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Youth take the stage as ‘Emma A Pop Musical’ showcases local talent
SIKESTON — It’s a classic tale with a rock star twist.
The Sikeston Little Theatre’s upcoming youth production, “Emma A Pop Musical,” reworks 18th century author Jane Austen’s book, “Emma,” into a musical featuring songs from the 1960s to today. It’s a show that director Jeremiah Dunmyer said will have the audience on a “non-stop musical rollercoaster.
“People will laugh and cry … it is a fun story to hear and watch and as they come to understand the basic story and hear the music, they will probably want to come again,” he said about the show which opens at 7 p.m. today at the Sikeston Little Theatre, 506 S. Kingshighway. Performances are also slated for 7 p.m. Aug. 10, 16 and 17 and 2 p.m. Aug. 11 and 18.
According to Dunmyer, the show places the characters in a modern high school setting. In the musical, Emma is a high school senior, who, after one success at matchmaking, decides she knows how to help people find good relationships. She then proceeds to seek the perfect match for her shy friend, Harriet.
Dunmyer described the result as a romantic matrix with a massive tangle of emotions between all those involved. And, he emphasized, very much a comedy enhanced by the approximately two dozen songs the actors perform.
“The music was selected by Eric Prince, the author of the musical, and he couldn’t have done a better job,” said Dunmyer. “He tied it in perfectly with the story.”
The songs range from the classics of the Supremes and Ronettes to hits by Whitney Houston, Cindy Lauper, Katie Perry and others — all of which have have been mastered by the young actors ranging from sixth through 12th grades, according to Dunmyer.
“This is tough music to sing,” he acknowledged. “The surprise for me is how good they have made it sound. … It is just amazing to me how good they are. I just hope my directing for their acting is on par with their singing. I promise the audience will not be disappointed hearing this music.”
Through the weeks of rehearsals, Dunmyer said he is joined by a number of volunteers who assist in the production. His wife, Jennifer, stepped in to the job of choreography director. There are Amie Thornsbrough, Teri Jett, Nora Fuchs and Ed Cowan who are the musical directors and many others tackling the jobs of creating the scenery, running the lights and managing jobs back stage.
Because of their hard work and talent, he said he is able to concentrate on helping the young actors develop their characters and bring them to life on stage.
Over the years he has directed numerous youth productions and said he has watched many of the participants grow up in Sikeston Little Theatre. When auditions began for the musical in May, Dunmyer said he was again reminded of how much talent there is among the actors and how they have matured.
“I have actors now that are principals that three years ago were barely in the ensembles,” he said. “Each year they are coming and getting better and better.”
To make his point, Dunmyer noted the lead role of Emma is played by Jenny Duncan.
“She has had numerous female roles, but this is her first lead role,” said Dunmyer. “I’ve seen her come up through the ranks. … She has just made unbelievable headway. She can act and sing. She is a steadfast, solid actress.”
Duncan, 17, described her role as a challenge. She explained in the past she typically had character roles in the musicals.
“Emma is so normal. I’m not playing a character so much as I’m playing a real person and she is someone I can relate to a lot,” Duncan said.
Another challenge is the music.
She noted the pop songs are well known and originally sung by women who set a high standard for the local performers to meet. But she is confident the audience will enjoy what they hear.
“The singing ability in this show is crazy for a youth production,” she said. “This show has a lot of music and really showcases how talented the youth in Southeast Missouri are.”
Playing opposite of Duncan is Stella Wright in the role of Harriet Smith. Dunmyer noted three years ago, Wright was performing small parts in the children’s shows and now has the second largest role in the current musical.
“Stella has made the climb from ensemble to now a lead role. She has the talent and ability and with the work she has put in she has grown exponentially,” he said.
Wright, who estimated this is her 15th SLT production, called playing a lead role at 14 both hard and easy.
“It is easy because so many people are there to help you through it. … What makes it hard, I think, is because so many people are looking up to you. You want to be a good role model and sometimes that can be tough when the going gets rough,” she said.
But, she added, she is having fun. She especially likes when she has the opportunity to sing and dance.
Dunmyer noted this production also brought some newcomers to the Sikeston stage including Caitlin Krauss who plays the role of Jane Fairfax.
“She has a set of pipes on her that I haven’t heard in a long time,” marveled Dunmyer.
Krauss described herself as more comfortable as a musician than an actor. She said she decided to try out for the show at the urging of several friends.
“I’m not a theater kid. Well, I wasn’t a theater kid, but I definitely am now,” Krauss said. Since joining the production, she said she has learned lots of theater terminology, had to catch up on choreography and has delved into understanding her character and character’s motivations.
“It’s been very time consuming, but it has been fun,” she said. “I’m glad I did it.”
The three actors agreed the cast and crew become like a family over the weeks and weeks of rehearsal.
“It just so inclusive,” Wright said. “This is where I have made my best friends in the entire world. The theater is place to have fun, a place where people come together and become friends in the most unique way and that is so beautiful to see.”
Duncan said she intends to continue her involvement in theater.
“I’ve always known I wanted to pursue musical theater, but Sikeston Little Theatre has really solidified my faith in myself,” she said. “I always say theater people are the best people and the people at Sikeston Little Theatre are definitely that.”
For Dunmyer, the lessons learned by the characters in the play and those learned by the young people on stage are much the same. He explained in “Emma A Pop Musical,” the characters must learn to follow their own instincts, to to be themselves and to believe in themselves.
Dunmyer certainly believes in them and said the audience will too when they see the talent from across Southeast Missouri on the local stage.
“Come hear them. Come see what these kids can do,” he said. “Give them the opportunity, I promise you will be impressed.”