The Clinton County Youth Theatre (CCYT), the Friends of the Frankfort Community Public Library, and Executive Producer Gem City Junction announce their 2023 Winter Show, including cast and production details. The show, which is led by Kennedy Houser, runs in Skanta Theatre Thurs.-Sat., Jan. 26-28, at 7:30 with a matinee at 2:30 p.m. on Sat. Jan. 28. Tickets for the show are on sale now.
Wayside School is thirty stories high with one classroom per floor. It was meant to be one story with 30 classrooms, but at least “the builder said he was sorry.” Mrs. Gorf is turning kids into apples, pigtails are speaking, and there is a cow loose in the building. Join Mrs. Jewls class for their wild adventures as our cast brings Wayside to life!
Adapted for stage by John Olive, Sideways Stories from Wayside School, is based on the popular book series by Louis Sachar. The show includes a large cast of quirky characters, many named for the students Sachar worked with at the real-life school Hillside Elementary in Berkley California. The original novel spawned not only the stage play, but also the movie and television series, Wayside.
Kennedy Houser, who was a part of CCYT as a student, leads the show. Regarding returning the Skanta Theater Houser says, “I am so excited to move on from performing to directing. I am loving being able to teach children how to become better actors throughout the show and watch their passion for theatre grow like mine did. Lastly, I enjoy being able to give back to the community that helped me grow in theater”. Houser worked with Julie (Doan) Baumann for CCYT’s Summer Musical, Annie Jr. This will be her first time leading the show.
Clinton County Youth Theatre’s production of Sideways features a young cast ranging in ages from 7-18 years old from all over Clinton County. Tabby Walters portrays Louis, a character named for, and loosely based on, the book’s original author. Louis is the “yard teacher” the same job held by Sachar when working at Hillside Elementary. Tabby, who is in ninth grade, states, “It’s exciting and interesting to see how the show comes together. It is an interesting process to watch. I have a lot of fun at rehearsals.” The cast also includes: Kayaela Corkwell, Ruby Jewl, Colleen Elliott, Rylnn Maish, Claire Heater, Jazzy Lanum, Chloe Yeagley, Nathan Wakefield, Juliann Carr, Frankie & Layla Shifflett, Ben and Kelly Hodge, Eliana Prather, Caroline Fitzgerald, Charlotte Mink, Raegan Fitch, Bailey Langkop, Alexis Ramsey, Erin Fitch, Scout King, Trinity Putt, Aria Nance, Jessica Roche, Delia Cragun, Heidi Nance, Annabel Kreps, Kylar Harness, Ruthie and Mikey Walters, and Katie Griffith.
This year, Gem City Junction (Executive Producer) joins the Friends of the Frankfort Community Public Library in making the show possible. Productions like Sideways Stories from Wayside School are beneficial for everyone in our community and expensive to conduct. Sponsorships from local businesses are what make the program possible. Since our last production included five sold-out performances, sponsors with CCYT benefit from a huge audience.
Sideways Stories from Wayside School runs in Skanta Theatre on Thurs.-Sat., Jan 26-28, at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets, which are $7.00 and general seating, maybe purchased at myfcpl.org or by calling the library at (765)654-8746 or at the Library’s Circulation Desk. To learn more about our show or sponsorship opportunities, contact Rachel Milburn at [email protected].