Fall Production

CONTACT INFORMATION

Sarah Santilli

SCHOOLOGY PAGE

All announcements, documents, and information will be posted on the JMS Fall Production Schoology group page.  Please become a member of this group by using the Access Code below:
Schoology Directions:
Login to Schoology > Click GROUPS at the top > Click JOIN > Enter the Access Code: 88SBN-KDZDM

REGISTRATION, FAMILY ADS & BUSINESS ADS

Forms and payment are available under the “Fall Pro” tab on the JMS PTO website: jonespto.com.
These forms are available from late August until early October.

TICKETS

Link to the ticket website available under the “Fall Pro” tab on the JMS PTO website: jonespto.com 
This information is available during October each year.
Click the “Current Production” tab below to see performance dates and which students are in each cast (Black Cast or Gold Cast).

What is Fall Production?

Fall Production is an organization for all students at Jones Middle School. There are several levels of involvement to facilitate busy schedules. Students involved in JMS athletics, community organizations, private lessons, etc. are still encouraged to participate. Performers include leading roles, featured actors/singers, and ensembles that rehearse 1-5 days a week for eight weeks. Tech Crew is involved mainly on Saturdays and everyday in the last two weeks (once fall sports are over). All students involved should expect to be present at rehearsal for the last two weeks.

Shows are selected on a three year thematic rotation: Fantasy, Modern/Contemporary, Traditional. Our philosophy is to teach through performance and expose students to a wide variety of experiences. In this way, all students have the opportunity to perform in each category during their three years at Jones. We also keep a detailed history of the organization, so if you have any information to share, please send it to Sarah Santilli, at [email protected]aschools.org. You can also view pictures of our past productions in the auditorium hallway.

The Production Staff firmly believes that a student's academic performance should not suffer because of their rehearsal schedule. We value your time and create rehearsal schedules to be efficient, avoiding as many conflicts as possible. At times, students will have down time during rehearsal and are encouraged to bring their homework.

Parent Coordinators organize an army of parent volunteers to help make sure Fall Production is always a success! We rely on the tireless efforts of parent committees to take care of every detail, allowing the Directors to focus all their attention on the students. If you would like to get involved, please contact our Parent Coordinators at [email protected]. Parent Coordinators for 2019 are Susan Cenci, Sarah Foster, and Wendy Hauswirth.  Thank you, parents, for all your hard work and dedication to Fall Production!

We hope you get involved in Fall Production!

CURRENT PRODUCTION

Mary Poppins Jr.

Audition Dates:
Monday, August 19, 3:30-6:00pm (7th/8th Grade Auditions)
Tuesday, August 20, 4:00-6:00pm (7th/8th Grade Auditions)
Wednesday, August 21, 3:30-6:00pm (6th Grade Auditions)
Thursday, August 22, 3:30-5:30pm (Callback Auditions)
Saturday, August 24, Cast List Posted Online
*Audition Materials are currently available on our Schoology page!

Performance Dates:
Thursday, October 17, Black Cast, 7:00pm
Friday, October 18, Gold Cast, 7:00pm
Saturday, October 19, Black Cast, 2:00pm
Sunday, October 20, Gold Cast 2:00pm
*Only a few parts are double cast.  All Ensemble members and Tech Crew will be participating in both casts, all four performances.

Ticket Information:
Tickets are $10.00 in advance and at the door.  All seats are reserved and can be purchased online with a credit card on the JMS PTO website jonespto.com starting October 2 at 6:00am.

Plot Synopsis:
The jack-of-all trades, Bert, introduces us to England in 1910 and the troubled Banks family. Young Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorstep. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family members how to value each other again. Mary Poppins takes the children on many magical and memorable adventures, but Jane and Michael aren't the only ones upon whom she has a profound effect. Even grown-ups can learn a lesson or two from the nanny who advises that "Anything can happen if you let it."

Full synopsis available here: https://www.mtishows.com/disney-and-cameron-mackintoshs-mary-poppins-jr

Production Team

Sarah Santilli (Stage Director): This is Sarah's ninth year at Jones Middle School teaching Vocal and General Music and fifteenth year teaching overall. Local productions include Mary Poppins (Katie Nanna, Featured Dancer), Tarzan the Musical (Mother), The Little Mermaid (Atina), and Seussical (Bird Girl) with Westerville Civic Theatre; Mary Poppins (Ensemble) with Pleasure Guild; and Side Show (Venus de Milo/Violet US) and Les Misérables (Ensemble) with Gallery Players. Sarah directs for the Columbus Children's Choir (Santa Maria Choir) and has produced/directed several school and community shows in Central and Northwest Ohio. She has music education degrees from The Ohio State University and Capital University, where she also received Kodály Certification.

