OPENING NIGHT ROCKS FOR SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK

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Musical continues this weekend and next at Encore! Theatre in Spring Valley

 

by Elena Peña

 

September 9, 2011 (Spring Valley)--The Young Actors’ Theatre in Spring Valley wasn’t going to let a city-wide blackout ruin the opening night of their Schoolhouse Rock! production. The young actors and actresses had to cancel rehearsals last night due to the power outage. So they were all there today since 1 PM to prepare for tonight’s performance. Their enthusiasm and hard work was evident throughout the show, making for a memorable opening night.

 

 

The musical, based on the popular children’s television show, underwent a few modifications in order to be brought to life. While the television show featured cartoon videos with educational messages consisting of different subjects, such as grammar, math, and even social studies, the musical had a central story. It began with a teacher named Meagan, played by 13-year old Meagan Newell, who wakes up one morning with the dread of having to teach her students different subjects, afraid that she won’t be able to come up with an interesting way to do it.

 

That’s where all the different pieces of her personality, played by the rest of the cast, come in and help her solve this problem. Meagan uses her imagination and relives the songs she learned as a child from watching Schoolhouse Rock! to come up with new ways to teach her students different subjects.

 

The cast, comprised of 18 actors and actresses between the ages of 7 and 15 were all divided into four groups representing different colors. The stage was set up this way as well, making for a very colorful and vibrant setting. The performances of each song were entertaining and humorous, the audience clapped and even cheered at the end of some performances.

 

Besides providing a show for the audience to enjoy, the cast encouraged audience participation. During their performance of ‘The Preamble’, they asked everyone in the audience who had ever served in the armed forces or been public officials to stand up and receive recognition. They also made the audience get out of their seats and dance to their rendition of ‘Do the Circulation’, before going into intermission.

 

While the production had a few technical difficulties at the beginning and problems with the microphones here and there, the children never got discouraged and like true professionals kept the show running. Covering songs like ‘I’m Just Bill’, ‘Rufus Xavier Sarsaparilla’, and ‘Interplanet Janet’, the show was well executed and the choreography captured the mood of each song.

 

It’s was a wonderful, funny, and engaging musical that is worth checking out. Children and adults alike will enjoy it, plus you’ll be supporting the performing arts as well as the children and staff who have worked so hard to put it all together.

 

The Young Actors’ Theatre is located in Spring Valley at 9620 Campo Road. Performances will run this weekend with two showings on Saturday, September 9 at 2 PM and 7 PM and one on Sunday at 2 PM. They will be repeated at the same time next weekend starting with a 7 PM performance on Friday, September 16.

 

For more information and to purchase tickets visit www.yatsandiego.org or call their box office at (619) 670-1627.
 


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