Mid-November is more than just the half-way point between Halloween and Thanksgiving. It is also the height of fall play season at our area schools for our local young thespians. It is also way too early for Christmas music, but I digress. Check out some of the many local options you have to support the arts at our local schools: Madison Middle School Madison Middle School is gearing up for its annual fall musical with a staging of “Matilda, Jr.” Performances are Nov. 14, 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. in the Madison Middle School Cafetorium. General admission tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for students and seniors, and children 2 and under are free. All tickets are general admission and will be available through advance purchase at the Madison Local Schools websites under “Athletics” and then “Tickets” and at the door. Roald Dahl’s “Matilda The Musical, Jr.” is adapted from the full-length musical, which itself was based on the book by Roald Dahl, who also is famous for creating Willy Wonka among other popular stories. “Matilda, Jr.” features a book by Dennis Kelly and music and lyrics by Tim Minchin. The show opened on the West End in 2011 and made its Broadway premiere in 2013. The musical earned seven Olivier Awards, including “Best New Musical,” and five Tony awards, including The Tony for “Best Book of a Musical.” It is also a story that has been adapted for the silver screen twice, in both a straight comedy and musical version. The story revolves around Matilda, a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers. She lives with cruel parents who find her to be a nuisance, a lousy little worm, and a bore. When Matilda enters her first term at school, she captures the attention of Miss Honey, a kind teacher, and the two form a wonderful friendship. Unfortunately, the school is ruled by a tempestuous and mean headmistress named Miss Trunchbull, who hates children and delivers cruel and unjust punishments to all her charges. Matilda is determined to change her story, but will her cleverness and courage be enough to withstand the reign of Miss Trunchbull? The popular story is the first in Madison Theatre’s “Season of Mischief” with the new murder mystery “Curtains” coming to Madison Theatre in the spring for the annual high school musical. “Matilda, Jr.” features almost 60 kids in the cast and the crew. This is one of those productions where I throw my own hat into the ring and direct myself. This will be my 12th and final musical production for Madison Middle School before turning over the reigns of the middle school musical to musical director Ryan Zavoda next year. Having directed productions such as “Disney’s The Lion King, Jr.,” “Seussical, Jr.,” “Bye, Bye Birdie, Jr.” and “Dr. Dolittle, Jr.,” it is time for me to pass the baton to my three able assistants who, for the first time in my 12 years there, are all Madison Schools teachers: music director and Madison Schools vocal instructor Ryan Zavoda, choreographer and elementary music teacher Hannah Naymick, and, as technical director, art teacher Kelly Barrows. It has been a privilege to direct these Madison Middle School musical productions since 2012, and have done so now with all four of my daughters. Mallory and Casey appeared on stage between 2012 and 2016 when their sisters Ella and Olivia were toddlers. Now eighth-graders, Ella and Olivia – who started in 2022 with “Moana, Jr.” – will make their last Madison Middle School stage appearance with me this weekend alongside all of their friends and classmates. We look forward to seeing you all there this weekend! Fairport Harding High School Director Katie Johnston helms a couple of Shakespearean comedy satires this weekend at Fairport Harding High School with two one-acts, “Zombeo and Juliet” and “Shakespeare’s Got Talent.” Performances are Nov. 15 and 16 at 7 p.m. an Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online. Branthoover Auditorium is set to be demolished to make way for a new school soon, so Johnston wanted to take advantage of the natural appearances of the facility. “It has such a classic Shakespearean vibe with it’s thick red curtains and gold plaster embellishments,” Johnston tells me. “It begs for the Bard’s finest. However, I am not that kind of director, so I went on a search for something that would pay homage, yet fulfill my goofy style. “An inspiration for this choice was a teacher, Brandon Campbell, who has been trying to convince a director to do Shakespeare for years, and I felt this is as close as I could get.” The first act is “Zombeo and Juliet,” written by Kathey Martin & Phil Nohl. It tells the audience of the star crossed lovers we all know, but one is a zombie and the other one is a zombie killer. Their forbidden love seems perfect at first, until death visits their houses and the bitter end is inevitable. “All with disco, Orange Julius, beheadings, and an appearance by the Bard himself!,” Johnston promises. The second act is “Shakespeare’s Got Talent!” written by Lavinia Roberts. This transports your favorite characters into a talent show, hosted by Puck and Fool. The judges are hard, the acts hard to watch. The nods to his plays are heavily sprinkled through both. “Production has been fast!” Johnston says. “Minimal sets give the actors a blank canvas on which to create their art. The actors and actresses have many different roles in two different plays, and they are killing it! The dedication Fairport Theater kids are giving these off the wall plays makes me prouder with every performance! You’ve never seen Shakespeare like this, I can tell you! I don’t have to tell you how much high school theater can change a kid!” No. No you don’t. Not in this column! Notre Dame Cathedral Latin Notre Dame Cathedral Latin High School at 13000 Auburn Road in Munson Township will present “Arsenic and Old Lace” this weekend. Performances are Nov. 14 at 6 p.m., Nov. 15 and 16 at 7 p.m., and Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 and are available online. “Drama critic Mortimer Brewster’s engagement announcement is upended when he discovers a corpse in his elderly aunts’ window seat,” says director Leo Bond. “Between his aunts’ tendency for poisoning wine, a brother who thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt, and another brother using plastic surgery to hide from the police—not to mention Mortimer’s own hesitancy about marriage—it’ll be a miracle if Mortimer makes it to his wedding. Arsenic and Old Lace is a classic comedy about the only thing more deadly than poison: family!” Classic is definitely a word for this 1939 play. It has been one of the most produced high school plays over the last century. I assisted with Mentor Theatre’s production in 1996 with director Joe Lorek. My favorite innovation of our staging came at the end when we had all of the dead male victims crawl out of the window seat and take their own bow. Lot of work for a sight gag, but it was a great gag! Hunter Zupancic is a 17-year-old senior active in Marching Band and the Boys Volleyball team who is a part of this classic cast. “I hope that in my performance my physical acting and comedic timing comes to light,” Hunter says. “I typically struggle to when it comes to busywork and ad-libbed physical acting so it’d be great for that aspect of my acting to shine. Hunter is aware that this show predates him by decades, but has grown to appreciate it. “I think this show has remained so prominent simply because its absurdly funny,” Hunter says. “The whole concept of two murdering old ladies is so funny to me, and Mortimer and Johnathan’s rivalry is no small part.” Catch these old ladies this weekend. Just avoid the elderberry wine. Coming Soon • Nov. 21 — “The Curious Savage” at Madison High School • Nov. 21 — “Death by Chocolate” at Riverside High School • Nov. 21 — “An Evening of David Ives One-Acts” at Lake Catholic High School • Nov. 28 — “Matilda” at Fine Arts Association. Young Thespians is a column focusing on youth theater. When are your fall productions? E-mail [email protected] or post them on our “Young Thespians” Facebook group page so we can get you on our calendar!