By Allison Schieber
Features Editor
Northwestern’s theater program is getting ready for the children’s production.
The public performance will be next Saturday, Nov. 18, at 2 p.m.
This year the production is a 60-minute musical titled “Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr.” Schoolhouse Rock was originally an award-winning cartoon in the ‘70s.
The musical is about a young teacher named Tom, who is nervous about his first day of teaching.
He then decides watching TV might help him relax. Instead, various characters who represent different parts of his personality start to talk to him and show Tom how he can win over his students with imagination.
Northwestern’s version of “Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr.” will be directed by Professor Kimberly Weast and choreographed by Bethany Towns and Chloe Lehr.
Lehr is a sophomore elementary education major from Alva, and she said her favorite song to choreograph for the production was “Do the Circulation.”
“It was the first song we choreographed and it really got everybody in the mood for the play,” Lehr said. “It is super upbeat and I was really able to let loose on my creative side with it.”
Choreography can be a challenge with any musical, trying to make sure everyone is in the right place and doing the right moves at the right time.
“The biggest challenge is getting everyone on the same page,” Lehr said. “Some are new to theater, musicals and dancing while others are naturals, or have a lot of experience. Making sure everyone fully understands can be difficult, but when practice is over and we do that final run through, it always comes together. This group loves to help one another, and they work to help those who are struggling get where they need to be.”
This musical is different as the ensemble at different parts of the musical have solos where they are different characters.
Madelyn Long, junior education major, said she is in the ensemble and has a solo where she plays the character of George for a moment. This is her second time doing the children’s show. Last year she was Frosty in “Cinderella and the Candy Kingdom.”
