Notes from Mr. Thompson
Co-Director
It’s astonishing what a group of talented and dedicated people can do when they all move in the same direction. This was my first time directing a middle school musical, and if I’d had to do it alone, it simply wouldn’t have happened. Mr. McGraw’s support was unwavering, and Mrs. Hoey-Johnson—who has forgotten more about musicals than I’ll ever know—was a guiding light. It truly takes a village, and what a remarkable village we have! Our sets, costumes, choreography, and props all came together thanks to our amazing parents taking the lead. And the students?
They. Are. Astounding. I never had to give blocking notes twice (which has never happened).
Kids, I saw you. I saw you when you thought no one was looking—whether you were running lines, chasing that perfect harmony, bent over a hot glue gun, painting, setting light and sound cues, or practicing your steps off to the side. Your enthusiasm and eagerness to be part of every aspect of this show filled me with joy. That kind of dedication shows real character. I’m proud of each and every one of you—and you have every reason to be proud of yourselves. You lit up every dark corner of this production.
Now, it’s time to shine that light.
Let’s have some fun.
Notes from Nathan McGraw
- Co-Director
Greetings, mortals! When I saw this production several years ago, I didn’t think that I would ever be working on it. Well, here we are! This show is a lot of fun! It’s got great humor, catchy music that will be difficult to leave your head for weeks, and iconic characters. It also has some great themes about change, loss, and grief through the lens of the madness depicted on stage. The students worked really hard to put this whole production together and I am very proud of the work and enthusiasm I have seen on and off stage. It’s our greatest to finally put their work up on display with these performances. I would like to thank our actors for all of their hard work in bringing the characters to life on stage, and our tech crew for bringing the world on stage to life through their creativity and determination. I would also like to thank our parent and staff volunteers who have gone above and beyond to help these kids with everything from costumes, choreography, set, props, and so much more than what I can fit on this part of the program. Lastly, I would like to thank our production team, Aaron Thompson, Holly Hoey-Johnson, and her student teacher, Brennon Putt for making sure the sandworm doesn’t devour everyone! Break legs, everyone!
