Theatre Program

The GHS Theatre Program introduces students to the magic of live theatre. Students participate both onstage and backstage to bring stories of comedy and drama to life, and in the process learn something about themselves as well.

With the 2019-2020 Season, the program features a schedule of 4 productions each year: The Retro Radio Show, A Fall Production, a Festival Play, a Spring Production.

In the Theatre Archive are copies of Production Posters, Programs, and Photos from past productions.

We are currently missing several programs from the archive, if you have a copy of one of the following programs, please contact Chris Chapman.

"The Glass Menagerie" 1999, GHS Spring Play
"The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe" 2000 GMS Play
"Much Ado About Nothing" 2001 GHS One Act Play
Program from 2003 "Jungle Book"

Retro-Radio Show

Founded in 2012 as an alternative to "traditional" theatre, the GHS Retro Radio Show proudly performs pieces from and based on the Golden Age of Radio.
Let the cast & live foley artists (sound effects artists) take your imagination on a ride like nothing you've experienced before!"The Lost World" is based on the classic adventure novel by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Join Professor Challenger and his team of explorers as they venture to a remote plateau in South America, populated by Dinosaurs and a savage race of Ape Men! Will our explorers find the Lost Worlf? And if they do, will they return?

Cast

Announcer - Carter Chapman

Copy Boy - Isaak Sischo

e of Ape-men.

Roxton - Cole Bozung

Gomez - Alize Reyes

Malone - Andrew Chapman

Summerlee - Kaitlyn Haen

Challenger - Steven Longfellow

McArdle - Ariah Bremby

Beaumont - Carter Chapman

Dr. Meldrum - Gabby Hurtubise

Illingworth - Alivia Gilbertson

Gladys - Isabella Tower

Ape King - William Rivera

Chief - Jaci Taylor

PERFORMS OCTOBER 5 & 6

REHEARSES EVERY DAY AFTER SCHOOL, 3:00 – 5:00

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 23 – 27, REHEARSES 6:00 – 8:00 PM

WEEK OF OCTOBER 1 – 5, REHEARSES 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Directed by Brooke Heintz & Larry Moss

Ticket proceeds from "The Retro Radio Show" go to funding the West Michigan Theatre Festival.

Previous Retro Radio Show Productions:

2018 - "Who Goes There?" - Directed by Larry Moss & Brooke Heintz 2016 - "Sherlock Holmes & The Scandal in Bohemia" Directed by Larry Moss
2015 (Fall) - "Dracula" Directed by Larry Moss
2015 (Spring) - "Tales of the Macabre" - Directed by Larry Moss
2014 - "The Invisible Man" - Directed by Larry Moss
2013 - "Flash Gordon" - Directed by Larry Moss
2012 - "The War of the Worlds" - Directed by Larry Moss

Fall Show

The GHS Performing Arts Department is pleased to announce the Fall Musical for 2019:

Abba's "Mamma Mia!"

Music & Lyrics By Bjorn Ulvaeus & Benny Andersson

Book By Catherine Johnson

ABBA's hits tell the hilarious story of a young woman's search for her birth father. This sunny and funny tale unfolds on a Greek island paradise. On the eve of her wedding, a daughter's quest to discover the identity of her father brings three men from her mother's past back to the island they last visited 20 years ago.

The story-telling magic of ABBA's timeless songs propels this enchanting tale of love, laughter and friendship, creating an unforgettable show. A large cast, non-stop laughs and explosive dance numbers combine to make Mamma Mia! a guaranteed smash hit for any theatre. A mother. A daughter. Three possible dads. And a trip down the aisle you'll never forget!

