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 everyday in the last 9 days. All students involved should expect to be present at dress rehearsals and performances.

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.  If you have any information to share, please send it to Sarah Santilli, at ssantilli@uaschools.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 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 jonesfallproduction@gmail.com. Parent Coordinators for 2021 are Elaine Alicea and Allison Cummons. Thank you, parents, for all your hard work and dedication to Fall Production!

We hope you get involved in Fall Production!

Matilda Jr.

Audition Dates:

Wednesday, August 11, 4:00-6:00pm

Thursday, August 12, 6:00-8:00pm

*Added extra Audition Prep Session: Wednesday, August 18, 3:30-4:30pm

Thursday, August 19, 3:30-5:30pm

Friday, August 20, 3:30-5:30pm (Callback Auditions for invited students)

Saturday, August 21, 4:00pm (Cast List Posted Online)

*Audition Materials are currently available on our Canvas page!

Performance Dates:

Thursday, October 14, 9:00am, 5th Grade Matinee

Friday, October 15, 7:00pm

Saturday, October 16,7:00pm

Sunday, October 17, 2:00pm

*All Cast and Tech Crew students will be participating in all 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 www.jonespto.com starting September 29 at 6:00am.

Plot Synopsis:

Matilda has astonishing wit, intelligence... and special powers! She's unloved by her cruel parents but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey. Matilda's school life isn't completely smooth sailing, however – the school's mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don't abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils' saving grace!  Packed with high-energy dance numbers and catchy songs, Matilda JR. is a joyous romp. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.

Full synopsis available here: https://www.mtishows.com/roald-dahls-matilda-the-musical-jr 

Chris Lape (Producer): coming soon!

Sarah Santilli (Stage Director): This is Sarah's eleventh year at Jones Middle School teaching Vocal and General Music and seventeenth year teaching overall. Local productions include Secret Garden (Rose) with BRAVO; Mary Poppins (Katie Nanna, Featured Dancer), Tarzan the Musical (Mother), The Little Mermaid (Atina), and Seussical (Bird Girl) with Westerville Civic Theatre; Mary Poppins with Butterfly Guild; and She Loves Me (Customer #1), Side Show (Venus de Milo/Violet US), and Les Misérables with Gallery Players. Sarah directed for the Columbus Children's 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 and recently taught graduate level Musicianship.

David Monseur (Music Director): David is thrilled to be starting his 21st year at Upper Arlington with his first Jones Fall Production! He also teaches at the High School and Hastings Middle School, where he has produced 36 staged productions. Previously he taught at The Ohio State University, Otterbein University, and Grandview Heights High School. Prior to his music career, David studied acting at New York University's Lee Strasburg Theatre Institute. He holds degrees from The Ohio State University and Westminster Choir College. He has conducted internationally at Ely Cathedral England, GALA Choruses Festival VII in Montreal, and St. Peter's Basilica, Rome. David has collaborated with such arts organizations as the Columbus Symphony, Opera Columbus, Ballet Met, and the Columbus Jazz Arts Group.

Amy Leacock (Music Director): biography coming soon!

Katie Widing (Vocal Coach): Katie, an alumnae of both Jones and UAHS, is in her seventeenth year teaching in UA. 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 fifth 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!

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

Patricia Mendoza (Assistant Director): This is Patricia's 19th year teaching Spanish at Jones and 3rd year assisting with Fall Pro.  She loves spending time with family, especially traveling together. Patricia enjoys trying new foods, listening to music, and dancing and playing tennis to stay active. Her family has two dogs including a new puppy!  The JMS fall production crew is amazing and the students have definitely given her the theater bug!

Alice Aichele (Backstage and Technology Assistant): 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.

Parent Coordinators 2021:

Elaine Alicea and Allison Cummons

jonesfallproduction@gmail.com 

2021—Matilda Jr.

2020—Frozen Kids (spring 2021)

2019—Mary Poppins Jr.

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

1979—Jones On Stage

1978—Jones On Stage

1977—Jones On Stage

1976—Bicentennial Show (May)

1976—Variety Show (November)

1954—Brigadoon

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. 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.