‘Schoolhouse Rock Live, Jr.’ to be Presented to Public, Area School Children

November 7, 2023

“Schoolhouse Rock Live, Jr.” is this year’s children’s theatre production at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. Student cast members will present a public performance of the play in Herod Hall Auditorium on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 2 p.m. Admission for all seats is $2, and tickets will be sold at the door.

The production also will be presented to area school children on Nov. 16-18.

The production is based on the Emmy Award-winning educational animated TV series for children “Schoolhouse Rock,” which debuted 50 years ago on Jan. 6, 1973, and ended in the mid-1980s.

Whether new to “Schoolhouse Rock” or those familiar with the production, audiences will be treated to the songs from the cartoons that helped to teach grammar, math, science, history, social studies and political science while telling the story of Tom Mizer, a new teacher who is preparing for his first day of school and what he is going to say to his students.

Tom turns on the TV while trying to relax where he finds that “Schoolhouse Rock” is on and the characters in the show begin talking directly to him.

The cast will bring to life some of the well-known songs that helped to teach children many lessons from “A Noun is A Person, Place or Thing,” “Unpack Your Adjectives and “Three is A Magic Number” to “Conjunction Junction,” “I’m Just A Bill,” and “Interplanet Janet” among others.

Kimberly Weast, professor of theatre and chair of the Reichenberger Department of Fine Arts, is the director and in charge of the lighting design. Chloe Lehr, Alva sophomore majoring in elementary education, and Bethany Towns, Alva junior majoring in psychology, are the choreographers. Lisa Turner, Alva senior majoring in speech and theatre, is the stage manager. Towns will also serve as the assistant stage manager. Scenic design was completed by Mickey Jordan, director of technical theatre and Herod Hall facilities manager. Projection design will be from Artemis Hillman, Cheyenne freshman, undecided major; and Emily Wright, Cheyenne sophomore majoring in mass communication.

Cast members for this production include the following:

Lena Aguilar, Chanute, Kansas, freshman, majoring in vocal music; Archer Bohlen, Ringwood senior majoring in computer science; Gabriel Bussinger, Woodward sophomore majoring in speech and theatre; Jade Campbell, Woodward sophomore majoring in instrumental music; Samuel Grinder, Sayre senior majoring in vocal music; Temberlenn Hall, Magnolia, Texas, junior majoring in speech and theatre; Kylee Harzman, Alva post-graduate; Teddie Hooker, Burlington freshman, undecided major; Madeline Long, Gate junior majoring in early childhood education; Jaden Matthews, Hennessey sophomore majoring in English education; Rylee Ott, Forgan freshman majoring in vocal music; Brooklyn Parker, Weatherford freshman majoring in vocal music; Olivia Pride, Arkansas City, Kansas, freshman majoring in vocal music; Jaylee Ross, Crescent freshman majoring in mass communication; Gail Schroeder, Okeene freshman majoring in speech and theatre; Johnathon Snyder, Oklahoma City sophomore majoring in instrumental music; and Wright.

For more information on theatre performances and courses at Northwestern, contact Weast at (580) 327-8462 or kkweast@nwosu.edu or see more info at www.nwosu.edu/fine-arts.

-NW-