CHARACTERS
Sophie Sheridan (Born & raised on the Island)

Donna Sheridan (Sophie's mother)

Sam Carmichael (Might be Sophie's father)

Bill Austin (Might be Sophie's father)

Harry Bright (Might be Sophie's father)

Sky (Sophie's fiance)

Tanya (Former Dynamo)

Rosie (Former Dynamo)

Lisa (Sophie's friend)

Ali (Sophie's friend)

Pepper (Barman at Taverna)

Eddie (Helps Sky with Water-sports)

Chorus

Directed by: Danielle Verway
Vocal Music Direction by: Krista Chapman
Technical Director: Chris Chapman

Previous Fall GHS Productions:

2018- "Oklahoma!" -Directed by Chris Chapman, Music Direction by Krista Chapman 2017-"Willy Wonka" - Directed by Chris Chapman, Music Direction by Krista Chapman 2016 - "The Addams Family: The Musical" - Directed by Chris Chapman, Music Direction by Krista Chapman
2015 - "Little Shop of Horrors" - Directed by Joel Van Houten & Chris Chapman, Music Direction by Krista Chapman
2014 - "Legally Blonde: The Musical" - Directed by Joel Van Houten
2013 - "Disney's High School Musical" - Directed by Ruth Hansen, Music Direction by Joel VanHouten
2012 - "Cinderella: The Enchanted Edition" - Directed by Ruth Hansen, Music Direction by Joel VanHouten
2011 - "Grease" - Directed by Ruth Hansen, Music Direction by Joel VanHouten
2010 - "The Sound of Music" - Directed by Ruth Hansen, Music Direction by Joel VanHouten
2009 - "Pride & Prejudice" - Directed by Laurie Timm
2008 - "Guys & Dolls" - Directed by Ruth Hansen, Music Direction by Joel VanHouten
2007 - "Footloose:The Musical" - Directed by Ruth Hansen, Music Direction by Joel VanHouten
2006 - "The Music Man" - Directed by Ruth Hansen, Music Direction by Joel VanHouten
2005 - "A Christmas Carol" - Directed by Ruth Hansen
2004 - "Godspell" - Directed by Ruth Hansen, Music Direction by Joel VanHouten
2004 - "Charlie & The Chocolate Factory" - GMS - Directed by Ruth Hansen
2003 - "Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" - Directed by Ruth Hansen, Music Direction by Joel VanHouten
2003 - "The Jungle Book" - GMS - Directed by Ruth Hansen
2002 - "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" - Directed by Ruth Hansen, Music Direction by Joel VanHouten/Keith Hudson
2001 - "The Wizard of Oz" - Directed by Ruth Hansen, Music Direction by Jim Goodrich/Jeff Ayres
2000 - "Once Upon a Mattress" - Directed by Ruth Hansen, Music Direction by Jim Goodrich/Jeff Ayres
1999 - "Bye Bye Birdie" - Directed by Ruth Hansen, Music Direction by Joel & Linda VanHouten/Susan Gould
1998 - "Annie" - Directed by Ruth Hansen, Music Direction by Linda VanHouten

Festival Play

GHS is pleased to present the 2020 West Michigan Theatre Festival Play Entry

By Ray Bradbury

Performs February 7 & 8, 2020

A young Martian asks another if there could be any life on Earth. "Impossible," is the answer. "There's too much oxygen!"

The push is on to colonize Mars in this classic by famed Sci-Fi Author Ray Bradbury. Tales of inspiration and terror on the frontiers of the imagination. Mankind begins to colonize Mars. The tales of what we learn there, teach important lessons on what it means to be human. The Los Angeles Times called the play "a must, an experience for everyone."

CHARACTERS:

More than 47 roles with expanded chorus/ensemble.

“The Martian Chronicles” continues GHS’s dedication to the West Michigan Theatre Festival. This unique production begins in December, and cast members are expected to memorize dialog over Holiday Break. There is little time in January to rehearse the production, so all students are expected to bring their best to working on the show.

