Long John Sliver (aka Robbie Hamilton) runs through his lines onstage
Director Mike Lees said there was a great deal of interest in this year’s Middle School musical marked by an enthusiastic turnout at the audition. In all, the 54-member cast includes 23 sixth graders, 20 seventh graders, and 11 eighth graders from GPS and McCallie.
When choosing a fitting title to perform, Mr. Lees looked for something unique. The last two GPS/McCallie Middle School productions were condensed versions of The Lion King and Annie, each performed in one act. Both were huge box-office successes and well received, he said. This year Mr. Lees chose a two-act musical, performed with one 10-minute intermission.
“I wanted something entirely different than the previous years and, since Pirates of the Caribbean movies are loved by all,” Mr. Lees says, “I started my quest to find just the right show about pirates.
A Pirate’s Life for Me! with book by Craig Sodaro and music and lyrics by Bill Francoeur, fit the playbill. “It was just the show I was looking for that includes lively dialogue, catchy music, sword fights, and lots of jokes,” Mr. Lees adds.
Showtimes are Tuesday, Oct. 3, at 4:30 p.m., and Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m. in the Frierson Theatre on the GPS campus.