Superior students wrap up the final week of summer school with music, friendship and drama during the Summer Musical Showcase on Thursday at Superior Middle School.
Instead of staging scenes from musicals, directors Cheri Tesarek, Emily Kelly and Danielle Gondik-Anderson spun stories based on student suggestions this year.
“I think these are the best plays we have ever done theme-wise and the music is pulled from many different shows that help support the play’s themes,” Tesarek said.
Audience members can watch an epic rap battle between dogs and cats in a play about togetherness. After a friendship develops between an unlikely duo, both packs must join forces to save them.
Friendship is the theme of a play about a Superior girl who moves to Hawaii and has trouble fitting in because she doesn’t appreciate the Hawaiian love of Spam and wears potholders for mittens.
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A summer camp talent contest sets the stage for a play about overcoming adversity, in which a girl with a facial disfigurement learns that being different is OK.
“I really like mine,” Gondik-Anderson said. “I’ve got frogs that talk.”
The nearly 50 students involved in the summer musical said they’ve enjoyed being part of the creative process. Matching songs from other productions to the new characters has been challenging, but they’ve stretched themselves. Directors appreciated the input.
“They came up with a camp idea that worked so much better than a high school for me,” Gondik-Anderson said.
Tesarek said the students came up with a creative way to free two main characters in her togetherness play. They also brainstormed the perfect distraction technique for a crucial moment.
“That is all them,” she said.
After weeks of rehearsal, the students are ready to show off their work.
“It’s a lot of fun and we’re going to have a lot of fun doing it,” said Superior High School senior Sadie Hunter, who plays Funcha the dog. “The audience will get a kick out of it.”
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Viewers will also enjoy the goofy moments and cheesy jokes, they said.
Performances take place at 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. at SMS. Admission is $5 per person. In the spirit of friendship and togetherness, there will be a 10-minute intermission between plays to allow the audience members to shift position, letting family and friends of students in the featured play move to the front rows for a better view.
Free lunches to continue through Aug. 30
Although summer school ends Thursday, free lunch will continue to be served to children age 18 and under at sites throughout the city weekdays through Superior School District food service.
The food service program offers lunch at Lakeside Terrace, Bartley Manor, Heritage Park, Kelly Park, the Boys and Girls Club and Superior Townhouses/Aspen Court through Aug. 30.
Free lunch is also served through Aug. 17 at six Superior parks hosting the Summer Playground Program: Billings Park, 18 Oaks Park, Gouge Park, Hammond Park, Wade Bowl and Webster Park.
The playground program, which runs from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, is free for children ages 5-11. Staff members have been trained in CPR and first aid.
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New registrations are accepted at any time. Fill out a registration form at the park itself or download one from the city website, ci.superior.wi.us/223/Summer-Playground-Program .
For a full list of school district lunch sites and times, visit superior.ss13.sharpschool.com and click on the food service tab.
