MBU News

Schoolhouse Rock Live! to Rock MBU

December 12, 2007

By Christa Graham

MBU is bringing Schoolhouse Rock Live! to campus on Jan. 18-20. The cast has already been chosen, and the excited participants are ready to start rehearsing. Cast members will perform classic songs such as “Just a Bill” and “Conjunction Junction.”

The musical will feature MBU students including Daniel Wood as Tom, Leigh Francis as Dori, and Courtney Christian as Dina. “I play the intelligent girl. I am really excited about it because it is such an energetic play!” said Christian.

The students will act out the classic cartoon series in one act, making the musical around one and a half hours long.

The cast members of Schoolhouse Rock Live! have a lot of work to do, however, because the first show starts just over one week after the Spring ‘08 semester begins.

“We have one rehearsal before finals. The cast members get a rehearsal CD and have to have everything memorized when they get back. Our first rehearsal is on the first Monday back, and we'll practice every day until the show opens,” said Kasey Bartley, a senior at MBU and the director of the musical.

Also, the cast will have to be prepared to do five performances in the course of three days. In addition to the usual night performances, the group of talented students will perform afternoon shows (matinees) to enable a younger audience to come to the show.

“It will be harder on the cast because this show is so fast-paced and energy-driven, but I’m sure that they can pull it off. I’m glad we’re going to get to do this for the schools in the area as well,” said Bartley.

Of course the musical is not just for the younger audience. “I think it will be for both young people and older people because Schoolhouse Rocks has been around for a long time,” said Christian.

#   #   #