Children’s Book Shows: Repertory theater class performing annual student-directed plays this week

The Repertory Theater class is holding its annual “Children’s Shows” production this Tuesday and Wednesday at 3 p.m. in the Little Theater. 

Students adapting and performing well-known childhood stories as short plays has been an East theater tradition since 2000. There are 15 three-minute-long plays split between the two days. 

On Tuesday, seven books will be featured: “The Dumb Bunnies” by Dave Pilkey, “How Does Your Garden Grow?” by Holly Hobbie, “George Catches a Cold” by Asia Citro, “Pinkalicious” by Victoria Kann, “Are You My Mother?” by P.D. Eastman, “Pigeon Math” by Asia Citro, and “Can I Give You a Squish?” by Emily Nelson.  

Each student director gets to select their favorite book to adapt. Junior Wyatt Oligmueller chose “Pigeon Math.”

“I’m excited to finally show it to someone,” Oligmueller said. “We’ve turned children’s books that everyone grew up reading into fun shows that people should come watch.”

Then on Wednesday, eight books will be featured: “Max’s Chocolate Chicken” by Rosemary Wells, “The Day the Crayons Quit” by Drew Daywalt, “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs” by Jon Scieszka, “That is NOT a Good Idea!” by Mo Willems, “Madeline” by Ludwig Bemelmans, “The Lorax” by Dr. Seuss, “Frog and Toad” by Arnold Lobel, and “Where is the Green Sheep?” by Mem Fox.

Junior Gretchen Garbe, director of “Max’s Chocolate Chicken,” is looking forward to the performance because it’s her first time directing a show.

“I’m most excited to see the reactions of the audience, like what jokes they’ll laugh at, and hear their feedback about the show,” Garbe said.

All juniors taking Repertory Theater class get the opportunity adapt a play. Drama teacher Tom DeFeo helps the students with their scripts and planning.

“I’m learning how to put the vision in my head into words and a show for the audience,” Garbe said. “It’s been really fun.”

The Children’s Shows are an important part of the learning process for juniors planning to pursue theater in the future, according to Oligmueller.

“It’s an introduction to making our own shows and directing, so that we’ll have the experience needed for our senior year when we create our own Frequent Fridays,” he said.

The cast and student directors urge students and their families to watch the free shows. Normally, around 60 people attend and the Little Theater can hold 100.

“There’s funny costumes and the shows are light-hearted,” Garbe said. “Plus, they’re pretty short, so you won’t get bored.”