Katie Widing (Music Director): Katie, an alumnae of both Jones and UAHS, is in her fifteenth year teaching at Jones. Her various instruments include piano, guitar, oboe, trombone, and bass. Mrs. Widing started her performing career in Fall Production as Curly in Peter Pan, Rose Seller in Oliver, Glinda in The Wizard of Oz, and Eulalie in Music Man. She went on to play Mrs. Paroo in UAHS' Music Man and Cherubino in Wittenberg's The Marriage of Figaro. She has directed for various school and community organizations in the area. Katie received her Bachelors Degree in Music Education from The Ohio State University and Masters of School Counseling from the University of Dayton.  Katie and her husband Andrew enjoy spending time with their young daughters, Charlotte and Elizabeth.

Megan Overly (Choreographer): This is Megan’s third year choreographing for Fall Production!  She has choreographed Junie B Jones, Lion King KIDS, and Once on This Island, Jr. at Columbus Children's Theatre and several shows for Worthingway Junior High School in Worthington.  Additionally, Megan is on faculty at CCT as a private dance instructor. Her recent appearances on stage in the Columbus area include Christmas in Columbus, Mary Poppins, The Pajama Game, Beauty and the Beast, and White Christmas. Megan holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance from the University of Cincinnati's College--Conservatory of Music, and a Juris Doctorate from the Ohio State University's Moritz College of Law. She is excited to be a part of Fall Pro, and loves working with all the kids at Jones! Thank you to the production staff and parents who work so hard to make this show happen!

Alice Aichele (Producer): Alice teaches 8th Grade American History at Jones and has been working in UA for sixteen years.  Although not a theatre veteran, Alice is an avid theatre goer and has a daughter who has been bitten by the theatre bug.  Alice helps off stage with several of the logistical aspects of the show and is excited to be part of this great Jones tradition.

Anthony Aleshire-Stype (Tech Director): coming soon!

Patricia Mendoza (Assistant): coming soon!

Chris Lape (Assistant): coming soon!

Laurie Sutherin (Assistant): coming soon!

Parent Coordinators 2019:
Susan Cenci, Sarah Foster, Wendy Hauswirth
[email protected] 

Pit Orchestra Musicians 2019:
Violin: Gretchen Zunic (UA district string teacher)
Keyboard: Katie Widing (Jones vocal teacher)
Bass: Ed Zunic (UA district string teacher)
Drums: Jacob Reed (Worthington vocal teacher)

Previous Shows

2018—Shrek Jr.
2017—Peter Pan Jr. 
2016—Singin’ In The Rain Jr.
2015—High School Musical Jr.
2014—The Little Mermaid Jr.
2013—Annie Jr.
2012—Fame Jr.
2011—Beauty and the Beast Jr.
2010—Music Man Jr.
2009—High School Musical Jr.
2008—Annie/Grease
2007—The Wizard of Oz/Disney Favorites
2006—Cinderella/King and I
2005—Peter Pan/Grease
2004—Annie/Tom Sawyer
2003—Music Man/Wizard of Oz
2002—Peter Pan/Grease
2001—Annie/Oliver
2000—Wizard of Oz/Disney Favorites
1999—Music Man/Grease
1998—Annie/Oliver
1997—Wizard of Oz/Grease
1996—Music Man/Tom Sawyer
1995—The Sound of Music/Disney Favorites (Snow White/The Little Mermaid/Peter Pan/Aladdin)
1994—Annie/Disney Favorites (Pete’s Dragon/Cinderella/Mary Poppins/Beauty and the Beast)
1993—Wizard of Oz/Oliver
1992—Music Man/Tom Sawyer
1991—Peter Pan/Calamity Jane/Fiddler on the Roof
1990—The King and I/Bye Bye Birdie (Jones and Hastings)
1989—Annie
1988—Music Man
1987—The Wizard of Oz
1986—Broadway Favorites (Fame/Peter Pan/Music Man/Sound of Music/Shenandoah)
1985—Back to Broadway (West Side Story/Charlie Brown/Annie/Grease/Charlie Brown)
1984—Cheaper By the Dozen/Teen 1 & 2
1983—Oliver
1982—The American Dream Machine
1981—The Wiz/Annie/Grease/Saturday Night Fever/Electric Horseman
1980—Celebrate
1954—Brigadoon

Audition Statement

Jones Middle School Fall Production auditions are open to all students in grades 6-8. Roles are cast based on audition performance and rehearsal availability.  Fall Production follows the Upper Arlington district anti-discrimination policy. Furthermore, students with parents on the production team do not receive special consideration. Directing staff with children auditioning are not present in the audition room and are not part of the casting decision for their child. Parent Coordinators and Parent Committee Chairs are not involved in any part of the audition process.  We strive to create the most professional and fairest experience possible for our students.

Every show presents different characters, requiring varying skill sets. Not every show has a character for every type of performer. Students who received roles as 7th graders are not guaranteed roles in 8th grade based on their previous experience. The audition panel seeks to put students where they will be most successful and best benefit the production overall.

Auditions are the hardest part of our jobs because we know the decisions made affect so many people personally. Though we double cast our leading roles to help showcase as many students as possible, over 100 students audition for Fall Production annually. Thank you for your understanding and support as students step outside their comfort zone, many for their very first time. Jones Fall Production accepts all students, regardless of audition outcome, as performers.  There are no cuts and everybody plays.
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