Published on November 8, 2024
This year’s Fall Play at the Middle School is 'Gooney Bird Greene and Her True Life Adventures'.
Show Synopsis (taken from playbill):
“Summer has come to a crashing halt in the little town of Watertower. The kids don't want to be back in school; they are listless and bored. Suddenly, the classroom door bursts open and there, wearing pajamas and cowboy boots, stands red-headed Gooney Bird Greene! "Hi! My name is Gooney Bird Greene—that's like the color with a silent 'e' on the end and I like to be smack in the middle of everything!" The class is never the same again. Gooney Bird speaks with confidence and dresses in outrageous outfits including Capri pants, blue knee socks, high-topped basketball sneakers, and elbow-length black gloves. But most wondrous of all, she casts herself as the hero in the most improbable, outlandish stories: how she arrived from China on a flying carpet, how she got a lovely pair of diamond earrings at the local palace, how she directed a symphony orchestra while driving through the center of town, and how her beloved cat, Catman, was consumed by a cow! Are these stories really true? Of course, they are because, as Gooney Bird proudly proclaims, she only tells "absolutely true stories!" In blending funny and memorable characters with colorful details and her distinctive flair for suspense, Gooney Bird awakens the students' dormant imaginations. They come to realize their lives are as unique as Gooney Bird's and that they, too, can cast themselves as the heroes in their own true tales of discovery and adventure.”
The show will run on Friday, November 15th at 7:00 pm and on Saturday, November 16th at 1:00 pm. Tickets are available for purchase at the Middle School on Thursday, November 14th from 6:00 - 7:00 pm and will also be available one hour before show time each night. Tickets are $7.00 for adults and $3.00 for students.
"[Staff, students, and the community should come to see the show] …because it's a good and funny show, and it has an entertaining story. We worked as hard as we could to make an enjoyable experience for people to come and watch." - Jackson Wainman, Barry.
Meet the Cast:
Mrs. Pidgeon - Nola Lobo
Gooney Bird Greene - Addison Woge
Felicia Ann - Alaina DePaul
Chelsea - Willow Johnson
Beanie - Noah Leaman
Tricia - Valyn Gagliardic
Keiko - Chloe Bechdel
Malcolm - Oleksandr Hrynuik
Barry - Jackson Wainman
Nicholas - Adam Walker
Mr. Greene - Nicholas Weber
Mrs. Greene - Madelyne White
Mr. Prince - Grey Calender
Conductor - David Wood
Cow - Cohen De La Cruz
Schinhofen - Regina Steranowicz
Ensemble - Melody Batturs, Aletheia Campbell, William Ardon-Walker, Marlee Weaver, Isabella Hoffman, and Lily Turner
The play is being directed by Justin Droegemueller and the costumes were made by Faith Higley.
"We have an amazing group of 7th graders who have learned a lot from our returning 8th graders. If you saw an elementary school show last year, you'll recognize a few faces. It's been wonderful to see Gooney Bird inspire so many students -- she teaches her classmates to break out of their shells and try new things and that's what we are seeing theatre do for these students. They are coming to life and bringing new energy to the show every day.” - Justin Droegemueller, Director.
Students who are interested in participating in future shows should keep an eye out on the auditorium door for postings of upcoming shows. Auditions and Tech Crew sign-up information will be posted in early March.
We hope to see many community members at the show!