John Glenn Middle School takes on the 'Big Bad Musical'

Heather Sevigny, The Daily Jeffersonian
·1 min read
Nelonah Johnson sings during rehearsal for the John Glenn production of "The Big Bad Musical." Johnson plays the role the wolf, who is being sued by Little Red Riding Hood.
Nelonah Johnson sings during rehearsal for the John Glenn production of "The Big Bad Musical." Johnson plays the role the wolf, who is being sued by Little Red Riding Hood.

Thespians unite at John Glenn Middle School as student actors get ready to tackle the performance of "The Big Bad Musical."

The show tells the story of the Big Bad Wolf as he deals with a class action lawsuit initiated by Little Red Riding Hood and others. Witty writing and toe-tapping musical numbers round out the evening, as the audience becomes the jury.

The cast of "The Big Bad Musical" rehearse at John Glenn Middle School. The group will take the stage at 7 p.m. Thursday and 7:30 p.m. Friday. There is no admission fee, but donations will be accepted.
The cast of "The Big Bad Musical" rehearse at John Glenn Middle School. The group will take the stage at 7 p.m. Thursday and 7:30 p.m. Friday. There is no admission fee, but donations will be accepted.

Under the guidance of seventh-grade language arts teacher Katie Gotschall and librarian Judy Beetem, the group has been rehearsing since shortly after Christmas break. With a cast of more than 20 students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades, the performance has been a long time in the making.

"We were supposed to put on the musical in 2020, but got shut down before the performance," Gotschall said, referencing the COVID-19 pandemic. "I remember telling the kids we only have one more week to rehearse."

Only one individual from the originial cast will be performing this week. The students involved haven't had the opportunity to experience a production like this since the shut down due to regulations and COVID-19 restrictions.

Petra Taylor and Charlie Bishop will portray two of the three little pigs in the John Glenn musical, which centers around a class action lawsuit against the Big Bad Wolf.
Petra Taylor and Charlie Bishop will portray two of the three little pigs in the John Glenn musical, which centers around a class action lawsuit against the Big Bad Wolf.

"It's been hard to get them back into what it really is. They think it's like a kindergarten program where you put up some cardboard and sing. Now they're like 'Wow. This is a bigger deal than we thought,'" John Glenn Middle School Principal Trent Cubbison said about the production.

Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday and 7:30 p.m. Friday, at the middle school in New Concord. There is no admission fee but donations will be accepted.

For more information about the performance, contact Gotschall or Beetem at 740-826-7631.

Christina Holmes practices her role as the fairy godmother/prosecutor for the John Glenn production of "The Big Bad Musical." Holmes is the only remaining cast member to return after the musical was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Christina Holmes practices her role as the fairy godmother/prosecutor for the John Glenn production of "The Big Bad Musical." Holmes is the only remaining cast member to return after the musical was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: John Glenn Middle School takes on the 'Big Bad Musical'