Live performances will be July 8-10 on the high school stage
By Tom Ganser
Correspondent
As we continue to move out of the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s plenty of talk about creating a “new normal.” One way to achieve that is to become a regular part of the audiences for Whitewater Unified School District’s four theatrical productions every year, beginning with the Whitewater Summer School Playhouse staging of “Madagascar, Jr.”
A slew of local kids will take the stage at Whitewater High School at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, July 8 and 9, and at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 10 to present the musical.
Audiences can join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria “the hip hip Hippo” and, of course, those hilarious, plotting penguins as they bound onto the stage in this musical adventure.
Based on the smash DreamWorks animated motion picture, “Madagascar, Jr.” follows fans’ favorite “crack-a-lackin’ friends” as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar.
Alex the lion is the king of the urban jungle, the main attraction at New York’s Central Park Zoo. He and his best friends – Marty the zebra, Melman the giraffe, and Gloria the hippo – have spent their whole lives in blissful captivity before an admiring public and with regular meals provided for them. Not content to leave well enough alone, Marty lets his curiosity get the better of him and makes his escape – with the help of some prodigious penguins – to explore the world.
Filled with outlandish characters, adventure galore and an upbeat score, “Madagascar Jr.” aims to leave audiences with no choice but to “Move It, Move It” – to quote one of the many well-known lines.
Under the direction of Jim McCulloch, the production features a cast of students ranging from sixth graders who will be in their first performance on stage through members of WHS’ Class of 2021, many with extensive experience in theater.
Providing musical direction is Elizabeth Elliott, leading the stage crew is Kat Dunham, and working his audio magic is Tony Hansen. Carter Waelchli serves as student director.
Taking to the stage are actors: Deven Bawden, Chacha Binagi, Margaret Brown, Payton Bunger, Ayden Clark, Isabella Cohen, Lucy Davis, Danny Fuller, Charolotte Hajewski, Nina Heim, Maggie Jay, Midi Kapfer, Josh Kirley, Ameera Lin, Ilana Lothes, Hailey Peterson, Chloe Prince, Lauren Rollette, Cole Schlicher, Skylar Staebler, Haley Street, Madison Strickler, Alex Sullivan, Ava Van Daele, Anderson Waelchli, Marco Wence, Cosette Wildermuth-Breitzman, Elora Wildermuth-Breitzman, Ella Willman, Xavier Zei, Zoe Zei and Matt Zingsheim.
Members of the stage and technical crew – who are instrumental in making the magic of theater – include: Ghati Binagi, Alejandra Diaz-Gallagos, Emerson Dunham, Kara Long, Abigail Olson, Lucy Troxel, Sami Van Daele and Emma Weigel.
Lucy Davis, who will be entering eighth grade in the fall, is cast in the role of a reporter, Candy Hammernose. She performed in the spring in a virtual show, “10 Ways to Survive Life in Quarantine” and said she considers her role in “Madagascar, Jr.” as very different because it will be in person with a live audience.
Davis shared a little about her character in a recent interview.
“I think that my character’s favorite ice cream flavor would be Rocky Road because she’s a little bit rocky but she’s all good. Her favorite season would probably be fall because of the colors changing on the leaves of the trees,” she said.
Tickets for “Madagascar, Jr.” are $10 for adults and $5 students and can be reserved by calling 262-472-8178. They’ll also be available at the high school one hour before performances.
