Shawnee Mission North Theatre

Shawnee Dipatch October 22, 2009 Ashlee Kieler

No Day But Today: North drama students use play theme for community service project 

Juniors Alex Montgomery, Ben Johnson and Steven Roemer act in a scene of ‘Rent: School Edition’

Students at Shawnee Mission North High School are turning the tables on a group protesting the school's production of "RENT."

The announcement of a protest Friday afternoon by Topeka's Westboro Baptist Church prompted students to come together for a silent counterprotest. The church, led by Fred Phelps, is known for picketing funerals of AIDS victims, soldiers killed in action and any number of cultural events it deems in violation of biblical teachings.

Hannah Holloway, 2009 North graduate, helped to organize the counterprotest.

"We found out that Fred Phelps heard about our production of "RENT" and he was going to protest," she said. "We knew that the news would cover it and people would find out, so we decided to take his hate speech and turn it into something positive."

"RENT" is a musical based on the lives of impoverished artists and musicians living in New York. Its characters introduce mature themes such as homosexuality, AIDS and drug abuse.

The school's drama and musical departments, along with the city of Mission and the school's Coalition group turned the themes of the production into a way to help the less fortunate of Johnson County with a food and blanket drive, Holloway said.

"We are tying in the 'No Day but Today' theme (a popular song from the play) with the counterprotest by collecting donations during the counterprotest," she said.

While the Shawnee Mission School District is not taking an active role in Friday's events, Leigh Anne Neal, director of communications, said the district and school have talked with the Overland Park Police Department to ensure safety to students, parents and staff during the protests.

"They (the school) are working and communicating with the Overland Park Police Department in anticipation if a group of representatives from Westboro Baptist Church comes to the area," Neal said. "Our focus is to continue our regularly scheduled day and make sure staff, students and parents are able to do that."

Neal said in the past the district has had groups come to protest but the school and district have not organized a protest.

Holloway said word of the counterprotest spread through a Facebook group started by Nathaniel Zoschke, SMN senior.

"We invited people to a group and event and spread the word," Holloway said. "I totally disagree with the messages that are being propagated by Phelps. I'm very against the hate messages."

Although, Holloway hasn't seen the SMN production of "RENT," which is a toned-down version of the Broadway production, she said the school was doing a great thing by performing it.

"Regardless of how censored it is, it's a fantastic play," she said. "I'm very proud of my high school. It's a really fantastic high school. It was a huge part of my life and to see someone go up and insult it, I wanted to show my pride and turn this negative into a good thing."

Sun Publications October 21, 2009 Kristin Babcock

No Day But Today: North drama students use play theme for community service project 

Junior Ben Johnson and senior Steven James act in a scene of ‘Rent: School Edition’

A musical production has inspired Shawnee Mission North High School students to take action.

Drawing from a central theme of their production of “Rent,” students have developed a service project called “No Day But Today.”

“Knowing the show might prompt some controversy we tried to pick a theme from the show that everyone can agree on,” Mollie McNally, show director, said. “Instead of concentrating on something that divides, we thought we could band together and show there is more to the theme (of the show).”

The rock musical “Rent” debuted on Broadway in the mid 1990s, gaining critical and audience acclaim as well as the Tony for Best Musical.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning musical tells the story of young artists who live in New York in the late 1980s. The musical chronicles their struggle to survive as poor artists and live with the diagnosis of HIV among several in their community.

In recent years, a modified version of the show called “Rent: School Edition” has become available. This is the version students will perform at North, 7401 Johnson Drive, Overland Park.

This version has fewer displays of affection, the removal of a controversial song and some of the strong language changed, McNally said. However, there was concern that some people would be upset by a musical production that includes characters who have AIDS, characters who do drugs and characters who are homosexual, McNally said.

The show also has prominent themes of friendship, living for the present, and taking care of each other, she said.

“It has kept true with the same characters and plot,” McNally said. “… But it really was the right thing for us to make the production more than just ‘Hey, we’re making a statement.’”

Through Oct. 26, the cast and crew are collecting food, coats, blankets and toiletries to help individuals who need assistance. Boxes have been set up in a variety of locations in Mission to collect the items.

Students are selling bracelets that say “Rent ‘No Day But Today’ SMN.” Proceeds from the bracelets and profits from the productions will go to a school student assistance fund.

