Reliving high school is typically something most would avoid, but ABC Players’ production, Is There Life After High School?, makes remembering those awkward years a bit more pleasant.
The musical premiered at Stuart’s Opera House on March 8 with more than 75 people viewing the first two productions, said Karen Chan, who works publicity for ABC Players.
The production, inspired by a Ralph Keynes novel, focused on a group of characters looking back on their high-school years remembering not only the hardships, but the good memories as well. Each member of the cast played multiple characters. Chris Coleman directs the musical alongside the musical direction of Lynn Sullivan.
“Everyone seemed to be having a great time in reminiscing along with the cast,” Chan said.
A raffle was included before the shows. ABC Players sold 50/50 tickets, splitting the funds with the owner of the winning ticket, Chan said.
“Funds go to defray the costs of sending one of our play excerpts to compete in the Ohio Community Theatre Association regional and state competitions,”
Chan said. The first night of the production, a young girl, with the help of her dad, had the golden ticket, winning $40.50, Chan said.
Coleman said he thought the opening weekend went fairly well and the actors, musicians and crew did a fantastic job keeping the energy up.
The production’s lighting cues and the massive amounts of costume changes were worked out the week before the performance, Coleman said.
“Music has been the backbone of the production,” Coleman said. “It helped the actors get to where they are today.”
If it weren’t for the great cast and crew, props and costumes could have been a problem, Coleman added.
Coleman said even though the characters reminisce about their days in high school, the way the show is staged, everything equals out in the end.
“Hopefully when audiences leave they will remember high school the way they want to remember it,” Coleman said. “It was good and bad; we were all misfits.”
sm559111@ohiou.edu
