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Tonganoxie Middle School students set sail with ‘Moana Jr.’

By Shawn F. Linenberger - | Mar 10, 2026

Shawn F. Linenberger

Tonganoxie Middle School students perform a scene from “Moana Jr.” during Saturday’s matinee performance at Tonganoxie Performing Arts Center.

If anyone attended last week’s Tonganoxie Middle School production of “Moana Jr.” at the Tonganoxie Performing Arts Center, cast members might have had just one thing to say: “you’re welcome.”

TMS presented the musical on three occasions. On the final showing, a Saturday matinee, students presented directors with gifts and praise and encouraged other students to participate in theater at TMS.

Roles for the local production were Eden Gehri as Moana, James Lewallen as Chief Tui, Nevaeh Shriner as Sina, Charleigh Avery as Pua, Reed Lally as Hei Hei, Stevie Joy Mays as Gramma Tala, Afton McCoy as Maui, Lennon Herrig as Tamatoa and Evan Lobb as Left Claw and Kaelyn Baldridge as Right Claw.

Valentina Rodriguez was Te Ka/Te Fiti and the Shiny Ensemble.

Tom Gifford was sound and lights director, while Cassie Donkey was props and scenery director and Deborah Holloway was stage director.

Stage managers were Ace Moreno and Myla Peresta.

Playing the roles of Ancestors were Calista Scarbourough, Tinley Shriner and Kyle Dempsey.

Landon Frink was Villager No. 1 and Gate Monster. Russel Frink was Villager No. 2 and member of the Ocean Ensemble, while Addy Saves was Villager No. 3 and member of the Ancestor Ensemble. Addy Saves was Villager No. 4 and a member of the Ocean Ensemble. Nora Johnson and Sage Bennett were villagers and members of the Maui Ensemble.

Fishers and Ocean Ensemble members were Brayden Garner and Aaron Deason.

Resley Crum was in the Ocean and Shiny ensembles, Emily Balmer was in the Maui and Shiny ensembles and Remi Lyn was in the Ancestor and Shiny ensembles.

River Brumley was another member of the Ancestor Ensemble, Madi Pavlovich and Libby King were in the Ocean Ensemble and Lealynn Judson and Georgia Pestock were additional members in the Maui Ensemble.

There were 11 scenes in the “Moana Jr.” production.

Members of the technical crew were Jackson Wade and Carsen McHenry, sound; Eden Hodgesa and Alyssa Pestock, lights; and Lux Keith, Ran Ottens, Wynnifred King and Addison Haas, stage crew.

Stage managers were Ace Moreno and Myla Peresta.

Music and lyrics are by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i and Mark Mancina. The book is adapted by Susan Soon He Stanton and music and orchestrations are arranged and adapted by Ian Weinberger.

The musical is based on the 2016 Disney film “Moana.”