Despite a change of instruction in the drama class, students decided to work with their new teacher and carry on with their previous production plans. The two shows, After Ever Happily and Tartuffe, will be performed as planned with necessary date changes.

The high school will present the opening night production of After Ever Happily in Ground Zero at 7 p.m., Jan. 30. Tickets cost $5 and are available at the door. The junior high drama department, directed by John Broersma, will also perform After Ever Happily with their own cast in Ground Zero at 7 p.m., Jan. 29.

The other high school production, Tartuffe, is scheduled to run Feb. 5 and 6 at Ground Zero at 7 p.m., with more dates to be announced ? subject to change.

The After Ever Happily story follows a young girl named Christine (played by Austen Houts, ’12), whose mother owns a special book of fairy tales. Against her mother’s strict orders, Christine gives into temptation and peeks into the ancient book.

As a result, all of the pages fall out and become jumbled up. When various characters appear in her room, Christine discovers the book’s magical properties.

The characters from separate tales mix up and create chaos. They all rely on Christine to put the mess back together and restore peace.

New director continues drama productions

After the departure of Tom McEntee, English teacher Brianne Vogt took charge of the high school drama program and will direct the plays. Despite a number of confusions and complications due to the transition, she decided that the show must go on.

Between soccer games, jazz band and various activities, conflicts consumed the time for drama practice, but Vogt and her students still adhere to last-semester plans.

“I want to honor the work put into the plays,” said Vogt. “I’ve done theater before and know how much work and energy as an actor or director is put into a show. I didn’t want to take all of that away.”

Although she felt slightly disadvantaged about entering the drama department in the second semester, Vogt managed to adjust and now enjoys her position as director, she said.

“Directing is personal,” Vogt said. “When you choose a script you have a vision and you know the actors. Not having chosen the scripts and not knowing the students as actors, I’m coming in blind.”

Many students came to drama the second semester with worries about a new teacher so close to the production date. However, junior Matthew Stumpf feels comfortable with Vogt in direction.

“Miss Vogt is completely capable of pulling this off,” Stumpf said. “The teacher-to-student relationship might not be as intimate, but we will be fine getting to know her in a different environment.”

Although nerves often build when a show approaches, Houts feels confident about the play.

“The pressure is distributed more equally in the play since all of the roles are about the same size,” Houts said. “I’m excited for the play. The transition has been a bit rough, but we’ll pull it off.”

For more information on the drama department, visit the Oct. 28 article, Drama stages senior’s creativity or e-mail Brianne Vogt.