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Rogersville City School is excited to begin a music theater program at the school. It is a huge undertaking with many obstacles to overcome for a school to start a program like this.

This past summer and fall, Josh and Robin Fritts, and the Surgoinsville Middle School music theater department, graciously allowed several students and Beth Jarnigan, Director, to take part in its summer music camp production of Lion King and its fall production of Annie.

This allowed Jarnigan to learn from them how to go about starting a music theater program, the audition process, rehearsal schedules, costuming students, and everything else a theater program entails.

It also gave students a chance to be a part of their cast and learn from the wonderful program they have built.

“When Jennifer Ewing, co-director, and I brought the desire to start this program to our director of schools, Edwin Jarnagin, our school board members, administration, and staff, everyone has been completely supportive and helpful in making it possible,” she said.

Rogersville City School knows the importance of offering students positive extracurricular activities to be involved in.

This gives student’s talents a chance to shine not only in the classroom, but outside of the classroom as well.

Jarnigan explained how several community organization have helped make this production spectacular.

“The director of schools and school board members have been very generous to supply funding to get this program started, and the ABC parent organization has helped to purchase the things we still needed including curtains for the stage, and the parents helped us to get a spotlight since the school didn’t have one,” Jarnigan said.

“The community has also chipped in with things still needed. Some local churches, including Big Hill, East Rogersville, Shepherds Chapel, and Spruce Pine Grove have provided costumes, props, and even microphones when they learned that some of ours are still on back order.

“Dean Newman with Genesis Stitches has helped to design and custom make beautiful costumes for production. She has donated countless hours and many of her own resources from her business to make sure that every child has a nice costume that they can feel proud wearing. The sultan costume that Adelaide Copeland designed and sewed for her grandson, Jude Johnson, is stunning and the art club, under the guidance of Missy Cole, art teacher, has helped to design and create the back drops and props.”

The cast of 35 students have been practicing up to four times a week since January to bring a great show to the community.

Aladdin Jr. has been directed by Beth Jarnigan and Jennifer Ewing and assistant directors Sophia Holcomb and Morgan Hunter.

The perfromaces of the musical will take place May 5 and 6 at 7 p.m. and May 14 at 3:30 p.m at the Rogersville City School Auditorium.

Tickets for Aladdin Jr. at Rogersville City School can be purchased online at ShowTix4U.