LCHS Theater Department to present "Up the Down Staircase"

[October 06, 2015]  LINCOLN - The Lincoln Community High School Theatre Department will present the New York Times Bestseller "Up the Down Staircase" by Bel Kaufman, translated for the stage by Christopher Sergie, opening Thursday, October 8th at 7 p.m. in the LCHS Auditorium. Additional performances will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 10th, and 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 11th.

Up the Down Staircase tells the story of first-year teacher Sylvia Barrett at fictious Calvin Coolidge High School in New York City. The first day of school is a blizzard of paperwork, announcements, bells and confusion, and does not seem to improve much as the school year goes on. Sylvia reaches out to experienced teachers, deals with administrators who were such great teachers that they are no longer in the classroom, and unruly students with hearts of gold.

Sylvia must decide if toughing it out with all the problems makes any difference or if the grass is greener at the private school that is courting her.

2013 LCHS graduate Wyatt Phillis directs the show and is assisted by Jennifer Keith and senior Bekah Harpin. Senior McKenzie Landers stars as Sylvia.

Over 45 students are involved with this production. Senior Lena Stapleton plays veteran teacher Bea Schachter; senior Zac McCray is English poet Paul Barringer; sophomore Justin Woods is administrator J.J. McHabe; junior Claire Conrady is troubled student Alice Blake; and senior Braden Tanner plays ruffian Joe Ferone. Additional cast members include: seniors: Joe Ahrends, Shelby Harrison, Colton Clark, Logan Keysear, Katrina Goodfellow, Alissa Harvey; juniors: Shelbi Fisher, Isabella Robbins, sophomores: Shannon Rahn, Lydia Spellman, Gabbie Cox, Collin Thomas, Ethan Keller, Bradley Rahn, Emma Cooper; and freshmen Aleaya Turley, Mason Landers, Madeline Steiner, Keyona Phillips, Abigail Bishop, and Haylee Dunham.

The crew is led by two student assistant directors: seniors Rebekah Harpin and sophomore Ryan Crawley. Other crew members include: Anthony Brummett, Grace Montgomery, Keeley Vermeire, Shyla Carlin, Alivia Catey, Zac Craig, Myah Fields, Jaden Pellinghelli-Drake, Ivy Pierce, Taerynn Sablotny, Madlen Tanner, Jordan Wood, Rachael Wilson, Cassie Harpin, Alyssa Harpin, and Lauren Canady among others.

[Instructor Jennifer Keith, LCHS]