An energetic group of McClure Middle School students inhale an after-school snack in the lunchroom during a rehearsal for the musical, “Hot Rod.”
Managing this controlled chaos is Cheryl Phillips, director, teacher and den mother to this crowd of 50 actors who have been gathering for weeks to prepare for their performance of this musical, which is an entertaining mash-up of good-time themes from the 1950s, complete with the catchy rock and roll songs, fast cars and even a few beatniks. Think of a melding of “Happy Days” and “Grease.”
Phillips, who teaches technology education, video production as well as drama classes, has been running McClure’s after-school plays for the past 13 years. She is adept at keeping this unruly crowd of students focused as they prepare to run-through the musical’s second half.
“In the fall we put on a murder mystery dinner theater and in the spring we produce a musical,” Phillips said.
The productions are designed for younger actors by Pioneer Drama, which specializes in this style of play and creating suitable storylines that require simple sets and costumes.
But this production is complex in its own way. The students run through the multiple set changes like champs, smoothly wheeling in or carrying props onto the stage while barely missing a beat.
The McClure students will perform the play four times; three of the performances will be for elementary school audiences from Lawton, Coe and Hay. The fourth performance will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 21st and will be for family, friends and the general public. That performance will be held at the former Lincoln High School (4400 Interlake Ave., in the Wallingford neighborhood). The cost is $10 at the door.
One of the stars of the performance is eighth-grader Brian Cropp, who plays the male lead and grease monkey “Jack.” His love interest is Maddy Barnes. Cropp has been a regular performer for Phillips since sixth grade and says he enjoys the experience.
“It’s a lot of fun,” he says while waiting to take the stage. “I’ve done it every year. It’s cool being the lead, too.”
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