Grinnell, Brooklyn prepare plays

Theatrical productions by the Grinnell High School Theatre and the Brooklyn Theatre Company are slated for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 19 — 21.

The Grinnell production will be held in the high school auditorium, and the Brooklyn production will be held in the Brooklyn Opera House.

Showtimes for both productions are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

Grinnell High School Theatre presents Disney’s “Freaky Friday,” a new musical based on the novel of the same name by Mary Rodgers.

The musical was adapted by Bridgit Carpenter with music by Tom Kitt and lyrics by Brian Yorkey.

The GHS production is under the direction of Rachel DeBoer with music by Michael Gookin. Technical director is Kenneth Phipps and choreographer is Valerie Williams.

An adaptation of the classic novel and beloved films, “Freaky Friday” follows teenager Ellie Blake and her mother, Katherine, on the weirdest, strangest, craziest, freakiest day of their whole lives.

Try as they might, Katherine and Ellie just can’t seem to understand each other: Ellie wants her mom to stop trying to change her, while Katherine wants her daughter to be the best version of herself that she can be.

On a fateful Friday, the day before Katherine’s wedding, something magical occurs when mother and daughter swap bodies. Now, both will have literally spend a day walking in each other’s shoes, learning about each other and the struggles each goes through and forging a new mother-daughter relationship in this hilarious, energetic, and moving musical comedy.

Cast:

• Ellie Blake — Maggie Kaup; • Katherine Blake — Peyton Stensrud; • Mike — Roman Mackenzie; • Fletcher Blake — Reece Madren; • Adam — Will Dahlby Albright; • Torrey — Natalie Nieuwsma; • Savannah — Lucy Lindberg; Gretchen — Jeslyn Voogd; Senor O’Brien/Pastor Bruno/Hannah’s Dad — Billy Lopatto; Hannah — Elisabeth Kelley-Chown; Danielle/Mrs. Luckenbill — Peyton Stevenson; Louis/Parker — Thea Sherman; Officer Kowalski/Wells — Toby Crandall; Officer Sitz/Mr. Blumen/Grandpa — Aaron Blanchard; Dr. Ehrin — Ketsia Kiphanzu; Ms. Meyers/Savannah’s Mom — Frances Pedersen; and Mrs. Time/Grandma Helene/Gretchen’s Mom — Mackenzie Kohl.

Chorus:

Addy Belcher — Savannah’s Minion; Anna Schubert — Adam’s Mom; Cailyn Grabe; Cora Miller — Savannah’s Minion/Parker’s Mom, Fish Vendor; Judith Perez-Valentin — Savannah’s Minion/Laurel; Madie Fenner, Matt Kim — Well’s Dad; Piper Donohoe — Savannah’s Minion; Piper Madren — Cater Waiter/Security Guard; Rylee Belcher, Slane McCue and Sarah Ashing — Savannah’s Minion.

Crew:

Stage Manager — Cameron Thompson; Assistant Stage Manager — Diane Boyd; Assistant Stage Manager — Lucy Turley; Assistant Stage Manager — River Haenfler; Costume Crew Chief — Ava Valenic; Costume Crew — Abigail Hammond; Costume Crew — Tayla Fabor; Costume Crew — Jack Hutchinson; House Manager — Myles Manley; Makeup Crew Chief — Rhianna Raney; Makeup Crew — Talia Osera; Makeup Crew — Lucy Skouson; Sound Chief — Joel Dressler; Mic Crew — Ian Hammond; Mic Crew — Liam Lease; Props Crew Chief — Isadora Boyer; Props Crew — Jolene Dostal; Props Crew — Jonathan Solomon; Lighting Chief — Liam Leasure; Set Construction — Cameron Corey; and Set Construction — Jonathan Solomon.

The characters denoted with an asterisk are the primary leads.

Tickets for Disney’s “Freaky Friday, a new musical are available online at https://www.vancoevents.com/us/CJQP for $12 or $15 at the door.

Brooklyn Theatre Company

The Brooklyn Theatre Company presents “WCKY,” where murder and mayhem collide in hilarious fashion as a new radio station is preparing to air its first show in 1939.

The play was written by Flip Kobler and Cindy Marcus and is under the direction of Josh Gerard.

The production is produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Denver, Colorado.

As the Clementine Sisters are about to sing the opening jingle, the action behind the scenes is infused with both excitement and drama. Head writer Roy plans to propose on air to assistant director Polly.

One of the radio actresses, Sarah, has helped him procure a ring, and, of course, Polly walks in just as Roy is down on one knee practicing his proposal with Sarah.

When Sarah ends up dead a few minutes later, as she’s about to make her own shocking and unscripted announcement on the air, all signs point to poor Roy.

By the time the night is over, two other on-air talents have also been murdered, and each time, Roy is the prime suspect.

It’s up to our creative writer to solve the mystery himself and reveal the actual killer through a live radio broadcast!

“This is probably the most ambitious play I've ever directed in conjunction with the Brooklyn Theatre Company,” said Gerard.

“It's a big cast, and almost everyone is onstage all the time. It's packed with jokes and mystery, and I think everyone is going to love it, so come on out and support local theater.”

Cast:

Ziggy — Emmitt Albers; Emerson — Jeff Britts; Detective Carter — Emily Britts; Alistair — Addy Day; Clementine Sister — Lucia Dhooge; Victoria — Lorelai Gerard; Dischord — Silas Gerard; Sarah — Tracey Gerard; Sterling — Josh Gerard; Speedy — Gracie Gerard; Randy — Rob Hanlon; Gilda — Kaylin Hatfield; Mavis — Shadlee Hazelwood; Fran — Alaina Holmes; Solomon — Caden Lakose; Darla — Ali McCammant; Olivia — Sienna Shaull; Polly — Randi Shaw; Dotty — Abby Smith; Officer Green — Tristan Taylor; Clementine Sister — Abigail Wadhams; Roy — Travis Williams; Jasper — Isaiah Williams; and Clementine Sister — Karin Zern.

Crew:

Sound — Avery Zern; Costumes — Kelly Taylor; Set Design — Lucia Dhooge; Props Master — Kim Hawkins; and Director — Josh Gerard.

Tickets:

Tickets for the production are $25 for adults and $15 for students. They can be purchased through the Brooklyn Opera House at: https://www.brooklynoperahouse.com/events.