Published Friday, June 9th, 2023
Sixteen theatre students from Wayne Community Schools will perform memorable educational songs from the Emmy Award-winning cartoon series “Schoolhouse Rock!” on June 16-17 in the Black Box Theatre.
Still catch yourself singing “Conjunction Junction” and “Just a Bill” after all these years? You’re probably not alone.
Come relive these and other great songs from the Emmy Award-winning educational cartoon series “Schoolhouse Rock!” when Wayne State College musical theatre camp students perform “Schoolhouse Rock Live! Jr.” on Friday and Saturday, June 16-17, in the Black Box Theatre, located in the Peterson Fine Arts Building. Performance times are 7 p.m. Friday, June 16, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, June 17. Admission is a free-will donation to the camp.
“This was our third year of doing the musical theatre camp, and we have a great group of kids who have been with us all three years,“ said Dr. Melissa Derechailo, theatre technician at Wayne State and director of the camp. “The kids also gave us a lot of positive feedback about the camp and how to enhance it.”
Based on the ever-popular 1970s cartoons, this fast-paced musical teaches lessons with clever, catchy tunes. “Schoolhouse Rock!” has become a pop culture phenomenon, endearing itself to generations of viewers.
The series was the idea of David McCall, an advertising executive, who noticed his young son was struggling with learning multiplication tables, despite being able to memorize the lyrics of many Rolling Stones songs. He hired a musician to write a song that would teach multiplication, which became "Three Is a Magic Number.” The song eventually caught the attention of several graphic artists and illustrators who enhanced it with visuals, which caught the eye of ABC Television.
The first video in the series, “Three Is a Magic Number,” debuted during the debut episode of “Curiosity Shop” on Sept. 2, 1971. “Schoolhouse Rock!” debuted as a series in January 1973.
“We’re excited to host the Wayne Area Teen Theatre Camp at WSC this year,” said Dr. David Bohnert, Dean of Wayne State’s School of Arts and Humanities. “This is a fantastic opportunity for teens who have a passion for the arts, and we’re honored to provide an outlet for them.”
Cast members, all from Wayne Community Schools, are Gabriel Armstrong, Jake Barner, Wanso Barner, Kennasyn Blecke, Aidan Bohnert, Flynn Fox, Lydia Fox, Callen Gamble, Johen Piper, Caleb Raulston, Colby Raulston, Molly Schlickbernd, Sam Wright, Karla Wynia, Owen Wynia, and Josalynn Young.
Shelly Armstrong, accompanist at Wayne State, is the music director.
For more information regarding Wayne State College’s theatre program, visit www.wsc.edu/theatre-arts. Questions regarding the show can be directed to Melissa Derechailo at 402-375-7480 or [email protected].