Auditions December 4-6

Director : Mr. Chris Chapman

Past productions:

2019 - "Bullshot Crummond" directed by Isacc Wilson (WMTF Participating Production) 2018 - "Fahrenheit 451" directed by Chris Chapman (WMTF Participating Production) 2017 - "The Good Doctor" directed by Chris Chapman (WMTF Participating Production)
2016 - "Defying Gravity" directed by Chris Chapman (WMTF Participating Production)
2011 - "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)" directed by Chris Chapman (MIFA State Finalist)
2010 - "The Actor's Nightmare" & "Drive-In" directed by Chris Chapman
2009 - "Story Theatre" directed by Chris Chapman (MIFA Regional Finalist)
2008 - "Bury the Dead" directed by Chris Chapman (MIFA State Finalist)
2007 - "The Good Doctor" directed by Chris Chapman (MIFA Regional Finalist)
2006 - "The Grapes of Wrath" directed by Chris Chapman (MIFA Regional Finalist)
2005 - "Becoming Arthur" directed by Chris Chapman (MIFA Regional Finalist)
2004 - "Fortress" directed by Chris Chapman (MIFA Regional Finalist)
2003 - "Bullshot Crummond" directed by Laurie Timm (MIFA Regional Finalist)
2002 - "The Diviners" directed by Amy McFadden (MIFA Regional Finalist)
2001 - "Much Ado About Nothing" directed by Larry Moss (MIFA Regional Finalist)
2000 - "Class Action" directed by Larry Moss (MIFA Regional Finalist)
2000 - "Final Dress Rehearsal" directed by Jodie Dewey

Spring Show

Arthur Miller's classic comes to the GHS Stage in May. It opens with Reverend Parris fretting over his sick daughter Betty. The doctor suspects her affliction is unnatural. Betty was recently seen dancing in the woods with her cousin Abigail Williams and several other girls; rumors of witchcraft circulate. Parris summons demonology expert Rev. Hale to examine Betty. Abigail decides to turn the rumors around on her enemies, specifically her former employer Elizabeth Proctor. Abigail had a brief affair with Elizabeth's husband, John, leading to her dismissal. As accusations spiral out of control, Judge Hathorne and Deputy Governor Danforth arrive in Salem to preside over the subsequent trials. The accused face a difficult decision: Confess to consorting with the devil, or hang.

Characters:

John Proctor - A local farmer who lives just outside town; Elizabeth Proctor’s husband. A stern, harsh-tongued man, John hates hypocrisy. Nevertheless, he has a hidden sin—his affair with Abigail Williams—that proves his downfall. When the hysteria begins, he hesitates to expose Abigail as a fraud because he worries that his secret will be revealed and his good name ruined.

Abigail Williams - Reverend Parris’s niece. Abigail was once the servant for the Proctor household, but Elizabeth Proctor fired her after she discovered that Abigail was having an affair with her husband, John Proctor. Abigail is smart, wily, a good liar, and vindictive when crossed.

Reverend John Hale - A young minister reputed to be an expert on witchcraft. Reverend Hale is called in to Salem to examine Parris’s daughter Betty. Hale is a committed Christian and hater of witchcraft. His critical mind and intelligence save him from falling into blind fervor.

Elizabeth Proctor - John Proctor’s wife. Elizabeth fired Abigail when she discovered that her husband was having an affair with Abigail. Elizabeth is supremely virtuous, but often cold.

Reverend Parris - The minister of Salem’s church. Reverend Parris is a paranoid, power-hungry, yet oddly self-pitying figure. Many of the townsfolk, especially John Proctor, dislike him, and Parris is very concerned with building his position in the community.

Rebecca Nurse - Francis Nurse’s wife. Rebecca is a wise, sensible, and upright woman, held in tremendous regard by most of the Salem community. However, she falls victim to the hysteria when the Putnams accuse her of witchcraft and she refuses to confess.

Francis Nurse - A wealthy, influential man in Salem. Nurse is well respected by most people in Salem, but is an enemy of Thomas Putnam and his wife.

Judge Danforth - The deputy governor of Massachusetts and the presiding judge at the witch trials. Honest and scrupu-lous, at least in his own mind, Danforth is convinced that he is doing right in rooting out witchcraft.

Giles Corey - An elderly but feisty farmer in Salem, famous for his tendency to file lawsuits. Giles’s wife, Martha, is accused of witchcraft, and he himself is eventually held in contempt of court.

