THS production hailed as a success
Talk about an all-star cast.
A group of 31 Tonganoxie High School students performed in last weekend’s production of “Pecos Bill and Slue-Foot Sue Meet the Dirty Dan Gang.”
The two-performance play, which was staged Friday and Saturday at the Tonganoxie Performing Arts Center, was the culmination of a short schedule for the cast.
Rehearsal started in the first week of March. And, the group did not rehearse during spring break, which was a week before production week. Overall, the 10 rehearsals were staged.
Director and THS instructor Steve Harrell was proud of his students making the play a reality.
“The play was a great success,” Harrell said. “We wanted to get a lot of kids into the show and build some interest in theater.
“I know we got the first half done; I hope we got the second part done as well.”
More than 130 people attended Friday’s performance, while more than 185 attended Saturday’s play.
The cast was led by Pecos Bill, played by Jon Ferris, and Slue-Foot Sue, played by Kezia Huseman. The part of Granny was played by Sarah Radcliff, while Tracy Bowersox played the rough and tough Dirty Dan.
One show-stealer was Tyler Thomas, who played the part of Pecos Bill’s trusty sidekick, Clever Coyote. Thomas, whose speaking parts were that of a howling animal, participated in his first production at THS.
The two-act play was set in the dry and dusty town of Prairie Dog.
These THS students also performed in the play: Austin Bargaray as Professor U.Q. Laylee; Krista Jobst as Widow Quackenbush; Tracy Papa as Abigail; Amber Hornback as Becky; Jessica Ferris as Conchita; Lena Manly as Doreen; Noah Fugate as Blue Duck; Jessica Herrington as School M’arm; Ben Field as Boots; Jordan Gagne as Fleas; Doug Emerson as Fleebag; Lindsay Gonser as Lily Grouch; Cally Owsley as Belle Grouch; Cera Sample as Eller Mentary; Cody Somers as Snedly Hogrot; Drew Scates as Otis; David Nussbaum as Bubba; Steven Walters as Lefty; Jacque Jones as Stagecoach Sally; Amanda Sawalich as Mrs. Maynot; Desiree Steinwachs as Gertie Goldust; Brent Lees as Ole Timer; Justin Moss as Mr. Goodnews; and Issac Jones and Stephen Crook as company agents.