Jim Beers, Contributing Writer
CHESTER – Months of preparation and overcoming numerous obstacles have brought the Chester High School Drama Club’s stage play, “Tuck Everlasting” ready for Thursday night’s opening. The curtain will open at 7:00 p.m. on CHS Juergen’s Gymnasium stage.
CHS Drama Club Director, Rana Hodge, observes a rehearsal for the upcoming CHS production of “Tuck Everlasting” which opens Thursday March 17 at 7:00 p.m. The production runs through Saturday March 19 with nightly performances at 7:00 p.m. and a Saturday matinee at 1:00 p.m. Tickets are $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for students and can be purchased at the Chester High School office, by contacting any cast or crew member, or at the door. Jim Beers Photo
Rana Hodge, CHS Drama Club Sponsor said, “The kids have worked hard to get the show ready and now they have the opportunity to see the fruits of their labors. These kids have faced COVID restrictions, a late start, and several other slow-downs, but have managed to get the job done. They are excited to begin their four-performance 2022 show.”
Tickets are just $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for students. Seating is first-come-first serve and plenty of good seats are available. To get tickets contact cast and crew members, call the school office at (618) 826-2302, or get them at the door.
Cast members rehearse for the opening night of “Tuck Everlasting” on Juergens Gym stage. The CHS Drama Club production opens this Thursday March 17 and runs through Saturday March 19. Jim Beers Photo
Assistant Director/Sound Track Technician, T.J. Lyons, a sophomore, said, “This is my first show. I am a rookie. There have been some bumps along the way, but since we began full rehearsals last week, the cast and crew have been great! Running the soundtrack is very intimidating for me, but I have worked hard to make things go smoothly and I am perfecting my timing.”
Isaiah Ferrell, a sophomore, is the Social Media Manager. Ferrell said, “I have been making regular social media posts on Instagram and Facebook to get the word out about the show. I also helped get tickets ready, got posters made and distributed, and helped create playbills. I further take lots of photos to document the various activities related to the production.”
Ferrell added, “I have arranged to partner with Facebook to stream the final show of the week on Saturday night March 19 at 7:00 p.m. People can see the show on Facebook by going to Chester High School Drama Club.”
CHS junior, Noah Wetzel, plays the role of Angus, otherwise known as “Tuck”. Angus is the family patriarch of the Tuck Family. Wetzel was previously been involved in the former CHS production of “The Little Mermaid” when he was a kid in the Theatre Camp.
Wetzel said, “As a person in a lead role, I have had to work hard and have a lot of confidence. I am getting really close to our cast and crew and have learned that we can be as good as we want to be. We have come a long way since we started many weeks ago!”
Another junior, Julia Venus, plays one of the other lead roles as “Winnie”, the young girl who throughout the show is faced with making a huge decision regarding her future. Venus said, “We have been working together as a team or family throughout the preparation of this show.”
“As compared to musicals where the cast is backed-up by music and a lot of flashy dancing, in a stage play, the cast has to take the stage and really act to get the audience involved. We use lots of feeling and emotion to put all of the pieces of the puzzle together to get to the end scene of our play.”
A freshman rookie to the stage, Ary Shipley, plays the role of “Granny” and is one of the youngest members of the cast. Shipley said, “I am actually doing better than I thought I could. This is my first time on stage in a main role. As a kid I was part of the Kid’s Camp in the CHS production of ‘Annie’. I am getting lots of good support from the cast and crew which helps me with my adjustment to the stage.”
Kaci Trost, a sophomore, is another newcomer to theatre. She plays the role of the “Stranger in the Yellow Suit”. Trost said, “I am the villain of the show. As a rookie, it has been stressful for me. We got a late start with the play due to numerous reasons, but everyone has been chipping-in and helping me learn the ropes.”
“I like my role. It feels really good to know that if I have issues with my performance, the cast and crew back me up and help me get through it. I am really ‘hyped’ to get on sage now!”
Freshman Lydia Smith is a stage assistant and enjoys her job. She helps with props and assists cast members get on stage at the right time. Smith further helps cast members make sure they know their lines.
“I have mixed feelings regarding my role in this production. It can be very stressing being responsible for the entire right side of the stage, but it feels good when I help make things go as planned.”
Senior Emma Bryant plays “Mae”, the mother of Winnie. She is also a rookie to being on the front side of the stage! Bryant said, “I worked on the set crew in ‘Shrek the Musical’ last year, but this is my first time in the cast of a show.”
“We got a late start to the show. Auditions did not take place until right before Christmas break. It has been crazy and difficult for me to go from behind the stage to being on the stage. I am now feeling comfortable. After a slow start, things are now going amazingly well and it will be a phenomenal show!”
Props Manager, Abby Bollmann is a senior and her job is to make sure that all props get on stage at the right time. Bollmann said, “I was the Assistant Props manager last year with the ‘Shrek’ production, so I came into this year with experience.”
“With no music or dancing between scenes, like in a musical, our job with props is more difficult. There is less time for props to be taken on stage each scene. I love this group of cast members and crew members this year. Everybody helps each other and we function as a family. I will certainly miss this next year!”
Mint Todd, a sophomore, serves as an Assistant Stage manager. Todd said. “I deal with sets, props, and assist cast members with scripts. I love it. This is fun and rewarding. Being back stage, however, I do not get to see the fruits of our efforts in front of the stage.”
Another sophomore, Ash Pfeiffer, said, “I am the sound effect person. I am new to this and have been working hard to learn my job. I have to know how and when to initiate the audio-files that go with different parts of each scene. It has been much work this week as we prepare for opening night!”
Sophomore Rylie McDonough runs one of the two spotlights for the production. McDonough said, “This is my second year running a spotlight. Last year I ran the light for ‘Shrek” which was easier because I had lots of musical cues to prompt me. This year is more difficult because there is no music or dancing.”
“I love my job but it can be stressful and there is quite a bit of unknown. It is really hard to light the stage for emotional scenes. I am thankful to have David Sullivan to team with me by running the spotlight on the opposite side of the stage.”
The sophomore-heavy crew also includes Cailey Bainter who is very busy with makeup, wardrobe, and props. Bainter said, “Things are going well. This year we get to make many of our own decisions when doing our jobs and everyone works well together! Our opinions are taken into consideration and we all feel as if the show is really ours!”
Freshman Will Welge works with sets, props and wardrobes. Welge said, “Things are going well right now. We are very busy and are trying to get the show on stage. We are almost ready, and are anxious to start the show Thursday March 17 at 7:00 p.m.”
Oddessy Flores, a senior, is the Wardrobe Manager, and she also helps with Hair and Makeup. Flores said, “I have been involved with two other CHS productions, ‘Anne” and ‘Shrek’. I am getting better with my sewing duties and enjoy making the cast look good.”
“Many times I get really stressed, however. In years past, there were three-or-four adult ladies that helped with costumes. This year, I am pretty much by myself. I have been getting the job done, however, and it is rewarding helping cast members get properly fitting costumes.”
Thursday evening March 17 the public will get the opportunity to see the fruits of the efforts of the cast, crew, and Director of “Tuck Everlasting” on stage, “live”, when the curtain opens for the first time at 7:00 p.m.
Performances will also take place Friday March 18 and Saturday March 19 at 7:00 p.m. and on Saturday March 19 at 1:00 p.m. during an afternoon matinee.