By Carina Cole News Reporter
On September 27, 28, and 29 Mercersburg Academy’s Stony Batter Players performed their latest production, Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr. As a crowd of people quickly shuffled into the Hale Studio Theater, there was an excited murmur of discussion as they found their seats. With a full house for each performance, the audience eagerly waited to hear their favorite classic Schoolhouse Rock! songs including, “I’m Just a Bill” and “Conjunction Junction.” This production took its viewers back to Saturday mornings in front of the TV as a child, or sitting in rows of desks during an elementary school class. As the lights dimmed, a hush fell over the crowd and the show began.
The play featured singing and dancing, as well as an interactive singing experience that kept the audience engaged the whole time. Songs like “The Preamble” invited the audience to follow along and sing, bringing back childhood memories.
The process of preparing for the show started in the summer, choosing songs, rewriting lines, blocking scenes. English teacher Matt Maurer, the director, said his favorite part of preparation and the days leading up to opening night was “once everyone had all their lyrics, lines, and blocking memorized, so the actors could really work on getting into character.”
Set and costume design were significant contributors to what brought the play to life. The colors payed homage to the bright technicolor cartoons of old Schoolhouse Rock! episodes. Lighting changed with the mood of each song as well. Theater teacher Kelly Dowling, stage manager and production designer, admitted that making sure all parts of the set and costumes were there was a cause for stress.
Tech crew members Joyce Cui ’22, Charlotte Stauffer ’22, and Charli McInturff ’23 helped design and paint the set. Stauffer said she “loved painting as well as being the run crew sound assistant.” However, one of the hardest parts of her job on tech crew was “handling the mic packs.”
The cast’s favorite part of the experience was bonding during rehearsal. Emma Shuford ‘22 said “getting to know the cast and getting closer to everyone” was definitely a favorite part of the run-up to the show.