Lake Park High Theatre to present children’s play ‘Miss Nelson is Missing!’
The Lake Park Theatre Department kicks off their 2024-25 season with the children’s play, “Miss Nelson is Missing!”
It will be performed at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, in the East Campus Dice Auditorium, 600 Medinah Road, Roselle. Admission is free to this community event and the run time is one hour.
Based on the beloved classic children’s book, it’s a fun-filled show about a misbehaving class, their sweet teacher, and the legendary, strict substitute teacher Viola Swamp.
Miss Nelson (senior Lauren Troutman) can't control her crazy classroom of “delinquent” children. The students are led by George Jorgenson Jr. (sophomore Johnny Henderson), his best friend Morris, aka Mouse (sophomore Michaelangelo Lampignano), the wannabe supermodel Kimberly (sophomore Alexis Pichay), the rebellious, spitfire feminist Lavita (freshman Eliza Johanek), the nerdy “leader” Raymond (sophomore David Adenekan), the shy and sometimes nauseous Phoebe (sophomore Mackenzie Paulish), and “The King” himself Elvis (sophomore Victor Tellez).
When Miss Nelson disappears, her replacement is the hard-as-nails, detention-loving, recess-canceling, homework-overloading substitute teacher Viola Swamp!
With the Big Test approaching, which the wacky “in the times” principal (junior Tyler Graham) wants them all to pass, the kids suddenly realize how much they miss Miss Nelson and they'll do anything — including hiring a private eye (junior Izzy Smith) — to solve the mystery of her disappearance and bring her back.
The cast and crew will prepare for the evening show with four additional daytime performances for over 1,500 students from area elementary and middle schools on Sept. 24-25. Learn more at facebook.com/LPHSDramaProductions/.
Q. How many students are involved with the production?
A. Twenty-five students are involved in the cast and crew.
Q. How will your play differ from the original?
A. The play develops the students and Detective McSmogg with different personalities. The students are in the play throughout the entire show as they transform from unruly to obedient students.
Q. What were the most challenging aspects of getting this production together?
A. One of the most challenging aspects of the show was deciding as a production how we wanted to “choreograph” and stage the song the students made up about Ms. Swamp. Part of the process was determining the rhythm, beat, and moves for the dance. As we brainstormed, we shared what skills we could bring to the song.
Q. What did you find most rewarding?
A. Seeing our student crew paint and put up the classroom set while the student actors were staging and blocking the play. Having both completed simultaneously brought the production to life.
Q. What were some of the best moments in putting together this production?
A. Some of the best moments were having fun putting the show together and practicing different bits with the students acting up for Miss Nelson and then Miss Swamp disciplining them when they tried to act up.
Q. What do you think audiences will enjoy most about this play?
A. The audiences will enjoy the funny characters, comedic moments, and cute costumes and set as the famous picture book comes to life.
Q. What do some of the performers have to say about the show and their role in it?
A. Senior Lauren Troutman shared, “I really love this show. It’s a lot of emotions right now because this is my last show at Lake Park. I couldn’t have asked for a better cast, director and set. The public will love this.”
Junior Tyler Graham shared, “I think it’s cool how they depict the principal to make him seem hip because he thinks he’s modern.”