“I think this is a good thing because it will show people who maybe are against the show there is more to it,” said junior Amy Hastings, who plays the character Maureen Johnson. “We are doing something good.”

Cast and crew members have also partnered with other student organizations to work on the service project. National Honor Society members helped paint publicity banners.

Students who are members of the Shawnee Mission North Coalition, a service-related organization, have also joined in to help, said junior Jessy McMillon, the stage manager and a member of the coalition.

“You can’t change people’s minds about the controversy, but helping homeless people is something we can do,” Jessy said.

The project has created awareness among some students that homelessness and poverty exist in Johnson County, she said.

Junior Steven Romer, who plays Tom Collins, said he hopes the production and service project will help open minds.

“I think this is a good production to do,” Steven said. “It might open eyes to a younger generation, or a more open-minded world.”

This musical, written by the late playwright Jonathon Larson, was written in part to attract “the MTV generation” to musical theater, McNally said.

The show ran for 12 years on Broadway and created a following of fans, sometimes called “Rentheads.”

Both Amy and senior Steven James, who plays Roger Davis, said there has been a lot of excitement in the cast to have the opportunity to be among the first schools in the country to stage “Rent.”

“It didn’t seem real that we would get to do ‘Rent,’” Steven said. “The show, to me, is about love. I think it is awesome we can give back to people who need help and I’m glad we have the chance to help them out.”

Students have worked with the city of Mission to help coordinate donation locations.

“We have a lot of needy families in this area, so we are hoping this will help solve some of their problems and refurbish some of their stocks,” said Suzie Gibbs, Mission Convention and Visitors Bureau chairwoman.

“I thought this was wonderful. I love to see kids get on the bandwagon to help people.”

Shawnee Dispatch January 20, 2009 Ashley Kieler

Themed dinner to raise funds for foundation

Beauty and the Beast will be presented at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday at the SMN auditorium. Tickets for the play are $7 or $5 for North students with activity cards.

Shawnee Dispatch April 1, 2008 Leann Sulzen

North students challenged to play mentally disabled

Terrance Newman (left) plays Lucien Smith, a resident of a care facility and Kathryn Bowman plays his social worker in Shawnee Mission North’s production of “The Boys Next Door.”

Shawnee Mission North High School students will offer a glimpse of what it is like to be mentally disabled in their spring play, "The Boys Next Door."

The play, written by Tom Griffin, tells the story of four mentally disabled men who live in a group home and their social worker, Jackie.

Senior Gregory Myers plays Arnold Wiggins, senior Terrance Newman plays Lucien P. Smith, senior Tylor Loxterman plays Norman Bulansky, junior Alex Hill plays Barry Klemper and senior Kathryn Bowman plays Jackie.

Director Ben Bartlett said he chose "The Boys Next Door," because of its message.

"I thought it would be an important play to do to give high-schoolers a glimpse into the lives of the mentally disabled," he said. "The reason I chose this play specifically is the writer of this one just presents the characters of this play so lovingly."

However, he said it was a challenge for the students to feel comfortable playing characters with mental disabilities.

"The biggest fear that was expressed was the fear that people would think that they were making fun of them," Bartlett said. "We are going to strive for honesty with these characters."

To help the students prepare for their roles, Bartlett sought out North paraprofessional Brandon Sollenberger, who works with students with mental disabilities.

Sollenberger showed the students a video that normally is used for training paraprofessionals.

"There are lots of activities they do to make them feel like they are a disabled person," Sollenberger said.

During rehearsals, Sollenberger has been present to help students make their characters seem real.

"With every character there has been something I’ve been able to draw from my experience with my students," he said.

Tylor said he has been able to develop his character through his own experiences. He helps care for a 10-year-old boy named Sam who is severely autistic, and he also helps with his father who is mentally disabled because of brain damage.

"I take it a little bit more seriously," Tylor said of his role as Norman Bulansky, who works in a donut shop.

Junior Annie Rosenbrook, who plays Mrs. Fremus, Mrs. Warren and Clara, said it was important to be realistic with her characters.

"There is a fine line between real and true and looking like you’re making fun of it," she said. "I think a lot of times people have that mentality that these people are just disabled and write it off, but they have their own things going on and they have their own lives."

KC Community News January 24, 2008 Carolyn Cogswell, staff writer

SM North's Production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie" brings together students of different backgrounds.

