Submitted PhotoPine Grove Middle School and Valwood School students have partnered to produce ‘Elf the Musical Jr.’

VALDOSTA — Buddy the Elf learns he’s human through a song that sets him on a search for his father.

The popular Christmas film starring Will Ferrell has been adapted into a live stage musical. Next week, a program combining the talents of a public school and a private school will perform “Elf the Musical Jr.”

Pine Grove Middle School and Valwood School students have been rehearsing together for several weeks to prepare for the one-night-only show scheduled to play Dec. 5 at Mathis City Auditorium.

Rhenda Parker teaches chorus classes at Pine Grove Middle School. Phyllis Childree teaches theatre at Valwood.

Childree and Parker have been friends since they worked together years ago at Moulton Branch Elementary School.

Through the years, as Childree became Lowndes High School Off-Broadway director then moved to Valwood and Parker became chorus director at Pine Grove, Parker said she worked with her friend on some productions.

But nothing as ambitious as combining two school programs as they have done for “Elf the Musical Jr.”

Last spring, Parker and her Pine Grove Middle School Chorus presented “Jukebox Journey,” a revue-style show featuring pop music from the 1950s, ‘60s, ‘70s and more. Based on the positive reception of the show, Parker said her students expressed interest in doing a musical.

Childree wanted her students to have the opportunity to perform and produce a musical but she needed a larger cast of theatre students to make it a success.

Together, they developed the show combining their programs.

With the blessings from their school administrations, they received further support from a monetary grant.

Childree applied for a $1,000 Bright Ideas education grant from Colquitt EMC. She titled her grant application as “Making a Christmas Wish Come True.”

In September, the wish came true as Colquitt EMC awarded her the $1,000 grant.

Now, dozens of students will perform a bit of elfin magic just in time for the holidays.

 

THE CAST: Halen Ruch, John Laurent Dean, Allie Rae Ward, Aariyana Jones, Baylee Roberts, Destin Bobb, Alex Gomez, Nicolas Serrano, Jada Ward, Samantha Hammond, Natalie Davis, Coleman Yates, Lilly Repess, Jessica Hasty, George Tidmore, Anthony Mathison, Devon Frasu, Ellie Griner, Johnna Young, Lillabeth Mason, Nicolas Serrano, Jessianna Fountain, Chesley Wetherington, Rouse Vallotton, Mary Claire Grainer, Anna Alvarado, Kelsee Warren, Matthew Poling, Anthony Miller, Mahkiya Zellars, Ellie Scruggs, Erika Thompson, Allie Rae Ward, Baylee Roberts, Bryanna Greenwood, Hannah Adkins, Payton Griffin, Jayden Capps, Kimberly Scott, Iyana Davila, Saige Hiers, Layla Jones, Mary Claire Griner, Rebecca Moody, Lilia Ward, Kelsee Warren, Alex Gomez, Davonta Brown, Nya Brown, Destiny Carter, Shanese Gates, Madison Goodman, Jayla Inman, Hannah Landers, Janiya Lyle, Liam McFadden, Anthony Miller, Jazmyne Noah, Sacoya Roberts, Erika Thompson, Mahkiya Zellars, Taylor Burch, Molly Butler, Kaitlynne Clairmont, Laci Copenhaver, Amarie Dasher, Ashlee Davis, Natalie Davis, Kristen Flynn, Kelan Hill, Samantha Hammond, Timya Howell, Conner Joiner, Kathleen Mock, Ashlyn Olheiser, Courtney Stalvey, Katelyn Stewart.

DIRECTION, PRODUCTION: Phyllis Childree, Rhenda Parker, directors; Rhenda Parker, Pine Grove, Marti Schert and Jennifer McQuade, Valwood, musical directors; Makayla Yates, Jolie Green, sound; Jordan Green, C.C. Hogan, lighting; Blake Barnes, stage manager; Grayson Spell, assistant stage manager.

 

 

SHOWTIME

Pine Grove Middle School and Valwood School present “Elf the Musical Jr.”

When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5.

Where: Mathis City Auditorium, 2300 N. Ashley St.