footloose” was chosen because of a couple different factors. We always try and pick a show that is best suited for our students and those that we believe will choose to be part of the cast. We felt that “Footloose” would be a musical which would give multiple students roles where they could be successful while exploring and growing their musical and acting talents.

Source: Michael Hummel, director

Show: “Almost, Maine”

When: Nov. 8, 9 and 10

Tickets: $8 adults, $6 students

How many students are involved: 18 cast members.

Show synopsis: The show is a series of scenes that offer a commentary on love. It is set in an area of northern Maine known as Almost.

Why was this play chosen: This is one of the top produced plays for high school in the past decade. We thought that it would be something different and a nice challenge for the drama students.

Source: Daniel Borns, director

Show: “Arsenic and Old Lace”

When: 7 p.m. Nov. 9 and 10; 2 p.m. Nov. 10

Tickets: $10 for general public ($8 for the Nov. 10 matinee)

How many students are involved: 28 actors (we have two casts) and about 10 behind the scenes.

What is the play about: This comedic play follows the hilarious shenanigans of the Brewster family. Mortimer Brewster, on the eve of his engagement, discovers his aunts, Abby and Martha, have been poisoning lonely old men in an effort to bring “mercy” to their “sad and empty” lives and burying them in the basement (with full funeral services, of course!). Despite Mortimer’s best efforts to convince them otherwise, the sisters do not believe they are doing anything wrong. Jonathon, Mortimer’s brother, shows up the same evening with his own troubles. Jonathan hasn’t been seen by his family for many years and has been off in the world living a life of crime, which he has now brought back to Brooklyn with him. He, too, wants to bury a body in the basement but is foiled by Mortimer and his aunts, who just can’t believe he would do such a preposterous and heartless thing! Meanwhile, the blame is being put on the third brother Teddy, who undoubtedly believes himself to be President Theodore Roosevelt!

Why was this play chosen: I chose this play because of the comedic entities and the flexibility of the characters. This is the first play I’ve directed, and I wanted the kids to have fun! Also, because this play is a classic, I was hoping it would elicit a lot of interest from our student body and community as well.

Source: Lauren Atwood, director

Show: “Guys and Dolls”

When: 7 p.m. Nov. 15 and 17, 6 p.m. Nov. 16, 2 p.m. Nov. 17.

Tickets: $10.00 for adults, $5 for children under 14. Tickets can be purchased online at roncalli.booktix.com beginning Nov. 2

How many students are involved: 116 students on stage and backstage

What is the play about: “Guys and Dolls” brings together two worlds — the shady dealings of gamblers and the moral guidance of missionaries. Gambler Nathan Detroit is in need of $1,000 quick, so he challenges high roller Sky Masterson’s claim that he can take any girl to Havana. Detroit’s choice is Salvation Army spokeswoman Sarah Brown — not a sure bet at all. Surprisingly, she agrees to go with him where, even more surprisingly, the two fall in love. All the while, the gamblers are selling their souls playing craps in the mission.

Why was this play chosen: “Guys and Dolls” is a fun, high-energy show that we believed would showcase some of our incredibly talented singers and dancers. It also has a number of separate chorus groups, so we knew it would allow us to include a large number of students, which is always something we like to do in our shows.

Source: Phil Anderson, director

Show: “The History of Dating.”

When: Weekend of Nov. 30.

Note: Other details for this show are still being determined.

Source: Heather Trandal, director.

Note: Edinburgh Community High School does not produce a fall show.