Stage Crafters present 'Is There Life After High School?'

FORT WALTON BEACH - "Is There Life After High School?" isn't your typical musical production.

Loosely inspired by Ralph Keyes' best-selling book of the same name, the show is what Marcia WrightReynolds of Stage Crafters Community Theatre Inc. calls "a boutique musical."

"It's a smaller musical, what the (play) author calls a ‘memory musical' because it gives people the chance to relive the memories of the joy and the happiness and the craziness of high school," she said.

The play was written by Jeffrey Kindley, with music and lyrics by Craig Carnelia. It was first produced on Broadway in 1982 and since has become a favorite of community and high school theater groups, WrightReynolds said.

Stage Crafters is producing the musical as the first show of its 37th season. It opens in the Fort Walton Beach Municipal Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Additional show times and dates are 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday, 7:30 p.m. March 12, 13 and 14, and 2 p.m. March 15.

"This play is perfect for the auditorium, which allows the actors to be closer to the audience," WrightReynolds said. "I love the intimacy of the auditorium."

WrightReynolds stars in the show along with fellow Stage Crafters veterans Sarah Wright, Brett Huston, Michele Edge Green, David Simmons, Don Goodrum, Jane Judkins, Mark Murphy and John "J.R." DeBall.

"There are no specific character names. It's just like ‘Man 1,' ‘Man 2,' " WrightReynolds said. "Each of us plays numerous characters in the show."

WrightReynolds found playing more than one role challenging but fun.

"There are really no stage instructions. The actors just have to decide for themselves how to convey the characters by changing their voices and expressions.

"We will have costume changes to help people recognize the different characters. In some productions, the actors just wear black or white outfits for the whole show."
The characters perform a number of songs together as well as solo. Each also has a monologue.

The show touches on many of the highlights - and lowlights - of the high school years, including yearbooks, homecoming and band.

"One of the fun things is a song called ‘Thousands of Trumpets,'" WrightReynolds said. "It's about being in the band and about all of the trumpets in thousands of cases that don't get played anymore. We even do a little halftime show."

Some more serious topics are covered in songs titled "Second Thoughts" and "Beer."

WrightReynolds said that while the show does not contain any explicit material, "it's not clean as a whistle, either."

"It's PG, kind of, with some ‘mild language.' Certainly OK for teen-age kids and probably middle-school age.
"It should have appeal to a wide variety of people and ages," she said.

The cast enjoyed preparing for the show.

"I had forgotten a lot of things. All of us brought in yearbooks to share, and because the cast is of varying ages, that made it all the more interesting," WrightReynolds said.

"I've fallen in love with the show. It's poignant and funny."

"Is There Life After High School?" is co-directed by Stage Crafters veterans Eddie Kelley and Michael WrightReynolds. Judkins is vocal director. Jim Garrett is musical director, and Shawn Laine is producer.

Tickets are $20 each and are available at P.S. Gifts, Bayou Books, Connect With Flowers, Dowd Title Group LLC, all locations of Century 21 and at the door.

The auditorium is at 107 Miracle Strip Pkwy. Call Stage Crafters at 243-1101.