Area Students Bring Broadway To The Honeywell Center Stage

By Tim Arnett

WABASH,Indiana – Rehearsals are going on now in Wabash for the three musicals which make up the Visual and Performing Arts Summer Theater Camp. The VPA, as it’s known, is in its 31^st year and Director Judy Ward has been involved for the last 30. This year, 2^nd and 3^rd graders are performing “The Granny Awards” under the direction of Jessica Keffaber. The 4^th through 6^th graders are performing “Treasure Island” under the direction of Judy Ward and Charly Dye. The 7^th through 12^th grade students are performing “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying” under the direction of Emily France.

Rehearsals are going on this week at the Honeywell Center which culminates in two performances of each at the end of next week and next weekend. There are around 25 kids performing in “The Granny Awards,” with 40 performers in “Treasure Island” and 65 in “How To Succeed In Business. . .” Ward said that the 65 number in the latter show has set a new record for grades 7 – 12.

She went on to say that 500 of mostly parents and family members show up for the weekend performances. And many will stay for all three on Saturday. When asked how long she continue with the VPA program, Ward said she’s not ready to retire just yet. She added that she still enjoys it and that it’s a great outlet for both the students and the directors over the summer.

“The Granny Awards” will first be performed on Thursday, June 23^rd at 7 pm at the Honeywell Center’s Legacy Hall. It will have a command performance on Saturday, June 25^th at 3 pm on the Ford Theater stage. “Treasure Island” will be performed on the Ford Theater stage on Friday, June 24^th and Saturday, June 25^th at 5 pm. “How To Succeed In Business. . .” will also be performed on the Ford Theater stage on Friday, June 24^th and Saturday, June 25^th, this time at 7:30 pm.

“The Granny Awards” – Students participating in this play include Duke Sparks (Prof), Marlie Wright (Wheezy), Austin Baggett (Snoozy), Ashtrid Burns (Fairy Godmother), Kaitlyn Martynowica (Granny), Davy Falder (Snow White), Cooper Drake (Jack/Beanstalk), Cody Curtis (Wolf), Kyndall Zapata (Cinderella), Drew Guenin-Hodson (Prince), Grace Drake (Stepsister), Meryn Norman (Stepsister), Bobby Shull (Jack), Kammie Parker (Jill), Samuel Jackson (Papa Bear), Olivia Braun (Mama Bear), Jacob Falder (Baby Bear), Hannah Music (Goldilocks), Zarla Dunn (Red Riding Hood),  Caroline Catt, Khloe Johnson and Joselynn Hendley (Little Pigs).

“Treasure Island” – Students participating in this play include Annie Cole, Marcus Haynes, and Paige Ritzema (narrators), Elise Harter (Mrs. Hawkins), Cole Hughes (Billy Bones), Quinn Haynes (Jim),  Alyssa Marvel (Molly), Tyler Bear (Jaime), Will Galley (Pew), Yzabelle Stangl (Abraham), Ethan Haynes (Squire Trelawney), Breanna Keefer (Captain Smollett), Kayla Hippensteel (Dr. Sarah Livesay), Trey Wright (Long John Silver), Marcus Haynes (O’Brien), Riston Hoefer (Alan), Annie Cole (Pigaloo Chief), Ben Gunn (Xavier Hughes), Mia Nadborne, Haylie Walk, Sara Buga, Chandler Music,  and James Parker (pirates), Addie France, Dazy Hyden, Kaelyn Johnson, Kiara Carmichael, Ella Clifford, Annie Cole,  Grace Denney, Cole Hughes, Alexa Johnson, Isis Larrowe, Karigan Long, Paulie Martin, Aymia Miller, Rylee Paris, Emelia Paris, Jessica Parker, Emma Pyle, Paige Ritzema, Paloma Shull, Lily St. Hilaire, and Alexa Weaver (townspeople);  Kiara Carmichael, Ella Clifford, Hanna Hall, Dazy Hyden, Alexa Johnson, Kaelyn Johnson, Karigan Long, Paulie Martin, Paloma Shull, Lily St. Hilaire, and Alexa Weaver (pirates).

“How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” – Students participating in this play include David Shoue (J. Pierrepont Finch), Tyler Robison (Book Voice), Adrian Baggett (J.B. Biggley), Nathanael Fadil (Bratt), Allen Warren (Bud Frump), Lauren Myers ( Rosemary), Erika Ziner (Smitty), Miranda Nose (Miss Jones), Emily Lynn (Hedy), Adam Bott (Mr. Twimble), Blake Wynn (Wally Womper), Dylan Watson-Haynes (Gatch), Adam Spaulding (Jenkins), Ben Hewitt (Tackaberry), Jeffry Williams (Ovington), Josh Maggart (Toynbee), Dakotah Culver (Peterson), Cage Dubois (Matthews), Wesless Nelson (Johnson), Austin Morgan (Smith), Drake Sare (Company Policeman), Molly Dazey , Shelby Coffelt and Madeline Dazey (scrubwomen),  Lindsay Rice (Miss Krumholtz), Madison Nevil, Holly Coffelt, Isabel Hughes, Kennedy Watson-Haynes, Quinn Maggart, Alina Reed and Leah Gatchel (Executive Secretaries), Hope Denney, Caroline Oliver, Shannon Wolf, Jeana Friedersdorf, Mackenzie Hoefer, Jessie Bunnell, Erin Whetstone, Kylie Carmichael, Jessica Coffelt, Leah Gatchel, Makenna Norman, Olivia Adams, and Naomi Justice (office secretaries), Isabel Davis, Lexi Wright, Isabelle Robinson, Siarra Dennies, Madisyn Schmidt, Kristen Warren, Shyla Judy, Lyz Smith, Jaynie Shepherd, Johnna Garza, Abbey Baggett, Emily Smith, Teri Beachler, Nikita Dunn, Anna Pence, Daisy Sparks, Alivia Lucas, June Adams and Madelyn Turner (company secretaries).