'Charleston!' comes to life on stage

WORLAND - Worland Middle School will present "Charleston!" the musical next Friday and Saturday in the school auditorium.

The play features 31 cast members and three students working behind the scenes, all under the direction of WMS sixth-grade band teacher Amy Wright and East Side teacher Kim Moore.

According to Wright, the play is set in the roaring 1920s, complete with Ziegfeld girls, raccoon coats, ukuleles, and gangsters. 

According to Pioneer Drama Service, the book the play is based on is by Tim Kelly. Music and lyrics are by Bill Brancoeur. The plot centers around the 18th birthday party of Polly Pepper and her diamond necklace she is set to inherit. Mobsters and gangsters, however, have their eye on the necklace as well.

Three of the cast members are veteran eighth-graders Echo Allen, Jacob Durrant and Hailee Hunt, who have performed in musicals all three years at WMS. Allen plays the nightclub owner, Durrant portrays gangster Mugs O'Toole and Hunt is the Duchess of Mulford.

The three said they like the play, selected by Wright, because it is funny, has a lot of bling, complete with sparkly hats and they get to do some fun things including choreography.

Allen said when she was in elementary she got to come and watch a middle school performance and she knew she was going to be a part of it when she got to middle school.

For Durrant, theater is in his blood with his mother helping out Rick Dorn in drama at the high school and at the Washakie Museum for community productions.

Hunt also has enjoyed the theater since she was young, from the first time she listened to a Broadway musical. "I love to sing and acting is my passion."

All three plan to continue their theater work in high school, but only Durrant and Hunt have an eye on performing after graduation.

CHARLESTON!

As for next week's production of "Charleston!," Hunt said people should come out and enjoy the "love story that even comes with its own airplane."

Durrant added, "It's a fun, upbeat musical. It's definitely a comedy and there is a lot of dancing."

And, speaking of the dancing, Durrant said he has struggled with the timing of some of the dance moves.

Hunt added that the dancing has also been her biggest struggle, noting "I'm a really bad dancer."

Allen said she has some lines that are similar and making sure she doesn't mix them up has been her biggest challenge.

The play opens Friday night at 7 p.m. with the encore performance Saturday at 7 p.m. There is a small admission fee with tickets available at the door.

Wright said she likes to pick plays with similar cast size, plus she liked the 1920s style of music in "Charleston!"

She noted that Jay Richard, Kevin Dide and Pam Greek have assisted with set design this year.