Thursday, February 1, 2007 Older Editions

Rockin' the Schoolhouse

By Brian Messenger

The name Schoolhouse Rock! rings a bell for many who watched Saturday morning cartoons on ABC between 1973 and 1985. With catchy tunes such as Conjunction Junction, I'm Just a Bill, and Interjections!, Schoolhouse Rock! used cartoon music videos to teach kids about everything from grammar and government to the solar system.

As the years have gone by, however, the animated, educational shorts have gone from household name to pop culture relic.

But soon, thanks to the cast of Wood Hill Middle School's annual musical, class will be back in session.

Schoolhouse Rock Live! will be put on by more than 100 Wood Hill middle-schoolers next Friday and Saturday night, Feb. 9 and 10, promising those in attendance at Wood Hill's auditorium an evening full of entertainment and education, too.

Pairing singing, dancing and acting with the reading, writing and arithmetic-centered lessons of 13 Schoolhouse Rock! songs has been a lot of hard work, say those involved. Cast and crew have rehearsed twice a week since November to prepare for the two upcoming shows.

But it's been a lot of fun too, said Wood Hill music teacher, piano player and play co-director Gina Murray.

"I think it's been a really rich experience for the kids," said Murray. "They're just jumping right in."

Murray was busy rehearsing last week with the rhythm section of a 14-member orchestra, including three school staff members, providing the musical accompaniment to the many actors ranging from grades six to eight. Murray plays piano.

"We've been trying to manage this chaos of creativity. But it's actually been real fun," said English teacher Chip Gregory, a bass player, during a break between songs. "I think there's probably 50 different solos in this thing. It's really cool."

Thirteen-year-old seventh-graders Freddie Duquet and Derek Farquhar, both guitarists for the musical, had but one guarantee for the public thinking of attending the show: "The music is going to be rocking," said Farquhar.

Eighth-grade harp player Samantha Pellegrino said she's been playing the instrument for only 11 months.

She'll get a chance to play five songs in Schoolhouse Rock Live! Her favorite song is Three is a Magic Number.

"I'm not in the school orchestra or anything, so it's nice to be a part of it," said Pellegrino, 14.

One of the most rewarding parts of putting on such a wide-ranging production, according to school counselor and play co-director Hillary Brooks, is that no matter what a student's interest, they'll probably find a way to contribute. Some are performing on stage or in the orchestra pit, while others are working behind the scenes.

"Any child that wanted to participate in the theatrical experience had a chance, which is great," said Brooks.

And not all the students were so unfamiliar with the Schoolhouse Rock! content after all, she said.

"The teachers still actually use it as an educational tool in their classrooms," Brooks said.

Meghan Burke, 13, an eighth-grade actor in the performance and student-director overseeing a group of 14 students, had all her rehearsing pay off when she attended an academic bowl meet recently in Lawrence.

Three questions - which she answered correctly for her team - related directly to the Schoolhouse Rock! song Elbow Room, a ditty about early Americans and their expansion into the Western frontier.

"It proves that Schoolhouse Rock! is really helpful," said Burke.

Stage manager and eighth-grader Jessica Park, 13, was familiar with Schoolhouse Rock! because her mom, an educator, uses the program for her students.

"My mom's a teacher, so I knew it from that," said Park. "But now I'm like, 'This is awesome.'"

For ticket information on Wood Hill Middle School's two 7:30 p.m. shows on Feb. 9 and 10, e-mail WHMSdrama@yahoo.com.

Reserved tickets are $8 and general tickets will go for $6.