528 Theatre
Synopsis…
It’s the fabulous 50’s and the little town of Shingleville is rife with suspicion and speculation. Sprout’s Malt Shop is filled with quirky characters, and one of them is guilty of murder! After all, they all have a motive when the reprehensible and unreasonable Jerry Atrick falls over dead after an unexpected blackout. It’s up to Sheriff Colin Allcars to find out who is responsible for the foul play. Was it the trouble-making greaser, Noah Count? Or the bubbly and annoying know-it-all cheerleader, Bobbie Pinz? Surely not her sidekick, Shirley Knott! Could it have been the waitress, Dee Lighted, who takes your order, but brings you whatever she feels like? How about the sultry starlet or the dim-witted jock? Order up!
The current cast consists of 21 students from Grades 5 though 8 who rehearse every Monday through Thursday for 2 1/4 hours a day after school. Sixteen students are in support roles such as stage crew, lighting crew, sound crew, set painting and costume assistants.
This production of Murder at the Malt Shop is directed by Mr. Dan Clark, a retired EASD teacher, who is assisted by Mrs. Mandy Ulrich, costumes, Mrs. Sue Izydorczyk, Set Painting, Miss Kimi E, Student Co-Director, Miss Lily M, Student Co-Director, Miss Lily P Lighting Crew Mentor, and Miss Marissa S, Sound Board Mentor.
Public shows will be on November 2 and 3 at 7:00 in the EMS Auditorium. Admission is $6.00 for adults and $3.00 for students and children.
It’s the fabulous 50’s and the little town of Shingleville is rife with suspicion and speculation. Sprout’s Malt Shop is filled with quirky characters, and one of them is guilty of murder! After all, they all have a motive when the reprehensible and unreasonable Jerry Atrick falls over dead after an unexpected blackout. It’s up to Sheriff Colin Allcars to find out who is responsible for the foul play. Was it the trouble-making greaser, Noah Count? Or the bubbly and annoying know-it-all cheerleader, Bobbie Pinz? Surely not her sidekick, Shirley Knott! Could it have been the waitress, Dee Lighted, who takes your order, but brings you whatever she feels like? How about the sultry starlet or the dim-witted jock? Order up!
The current cast consists of 21 students from Grades 5 though 8 who rehearse every Monday through Thursday for 2 1/4 hours a day after school. Sixteen students are in support roles such as stage crew, lighting crew, sound crew, set painting and costume assistants.
This production of Murder at the Malt Shop is directed by Mr. Dan Clark, a retired EASD teacher, who is assisted by Mrs. Mandy Ulrich, costumes, Mrs. Sue Izydorczyk, Set Painting, Miss Kimi E, Student Co-Director, Miss Lily M, Student Co-Director, Miss Lily P Lighting Crew Mentor, and Miss Marissa S, Sound Board Mentor.
Public shows will be on November 2 and 3 at 7:00 in the EMS Auditorium. Admission is $6.00 for adults and $3.00 for students and children.
The workings of a play: Murder at the Malt Shop
Staff Writer: Vic
EIMS theatre preformed Murder at the Malt Shop this fall. Dan Clark, a retired teacher turned theatre director, has directed the plays and musicals for many years at the EIMS. Before retiring and going into middle school theatre, he bounced around teaching different grade levels for most of his teaching career; he has gone from 4th at Clay to Lincoln in 2003 to then finally he moved to 6th and 5th grade at the middle school. He chooses the shows every year. How does he do it? Simple: for the fall plays he chooses an “easy” play for students because the sign-ups and auditions are in the second week of school and then the play is just six weeks away. The spring musicals are a different story in terms of choosing the musical, the actor/actresses, and the costumes. There is no specific process that is needed other than if it is school appropriate and that it is within an hour span so, anything goes. When choosing actors/actresses Clark looks at their auditions first, then looks at their past commitments in previous shows. After much consideration, he finally releases the cast list a week before support crew is announced. It seems for some who don’t get chosen to be a part of the show that it was an outrageous fortune, but he has almost twice the amount of people he has space for audition.
Two 8th grade students, Carly and Erika who are participating in the production were kind enough to answer some of my questions. When asked about how they enjoyed practice and preforming, they both were very happy and have been in most productions while they were in the intermediate and middle schools. I then went to ask them how balancing the practices with homework and family life was, they simply said it was something you had to be prepared for and was very difficult at times if you tend to procrastinate. The last question I asked was if they would suggest others to partake in shows and they both said an astounding yes, mentioning that it was like being a part of a family.
It is an amazing adventure to be a part of a theatrical show. The lights, the costumes, and the family experience with other crew members. You should be a part of it yourself! Sign up to be on stage or if you don’t want to be the center of attention, a crew job is just as fun.
Two 8th grade students, Carly and Erika who are participating in the production were kind enough to answer some of my questions. When asked about how they enjoyed practice and preforming, they both were very happy and have been in most productions while they were in the intermediate and middle schools. I then went to ask them how balancing the practices with homework and family life was, they simply said it was something you had to be prepared for and was very difficult at times if you tend to procrastinate. The last question I asked was if they would suggest others to partake in shows and they both said an astounding yes, mentioning that it was like being a part of a family.
It is an amazing adventure to be a part of a theatrical show. The lights, the costumes, and the family experience with other crew members. You should be a part of it yourself! Sign up to be on stage or if you don’t want to be the center of attention, a crew job is just as fun.