Photos from Plymouth North High School, in Plymouth, MA

Plymouth North was the first school to book a production of the play, and was the first in my home state of Massachusetts. I don't live there anymore, so I couldn't see it, but some family and friends did and had a great time. Here are some photos and a video. More videos here.
Also, check out this news report about the production produced by the school.

Photos from Milford High School, in Milford, DE

Of all the productions from the fall of 2009, I might have had the most interaction with the one in Milford, DE. In addition to chatting with the director, cast, and crew online, I also "sent" my friend Sean, from The Remembrall Live podcast to see it. He had a rave review (you can listen to it here), and, a few weeks later, when I got a video and a t-shirt from the production, so I could see just how great it was. Truly excellent work from everyone involved. More photos here. I'll try to post videos sometime, too.

Photos from Birch Run High School, in Birch Run, MI

Birch Run had a really fun take on the look of the show. Since it's all Sally's dream they had Sally and most of the rest of the cast in pajamas. A very clever idea and it led to a really eye-catching set of photos. I had some great interaction with the cast on Facebook. Thanks to everyone involved. More photos here.

Big Weekend!

It certainly is!

There are not two, but THREE productions this weekend. If this happened every weekend, I could come close to making a living at this playwriting thing ...

But the point is St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Dover, NH; Birch Run High School in Birch Run, MI; and John H. Wood Middle School in San Antonio TX are all producing the play this weekend. I'm so thrilled that such diverse schools all over the country are bringing this play to their communities.

STA and Birch run opened last night, and Wood opens tonight. I hear great things about opening nights and STA has already put up some GREAT photos from their Dress Rehearsal. Here's a sample.

The First State, The Second Production

I've heard nothing but good things about the production of SALLY in Milford, Delaware. Excellent! We're two for two!

I should have photos and video from that production soon but now I want to share the cover from the program and the program itself, because it includes some very funny new character names for the chorus. I always love when productions insert their own creativity into a script. I particularly like that they've given Dave a last name and a whole family!

Production Staff
Director
Ms. Carissa Meiklejohn

Producer
Mrs. Erica Snyder

Costumes
Ms. Sarah Honey
Mrs. Cindy Whitehead

Set Construction
Mr. Jack Newark and the
set construction class

Light/Sound Director
Mr. Bruce Leibu

Logo design
Mrs. Karine Richards

Poster Printing
Mr. Bruce Leibu

T-shirt Printing
DECA/Marketing

Stage Manager
Lindsay Schulze

Assistant Stage Manager/Props
Sarah Propst

Props
Kim McKinney

Stage Crew
Tara Bowden
Kaitlin Weaver

Lights/Sound
Evan Wittman
Zeph Geyer
Brett Hall

Time:
Present Day

Setting:
Act I Sally’s bedroom, Frogbull Academy

15 minute Intermission

Act II Frogbull Academy, Sally’s bedroom

Cast
Sally Cotter
Hillary Chen

Harmonica
Becky Ball

Prof. Shiftia Shape
Bethany Lennox

Ursa Malaise
Toni Gynac

Prof. Underdrawers
Chad Dickerson

Dave Ferret
Matthew Bantel

Ed Molar
Brian Pierson

Reubenon Ryebread
Adam Murphy

The Censor
Nora Goodleaf

Lord Murderdeath
Mr. Shawn Snyder

Supporting Cast
Mother/Prof. Sproutacus
Rose McFassel

Goona Glovewood
Madi Dodge

Fredina Ferret
Lacy Devoe

Georgette Ferret
Lauren Walton

Angie Aardvarkovich
Amber-Lee Miller

Pinchy
Deanna Pierson

Boyle Butkiss
Michael Walls

Beetle/Dedric Ciggory
Neil Shah

Beetle/Connor Creamy
William Badger

Beetle/Prof. Quilt
Dakota Madanat

Beetle/Prof. Jumpstart
Tayvon Johnson

Terri Boots
Samantha Wagamon

Platma
Sara Marks

Murffie Moggal
Chelsea Trotman

Winny Ferret
Sam Benton

Lana Rabbit
Natalie Bradley

Mary Turnit
Grace McFassel

Professor McDonalds
Bre Fitch

Chloe Bell
Breanna Henderson

Felicia Fossils
Megan Rossetti

Audience Notes
• Please refrain from the use of photography or video recording as it is against our agreement with Playscripts, Inc.
• Remember that Milford School District is a non-smoking environment.
• Please turn off all cell phones and other electronic devices. Even their ambient light can be a distraction to the performers and patrons.


