The Union County High School GT Drama program is currently in rehearsal for a production guaranteed to bring out the kid in everyone.
The program will host public performances of “How to Eat Like a Child: And Other Lessons in Not Being a Grown-up” at UCHS Dec. 9-10.
The show features a cast of 20 with music performed by Stephen Jennings and Ryan West and choreography by Kayla Cody, Bess Lawson and Brittany Moore.
Director Ralph Lawson said the show is a series of sketches and songs which revolve around the theme of being a child.
“You get the good, the bad and the ugly,” Lawson laughed, mentioning some of the characters’ mischief such as telephone pranks. “Some of the behavior is not necessarily good behavior, but it is certainly true to life.”
Lawson also described certain moments in the show as sweet, such as a scene in which a girl who celebrates her birthday sings about the importance of her parents’ love.
“I think people who see this show are going to identify with what they see, whether it be something they’ve done or their kids have done,” Lawson said.
Last month, the group received recognition for its trimmed down, 45-minute version of the play at the South Carolina Theatre Association Festival held at Winthrop University. The group was recognized for “Excellence in Overall Production and Design.”
Since the competition, students worked on transitioning to the full-length version, complete with stage lighting and sound. Members of the tech crew said the production at UCHS will be much bigger than the one performed at the SCTA Festival. The group took only five wireless microphones to the competition, with only soloists using microphones in order to be heard over music. During performances in the UCHS cafetorium, students will utilize 19 wireless microphones — one for every actor who speaks.
“How to Eat Like a Child” — written by Delia Ephron, John Forster and Judith Kahan — is based on a book by Ephron with the same title. It presents lessons in such subjects as “How to Beg for a Dog,” “How to Behave at School” and “How to Ride in a Car.” In addition to the book “How to Eat Like a Child,” Ephron is the author of “Big City Eyes,” “Hanging Up,” and “Frannie in Pieces.” Her screenwriting credits include “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” “You’ve Got Mail,” “Bewitched,” “Hanging Up” and “Michael.”
Although Lawson’s GT Drama classes don’t normally perform musicals for their fall productions, he said he thought this one was a perfect fit.
“I looked at the students I have this year, and I thought this would be something they could pull off pretty well,” he said.
Cast members are:
Benjamin Byrd, Jessie Cantrell, Kayla Cody, Madi Gardin, Taylor Garrett, Alexus Jeter, Lily Kearse, Blayke Lawson, Bess Lawson, Kelsey Ledford, Brittany Moore, Kristen Moorman, Katie Morris, Connor Randall, Trey Smith, Tayshon Smith, Deonica Thomas, Matthew Turner, Doyle Wheatley, Brittany Williams.
Pianist: Stephen Jennings
Drums: Ryan West
Stage Manager: Carmen Gibson
Asst. Stage Managers: Victoria Lee, Ada Roberts
Stage Crew: Kelsie Coker, Kami Edwards
Prop Crew: Alex Heatherly, Kacie Faulks
Sound Crew: Evan Haney, Taylor Peahuff, Bailey Quinn
Lighting Crew: Jordan Horne, Leequan Lee
Pit Crew: Daja Williams, Destinee Wilkins, Cole Heatherly, Jasmine Sherbert
Shows will be performed for younger students from around the county Tuesday-Thursday, and public performances run Friday and Saturday, Dec. 9-10 at 7 pm. Advance tickets are available at UCHS and at the Union County Arts Council office.
Reach Derik Vanderford at 864-427-1234, ext. 23, or at dvnaderford@heartlandpublications.com
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