“Junie B. Jones: Toothless Wonder” turns the classic Junie B. Jones books into a visual masterpiece. This show allows students to watch the books they grew up with performed live, giving students a trip down memory lane as well as creating core memories for children currently reading the books.
“Since it’s a smaller show, they [the actors] each have to carry more weight,” senior and rehearsal assistant Katie Mae Krupski says.
As a rehearsal assistant, Krupski often works closely with students on blocking, memorizing lines, and overall scene management.
The show’s run time is under an hour, and with a month to rehearse with two casts, each student must memorize blocking, lines, cues, and much more.
“It definitely takes a lot of effort,” Krupski says.
Yet, through three-hour weekday rehearsals and seven-hour Saturday rehearsals, the actors have managed to create an outstanding play.
“Everyone has been really great and sweet and just really easy to work with,” senior stage manager and rehearsal assistant Sarah Hutchinson says.
Hutchinson speaks highly on the students’ talent, and how they do an incredible job at portraying the range of ages that the show requires. Some kids must be eight, others must be 40, yet they portray them all so well.
“These are some really talented kids, and there is just so much encouragement from everyone. I’ve seen the sophomores working hard to include the freshmen and doing things that help to build a bigger and better theater community,” Hutchinson says.
Sophomore Johnny Kennedy, who plays Junie’s dad, speaks from experience on working with both sophomores and freshmen, as he is one of three returning students to the show. Despite the many differences in casts between his two productions, he thoroughly enjoyed both experiences.
“It’s so fun to work with all the different grades,” Kennedy says. “Now that I’m a sophomore, it’s so cool to give back to the freshman, and mentor them like I was.”
Ms. James-Noonan (JN) is this year’s director and costumer for the show, her third year running the production. The show is catered to elementary school kids to expose them to New Trier High School’s theater program, and will be performed on the first Monday and Thursday of March at Crow Island Elementary in Winnetka and Middlefork Elementary School in Northfield. The show will also be performed at New Trier on Feb. 28 at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm.
“The same way people of all ages love to go see a Disney movie, or things that are generally for younger audiences, everyone can find a way to relate to the show since they were all that age once,” JN says. “The whole idea is to make sure we have little kids that feel like they belong at our high school. I just want little kids to feel like this is their place when they get here.”
Tickets are on sale now on the New Trier website, or on the QR code posters around the school. Although the show caters to elementary schoolers, it is a performance for everyone. From appreciating the actors’ talent, to the amount of effort put in from everyone behind the scenes, New Trier’s theater department is dedicated to creating a show that entertains the entire community.
“I want people who don’t necessarily think that theater is for them to come see the performance,” JN says.