Director’s Notes
I hadn’t read the Harry Potter series until two years ago, and once I began, I couldn’t put it down. I finally discovered what everyone else had already learned—they are truly enthralling books that have inspired many to read. The characters and plot elements that are parodied in this production are hysterical and make this play so enjoyable. It has also been wonderful to perform a brand new play and be a part of its debut—thanks to Dean O’Carroll for giving us this great script and the ability to add our own touches. I am so proud of our students and the imagination and creativity they have brought to our stage. I welcome all of our new drama club members who have joined us for this undertaking. I am thrilled to work with so many fantastic students. Enjoy!
Carissa Meiklejohn
Special Thanks to
• Hospital Auxiliary for use of the tricycle
• Mrs. Kaye Majoch for use of robes
• Mr. Nate L’Armand for props
• Mrs. Karine Richards and art students for painting the shields
• Allison Chamberlain for her hard work, though she couldn’t perform due to illness
• Sarah Propst for spending numerous hours organizing the costume loft


Join us for our musical
Bye Bye Birdie
March 4-6, 2010

WILD SMASH HIT

By all reports -- please read Skye's amazing comment on yesterday's post -- the SALLY COTTER premiere at St. Margaret Mary's was nothing short of blockbusting. This is amazing news. I can't wait for video. For now, here are some photos, probably many more to come.

Congratulations, from the bottom of my hear to cast and crew. I couldn't have asked for a better opening.



Dave, Harmonica, and Sally. Great uniforms, though this was a Catholic School, so they might have had some on hand. I'm intrigued that they went with the head scar for Sally. I don't mention one in the script, but it's so key to Potter. I've often wondered if schools would give her one. So far the vote talley is Scar 1, No-Scar 2. (obscure "Arrested Development" reference)




The Beetles, rocking out to their hit song "I Wanna Hold All Six of Your Hands"


I love Professor Underdrawers here. He will be my new Twitter avatar, shortly.



Shape and the Slymythings, which would be a great name for a Wrock Band.



Ursa, trying to taste Sally and Friends as they hide under the cape. Skye calls this "The Licking Scene" which it certainly is, though taken out of context that sounds a little odd.




Nicely creepy letter people ... either that or a whole lot of people are about to die in Funky Winkerbean. (Obscure reference, I know)


The Censor. I'm very intrigued to see how people approach this character. This look is great. Will other Censors rock the argyle sweater vest? We'll see.



Ed Herdturd Molar and the Magic Rock



Great looking Lord Murderdeath. Scary!


The full cast looks great together.



Look at this! T-shirts! They made t-shirts for my play! How awesome is that?

Roll out the red carpet!

Tonight's the night folks! World premiere performance of SALLY COTTER AND THE CENSORED STONE. The cast and crew at St. Margaret Mary's in Winter Park Florida are mixing up their Witch's Brews, practicing getting the flunch through the spoodle, and fitting on their Beetle antennae. Let's all wish them broken legs and big, big laughs. I'm very excited, but probably not half as psyched as they are.

I've been in touch with Skye Dumoulin, the director. She and her cast have been working impossibly hard to get this together and I'm sure it will pay off big time. I really wish I could be there.

Listen up, Southern California! Somebody put on a darn SALLY COTTER production that I can actually go see!

Skye's put some photos online, so here's a glimpse of what the good people of Winter Park will be seeing tonight!













It's always a thrill to see actors dressed as characters you've created. Okay, sure these "characters I've created" are really just parodies of characters JK Rowling created, but it's still a special feeling.

I'm not the first to say this, and this isn't the first time I've said it, but at the moment, SALLY COTTER AND THE CENSORED STONE is just a script, words on paper. Tonight, when there are actors living out that story and an audience following it, laughing and applauding, it will truly become a play. I'm so grateful to Skye and her gang for making this happen and for all the other productions that are coming up in the next few weeks.

This production, by the way, is the only one I can truly attribute to my activities in fandom. I met Skye on MyLeaky and she seemed eager to read the play and then ever eagerer to produce it. I love the people in Potter fandom. They're just wonderful, wonderful people.

Plus, Skye lives in Orlando, which is about to become the hub of Potter fandom, with the theme park opening next year and two enormous Potter Conferences in the next two years, Infitus in 2010 and LeakyCon 2011. So it's really good to have a connection there.

Oh, plus Skye is totally awesome as a person.

Curtain up!