Thespians say thanks for support

To the editor:

For nearly eight years the Jay County area businesses and many individuals have supported the Jay County High School drama department.

This year has been a tremendously generous year. Because of the donations of Deb Price and Brian Williamson, Closet Update, Brian Hutchison, Psi Iota Xi, Mr. and Mrs. Terry Freyburgher, Mr. and Mrs. Stump, A Cut Above, Pizza Hut, Paula Fifer, Norm’s Place II, Portland Lions Club, David Blackburn, Tim and Cindy Morris of Conservico, Portland Morning Optimist Club and an anonymous donor from Pennville, the JCHS Thespians were able to afford the expensive costs of State Thespian Competition at Indiana University South Bend, where they placed eighth, setting a school record.

Lee Habegger won The Cameo Award, which has never been awarded to Jay County. Alec Hutchison was selected as the Outstanding Senior of Troupe 574.

Students could not have afforded the steep costs of registration, housing and travel on top of the registration costs they had recently paid for regional competition. JCHS Thespian Troupe 574 would not have had the opportunity to set school records without the generous donations of this community. We do not have the words to thank you enough for your generosity.

We would also like to thank the families of the cast and crew who have helped with costumes and all that goes into a production. The families thought they would have their children back following regional competition, but state competition soon followed. The cast and crew then went right into the rigorous schedule of a full-length production.

The cast and crew would like to mention the complexities of this particular production written by Adam Long, Jess Winfield and Daniel Singer. Normally played by three actors, our cast is comprised of a dozen actors who have created their own parts, including Steve the Understudy played by Habegger. The script lends itself to improvisation and ad libbing. The students have tamed the adult nature of the script, but moments are still “naughty” in a Monty Python vein. This script choice has allowed students to develop ensemble and improv skills other productions cannot allow. The students have made this show their own and have geared many lines specifically for Jay County.

Broadway Cares has sent us many autographed items from New York City to auction during the run of the show. This is a new collaboration for Jay County High School. The silent auction will begin Friday with closing bids accepted during the Sunday performance. Winners do not need to be present to win, but will have a better chance if placing bids on Sunday.

Also new will be the seating of the audience. Audience members will be seated on the stage with the actors. Following the tradition of the Groundlings, audience members will be able to participate during the production and actors will find themselves among audience. This fast-paced, high energy production will be like nothing you have seen before on the JCHS stage.

We welcome attendance at our upcoming production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) at 7 p.m. March 3 and 4 and 2 p.m. March 5. Tickets are $5 at the door.

With sincere gratitude,

Carol Knarr Gebert

Jay County High School theatre director