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Local actors go for another State title

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HARTINGTON — As reigning state one-act play team champions, Hartington-Newcastle will look to keep up the tradition that has seen them win seven total crowns.

Coach A.J. Johnson – and assistants Linda Kathol and Lindsay Stappert – will work with a roster full of comedic talent as they set themselves to perform “Young Frankenstein” this season.

With a total of almost 60 kids – 46 in the cast – Johnson’s charges have been working on the play since September.

“The kids have a lot of work to do yet, but they are working hard and it’s going to be a lot of fun,” Johnson said.

Johnson said a lot of time goes into choosing which play to perform each year.

“We picked this play because it fit the kids that we’ve got. When you find a play, you want to find something good that will entertain people, but also will keep you competitive. So, you look at the kids you have and the characters and see if they fit,” he said. “Some schools, I wonder if they don’t pick the plays regardless of the kids they have. Picking a play where the kids don’t fit, never works.”

Young Frankenstein is known for being unabashedly funny and Johnson’s kids should be up to the task.

“They’re funny,” Johnson said. “They have a lot of energy and they understand comedy and good comedic timing and how it must go.”

It might be a perfect piece for the Wildcats,

“We will have some tough competition,” Johnson said. “We will need to be at our best.”

When an area like Northeast Nebraska embraces one-act as vigorously as area schools do, one has to be ready to bring out their ‘A’ game.

“It’s hard to describe why it’s big around here, but I know it takes people in schools willing to take and invest the time,” Johnson said. “It takes a lot of hard work, but we are fortunate that we have good schools in our area. Once schools start getting good in your area, the bars get raised and other schools want to raise that bar. They have really good coaches at Wausa and at Cedar Catholic and Wynot and several others have made state and done well.”

One thing Johnson has going for him is the return of the two-time defending state individual male performer, senior Sam Harms.

“He has a great sense of timing and he’s got great facial expressions and a natural gift for performing,” Johnson said. “He’s 6-foot-8 and has a long lanky body and he knows how to use it to make people laugh.”

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN

Speaking Roles

HERALD—Parker Hopping INSPECTOR KEMP—Isaac Bruning VILLAGER #1—Kalyn Martinson VILLAGER #2—Reece Morten ZIGGY—Bennet Sievers IGOR—Sam Harms DR. FREDERICK FRANKENSTEIN—Shaye Morten INGA—Autumn Lammers VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN—Teagan Scoggan FRAU BLUCHER—Abbe Morten MONSTER—Dylan Dendinger ELIZABETH BENNING—Brianna Hopping HERMIT—Kayden Jueden DRACULA—Matthew Meisenheimer

VILLAGERS:

Kerrigan Hoesing, Aspen Jansen, Mari Reyes, Freedom Rogers, Erin Folkers, Hailey Fuerhoff, Maya Knutson, Erin Meisenheimer, Caroline Nelson, Jake Peitz, Michael Brandow, Keegan Carl, Logan Castillo, Bella Hulit, Riley Krause, Jude Krie, Alivia Morten, Rebekah Pinkelman, Aiaden Rogers, Seth Schaecher, Daniel Steffen

SCIENTISTS/MOURNERS:

Makenna Clarkson, Keanna Korth, Delayne Sudbeck, Shelby Underwood, Carson Jones, Zoe Ptak, Leah Reichle, Turner Dendinger, Tommy Folkers, Lane Heimes, Carsen Hopping, Mayson McIntosh

CREW:

Bradley Dowling, Brady Heitman, Wyatt Jacobs, Gabe Krie, Carter Lammers, Kaitlyn Willis, John Lauer, Rubi Olsen, Karli Bruning, Olivia Grutsch, Mani Lange, Dayton Sudbeck