Thomas Putnam - A wealthy, influential citizen of Salem, Putnam holds a grudge against Francis Nurse for preventing Putnam’s brother-in-law from being elected to the office of minister. He uses the witch trials to increase his own wealth by accusing people of witchcraft and then buying up their land.

Ann Putnam - Thomas Putnam’s wife. Ann Putnam has given birth to eight children, but only Ruth Putnam survived. The other seven died before they were a day old, and Ann is convinced that they were murdered by supernatural means.

Ruth Putnam - The Putnams’ lone surviving child out of eight. Like Betty Parris, Ruth falls into a strange stupor after Reverend Parris catches her and the other girls dancing in the woods at night.

Tituba - Reverend Parris’s black slave from Barbados. Tituba agrees to perform voodoo at Abigail’s request.

Mary Warren - The servant in the Proctor household and a member of Abigail’s group of girls. She is a timid girl, easily influenced by those around her.

Betty Parris - Reverend Parris’s ten-year-old daughter. Betty falls into a strange stupor after Parris catches her and the other girls dancing in the forest with Tituba. Her illness and that of Ruth Putnam fuel the first rumors of witchcraft.

Martha Corey - Giles Corey’s third wife. Martha’s reading habits lead to her arrest and conviction for witchcraft.

Ezekiel Cheever - A man from Salem who acts as clerk of the court during the witch trials. He is upright and determined to do his duty for justice.

Judge Hathorne - A judge who presides, along with Danforth, over the witch trials.

Herrick - The marshal of Salem.

Mercy Lewis - One of the girls in Abigail’s group.

Past productions have included:

2019 - "The Phantom Tollbooth Jr." - GMS Musical - Directed by Brooke Heintz 2018 - "The Odd Couple: Female Version" - Directed by Brooke Heintz 2017 - "School House Rock LIVE! Jr!" -GMS - Directed by Brooke Heintz
2016 - "Almost, Maine" - GHS - Directed by Laurie Timm
2015 - "110 Stories" - GHS - Directed by Laurie Timm
2014 - "The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon" - GHS - Directed by Laurie Timm
2013 - "Urban Legends - GHS - Directed by Laurie Timm
2012 - "Little Women" - GHS - Directed by Laurie Timm
2011 - "Disney's Aladdin Jr." - GMS - Directed by Ruth Hansen
2010 - "Bleacher Bums" - GHS - Directed by Chris Chapman
2009 - "Charlotte's Web" - GMS - Directed by Ruth Hansen
2008 - "The Hobbit" - GHS/GMS - Directed by Ruth Hansen/Chris Chapman
2007 - "Arsenic & Old Lace" - GHS - Directed by Laurie Timm
2006 - "How the West was Dun" - GMS - Directed by Jaimee Gunn
2005 - "Don't Drink the Water" - GHS - Directed by Laurie Timm
2003 - "Ducktails & Bobbysox" - GMS - Directed by Ruth Hansen
2002 - "Brighton Beach Memoirs" - GHS - Directed by Laurie Timm
2002 - "Beauty & The Beast" - GMS - Directed by Ruth Hansen
2001 - "Get Smart" - GMS - Directed by Ruth Hansen
2001 - "California Suite" - GHS - Directed by Laurie Timm
2000 - "The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe" - GMS - Directed by Ruth Hansen
2000 - "The Mousetrap" - GHS - Directed by Laurie Timm
1999 - "The Glass Menagerie" - GHS - Directed by Jodi Dewey/Lyle Fales
1999 - "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" - GHS - Directed by Ruth Hansen

Theatre Archive

We are looking for photos, programs and advertising fliers from any GHS or GMS production performed since the opening of the Performing Arts Center. If you have anything we may borrow, please contact Cheryl Willard at 616-225-6109.

In the Theatre Archive Posters area, past programs from our productions are available as well as on the GHS Theatre Facebook Page.

Poster Archive

Program Archive

Disney's High School Musical

Retro Radio Show: The Invisible Man

Students perform The Retro Radio Show

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