The students of Capital City High School will hit the stage next week as the curtains open on their very first theater production.
Courtney LeCure, theater director at Capital City High School, said students are rehearsing throughout the next week to get ready for the opening of "The Curious Savage" on Jan. 23. The play, LeCure said, centers around the story of an older widow, Ethel Savage, who was left a large sum of money after her husband's death. She decides to start a memorial fund "for foolish things," LeCure said, as a way of honoring her husband's memory. However, this upsets her stepchildren, who have Savage committed only to discover that she hid $10 million, sending all of them on a "wild goose chase."
"It's this really silly, kind of sweet comedy that follows what happens," LeCure said. "It's pretty cute."
LeCure said the freshmen and sophomore students at Capital City High School began working on the play after auditions were held in early October. Between the cast and crew, there's about 22 students involved, she said. With the high school having only freshmen and sophomore students, LeCure said it's been gratifying to see them take on the larger roles that may have otherwise gone to an upperclassman.
"We are pretty excited about it," LeCure said. "A lot of these kids, if they were in a school that did have all four grade levels, they may not get the opportunities that they're getting."
LeCure said the play, written by John Patrick, has been around for a while, but it still connects to modern audiences. LeCure said she even did the play when she was in high school, making the whole experience more nostalgic for her.
"It's been a lot of fun to revisit it," LeCure said. "It's been a really neat opportunity."
During the show, LeCure said, there will also be a silent auction going on to benefit the high school's theater program. LeCure said there will be items from local businesses, plus some larger ticker items, including tickets to Silver Dollar City and the Kansas City Zoo.
"If we want to keep growing, we need money," LeCure said, adding Zach McKinney, drama director at Jefferson City High School, has helped them a lot with this production, loaning items for costumes and sets.
The show will run Jan. 23-25, with the box office at the Miller Performing Arts Center opening at 6 p.m. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and the show will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for students and $7 for adults. All proceeds will go back into the theater program at Capital City High School, LeCure said. All performances will be at the Miller Performing Arts Center, 501 Madison St.