Freshman Billie Lubis, who dances and sings in the ensemble, said she identifies with Millie’s move to New York from Salina, Kan.

"I want to move to New York when I’m older, after school," she said. "I can relate to it because I want to be like Millie. I like being on stage, in front of people."

Megan Birdsall, 28, a graduate of North and the Boston Conservatory, and one of the show’s choreographers, is a jazz singer.

"I try to give them hard steps so they feel good about themselves," she said "I try to make them look good."

Her younger brother, junior Cameron Birdsalln , plays Jimmy Smith, the boy Millie falls in love with. Cameron said he has been performing since second grade.

Senior Kaylyn Wright plays Millie Dilmount. She has performed in "Hair" and "Nunsense" since she moved here from Georgia last year.

Sophomore Sean Foster plays Millie’s boss, Mr. Trevor Graydon.

"It’s challenging," Sean said. "I’m a pretty relaxed guy. I have to be really sharp and quick and down to business. That’s been the most challenging thing, not stepping back into the old laidback self."

Sean complimented director and drama instructor Maureen Davis.

"Working with Ms. Davis has been a great experience," he said. "She’s an amazing director. She knows so much and she’s taught me a lot."

Senior Newell Bowman plays Mrs. Meers, who kidnaps young women who come to New York to get involved in show business, and ships them to China as slaves.

Newell said Mrs. Meers, who wanted to be a star, is now bitter and wants to get back at the world.
"I can understand her being bitter about what she feels was taken away from her," Newell said.

Senior Aniseto Herrera plays comic villain Bun Foo, Mrs. Meers’ assistant. Foo and his brother Chin Ho, played by senior Brian Harris, kidnap "orphans" and provide much of the show’s comedic dialogue. He said he has performed with Cameron in productions since "Fiddler on the Roof" in the sixth grade.

Senior ensemble member Younes Chebloune said he has been in theater three years. Younes said he "discovered" theater as a sophomore, when he moved here from France.

Orchestra director Karen Hensel explained the orchestra’s placement behind the actors and dancers, rather than in the pit.

"Our goal is to make people think there’s some sort of recording back here," she said.

"Millie" is one of senior Greg Myers’ favorite shows because of his role as stage manager.

"The more involved you are with the show, the more you get out of it," he said.

Greg said scene changes are easier now because of the school’s new fly system, a set of ropes and pulleys that enables technical crew to lift set pieces, microphones and lights from an opening above the stage.

A voter-approved bond issue paid for the system, he said.

Shawnee Dispatch October 16, 2007 Leann Sulzen

Brothers direct, play in North’s production of ‘Noises Off’

Wrapped up as the duo-character Fredrick Fellows/Philip Brent, Nathan Bartlett listens to instructions from director Lloyd Dallas, played by Andrew Johnson.

Theater is a family affair for Nathan and Ben Bartlett.

Nathan is a senior at Shawnee Mission North High School and plays Frederick Fellows in the school’s production of “Noises Off” that is directed by Ben, his older brother and theater teacher at North.

As the youngest of 10 children, Nathan said having Ben as a teacher has helped them bond.

“We’ve grown closer since he’s been a teacher here,” he said. “Seeing him everyday, that just kind of happens naturally.”

The brothers are two of 10 children, and although Nathan now lives in Prairie Village with his parents, he transferred to North where the rest of his brothers and sisters went to school.

“I didn’t want to break the tradition,” he said.

Not only do they have the theater in common, they also have similar career interests. Nathan said he also would like to go into secondary education and teach English and drama.

“I like being able to teach people and being around kids,” he said.

“Noises Off” opened Tuesday and plays at 7 tonight, Friday and Saturday.

Ben said he chose the farce because he knew the students enjoyed doing comedies.

“I’d seen this before and I thought it’d be fun to do,” he said. “The thing that attracted me to the play is the quirky characters and their interactions with each other.”

“Noises Off,” written by Michael Frayn in 1982, is essentially a play within a play as it tells the story of a traveling theater group that is performing the comedy “Noises On.” Each act of “Noises Off” shows the first act of “Noises On” during dress rehearsal, at a matinee show and near the end of the show’s 10-week run.

As the play continues its run, the cast members hopelessly try to hold the production together when things begin to fall apart.

Ben said none of the characters can be described as a leading role, which gives all of the students more stage time.

“I like the fact the parts were evenly distributed and all students have a chance to shine,” he said.