KENT, Conn.–It’s a matter of days until the curtain goes up at Kent Center School.
The KCS Theater Company will present its production of an original musical, “The Hang Up,” by resident and KCS parent Kimberly Compton, April 9-10 at 7 p.m. each night at the 9 Judd Ave. school.
There is no admission fee.
“They are having a blast, a great time,” said Compton of the students’ excitement since January when rehearsals began. “They wave at me when I walk in the room. I think they’re having a ton of fun.”
The cast is made up of students in fifth through eighth grades. A half dozen additional students are involved with the crew managing props and sound.
“The amount of talent at our school is really great,” Compton said, citing both voice and dance performers. “There are some amazing vocalists that have sung for fun and now it’s their first step onto stage and they’re all in.”
Principal Michelle Mott said she has heard nothing but positive comments about the rehearsals and that she is looking forward to seeing the production.
The show will feature popular music and original numbers and rap songs by Compton, who describes herself as a “performer in a past life,” with an impressive resume in musical theater.
Music by Meghan Trainor, Backstreet Boys, Paramour, Twisted Sister, and Pink is “peppered” throughout the production and will likely resonate with parents and even some grandparents.
Cast member Tristyn Cole said he appreciates the fact so many of the songs are ones “you hear on the radio.”
“‘Jukebox musicals’ that use popular songs people are already familiar with make theater more accessible to everyone,” the director said of why she incorporated familiar music into the show.
The story is set at the start of the school year at a fictional Riverbend High.
“A new girl arrives who isn’t concerned with looking like everyone else, and the most popular girls in the school steal her phone. But what they find on it will change everything,” Compton related.
The director said the setting of a high school makes sets and props easier. Some items already at KCS can be used for the production.
In addition, Marvelwood School, a private school in town, has lent KCS its props as it has in past years. This year, in particular, the school has been “amazing,” Compton said.
Part of the reason the director chose to write an original piece and not produce a licensed junior show such as “Matilda” or “Shrek” is because those shows are often written for a large cast, which means cast members may end up playing more than one role and not have a chance to “dive into a character.”
“I wanted kids to dive deep into one character,” she said.
The students expressed their excitement for having that opportunity.
“I think it’s fun because we get to build on a character for the first time,” said Tristyn, a seventh grader who has been involved with KCS theater since fifth grade.
Cast members also shared their enthusiasm for being the first ones to perform their roles in this original production.
“It’s so cool to know you’re the first one to take on this character,” said Isla Jordan-White. “That’s exciting.”
Students first auditioned with a pop song and read a small portion of the script. Once the cast was selected, rehearsals began in January.
Compton said she heard songs by Toto, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and others in auditions. “It was really fun to see what the kids were about.”
What’s new?
Compton is providing the students with an immersive theater experience, using technical terms such as off-book, stumble-through, designer run, and line director all throughout the rehearsal process.
“I’m trying to make this production as professional as possible, so they learn along the way,” the director said.
Troy Wilder, Compton’s son, is line director. He alerts the students if they say the wrong line or helps prompt them if they get stuck. Kaelyn Saunders assists.
“I put a lot of responsibility on them to learn on their own, work on their own, to run lines with friends during study halls or recess,” the director explained. “If a kid goes away during choreography rehearsal, I say ‘watch the videos.’”
Students are connected through Google Classroom so scripts, photos, videos and more can be shared among all participants.
In addition, she refers to the KCS theater program as the KCS Theater Company to instill in the students a stronger sense of pride and unity as a team, and give “them an identity.”
A major new feature she brought to the table is a theater facelift.
With “The Hang Up” being an original production, the school did not have to pay for licensing fees. Instead, Compton asked school officials if some of those allocated funds could instead be invested in new sets and lights for the theater, which is part of the school gym.
“I thought it was a great idea” when Compton made the suggestion, Mott related. “I think (Kim) has a good background and a knack for thinking out of the box and being creative. And when working within a budget, anything helps.”
Mott said upgrades to the theater and gym have not been made since she arrived six years ago. Backdrops, which will be used for this show, have not been used in the past for musicals, the principal said.
“These kids deserve a good show… . they deserve an immersive experience,” Compton said.
The playbill, which was first printed last year, will also be enhanced. In the past it has featured a list of all student names.
“This year, I’m letting the kids write their bios,” Compton said.
The production would not be what it is without worker bees behind the scenes. Compton credits “some seriously wonderful moms running things behind the scenes,” including the playbill.
Who is in it?
The cast is comprised of Annabelle Kinsella as Anya, Isla Jordan-White as Sasha, Tristyn Cole as Tyler, Seamus Dietrich as Ryan, Aria Fodor as Mandy, Ella Barrett as Krista, Lyra Wilder as Sunny, Kennedy F. as Betty, Nate Keck as Drew, Everett Rost as Gabe, Olivia Cabrera as Sonia, Brooks Esposito as Jerry, and Elise O’Brien as Jess.
Also Lucy Taylor as Taylor, Rosie Donzella as Zoey, Maya Gennings as Sabrina, Sophia Sario as Chloee, Vanessa Tomassetti as Winter, Avaleigh Kinsella as Alessia, Ella Epstein as Jade, Georgie Baird as Sage, and Elizabeth Joseph as Lunia, all of whom are also part of the ensemble.
