By Traci Chapman
Managing Editor
In its fourth year, Piedmont High School’s drama program is doing something a little different, as it takes on “The Outsiders” Friday and Saturday nights.
Showcasing a drama – and “The Outsiders” in particular – was a change of pace for teacher Stacy Johnstonbaugh, her students, cast and crew.
“We’ve always done comedic and musical pieces, and I wanted to give them a challenge,” she said. “What better than an Oklahoma-based novel written by a teenager. They typically read it in 7th grade and have had so much fun bringing those characters to life.”
While this production offers a new experience, the district’s investment in a drama program has been a major success, Johnstonbaugh said. The first year, about 18-20 students auditioned for parts; more recently, about 50 students vied to participate in the spring production of “Annie,” staged in April.
For “The Outsiders,” more than 70 are set to be involved in the production as it hits the stage this week, 25 of them actors. Many are involved in costumes, props, sound and much more, Johnstonbaugh said.
“They are involved with every facet of the production, and they’ve made it their own,” she said. “I’ve been so impressed with how invested they have been throughout this process.”
That process began in August in a schedule that includes rehearsals almost every day since classes resumed for the fall. While Johnstonbaugh said she was impressed with the level of dedication exhibited by her students, she really wasn’t all that surprised.
“These are the hardest working students I’ve ever had – they live and breathe theater, they are just spectacular human beings,” she said.
Also a factor in the program’s success – a program that continued to grow despite the novel coronavirus pandemic and resulting disruption of classes, extracurricular activities and life in general – the Piedmont’s administration and the community at large, Johnstonbaugh said.
“It’s been incredible how welcoming the community has been, how much support we’ve seen across the district – it’s really cool to see and to see how the students react to that,” she said.
The production did see one hiccup, even before the cast took the stage – Piedmont’s originally scheduled Friday football game, like many across the state, was changed in anticipation of possible severe weather. That meant “The Outsiders” needed to make a switch of its planned Thursday performance to Friday. The play also will be presented Saturday.
Both performances are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m., at Piedmont Intermediate School, located at 977 Washington Ave. Ticket prices are $8 for general admission and $5 for students. Tickets are available for purchase online at https://www.purplepass.com.
