Aristocats

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

The Emery High Drama Department presented the fun-filled family musical, “The Aristocats-Kids,” on April 22-24 at the Emery High School auditorium.
The play is based on the Disney Movie and is the story of Duchess, Marie, Toulouse and Berlioz, the mother cat and her kittens that belong to Madame. Madame decides to leave her entire large fortune to her cats and expects her butler, Edgar to care for them.
Edgar has a different idea in mind and catnaps Duchess and her kittens and drops them off in the seedy part of Paris where they meet Thomas O’Malley and his band of alley cats. They are chased by dogs and saved by geese. The whole time they are trying to get back to Madame and Edgar is trying to stop them. But thanks to a little mouse named Roquefort everything turns out OK in the end.
The role of Madame was played by Karla Urie and Edgar was portrayed by Tyrell Clement. Duchess-Brittany Lofthouse, Marie-Elise DeBry, Berlioz-Naomi Snow, Toulouse-Colton Leavitt, Thomas O’Malley-Kalin Burr, and the mouse-Amanda Ewell. Napoleon the leader of the dogs was played by Bryson Weaver. The cast of 30 drama students with an additional five students helping with the light, sound and all other technological aspects brought the play to life.
One thing unique to this production was the animals were all human size but the humans were projected to be about 18 feet high.
The music was fun and rollicking and moved the production along. The alley cats were: Jennifer Jensen, Nikki Rogers, Tennyson Fauver, Jessica Larsen and Keshia Holmes. The dogs were Nathan Doria, Royce Gillins, Dallin Lemon and Devin Hales. The geese were: Allison Barham, Tineka Curtis, Kennedy Kemple, Aubrie Oldroyd, Davina Bosshardt, Wendee Hatch, Tasia Mattox and Alyscia Severin. The director for the production was Neal Peacock. Marilee Cox was the musical director. Gabe Mouritsen along with Tyler Cox and Ben Cox ran the lights and sound. The choreography was done by Meckette Sitterud and Marilee Cox helped with costumes.
On Saturday night after the production the senior drama students performed their acts they took to state drama.
The Emery High Drama department has been very busy this season. They have performed five plays to date including: Frankenstein Slept Here, Hello Dolly; Romeo and Winnifred, Lost in Yonkers and Aristocats. The beginning theatre class is preparing a play entitled Valentines, Cherry Pies, Turkey, Pumpkins and Dear Old Mom.
Emery High took first place in region in competitive theatre, placing first and second in every event except one where they placed first and third. The contest play, Gangster Apparel, placed first in region.
At the state meet every Emery contestant received a superior rating. The play also received straight superior ratings. Tyrell Clement received the best character actor award. Emery High was given the superior school award for having someone in every event take straight superiors. The theatre department is looking forward to another great year, next year. The school invites and welcomes the support of the community to all theatre events.
The following students participated in state drama: Classical Scenes, Colton Leavitt, Amanda Ewell, Ben Cox, Naomi Snow, Aubrie Oldroyd, Tennyson Fauver, Marqui Moss and Brittany Fauver.
Contemporary Scenes, Brittany Lofthouse, Tyler Cox, Devin Hales, Royce Gillins, Jessica Larsen, Tineka Curtis, Keshia Holmes, Tasia Mattox, Alyscia Severin; Humorous Reading Nikki Rogers, Davi Bosshardt, Jennifer Jensen and Karla Urie.
Dramatic Reading, Kennedy Kemple, Allison Barham, and Bryson Weaver.
Pantomime, Creig Greenburg, Tyler Rowley Olivia Burton Dezeray Mangum, and Anna Turner.
Musical Scenes, Elise Debry, Kalin Burr Ashley Stilson, and Mia Doria.
Competition Play, Tyrell Clement and Bryson Weaver.
Peacock said, “Tyrell Clement was named best character actor for the State Festival and all of our contestants and our contest play received a Superior Rating-which is the highest-at state. We also had more students in the showcase rounds than any other school.”