By. Cole Wimberly
Salem Community High School Theater is putting on the play “One Stoplight Town” at the Community Theater. Opening night is this Thursday, November 14th! The engaging show follows a story about people from a town so small that you might drive through without taking a second look. High school Theater director Drew Johnson believes the show is on track to be one of his best.
Johnson explains, “So It is relatively new. In fact, if you look around the country the amount of people doing this show kind of shows you that the excitement behind it is kind of a modern telling of our town, If you will.”
The town gets a new stoplight that Barb (played by Elara Brubaker) the grocery store owner is not very fond of. The lead protestor (Played by Kylie Viera) is followed by the other protestors rallying to support the town’s new stoplight.
Viera describes, “The shop owner Barb wants the stoplight down, that’s her big role, and the protestors are protesting because we do not want the stoplight down. We are just in for one scene, but it is a very good scene and we have a lot of banter.”
The heartwarming role of Sam the mechanic (played by Olivia Howe) fixes the stoplight when there is a problem.
Howe speaks of her character, “So Sam is kind of like the wise old person, and she kind of fixes everything in the town if that makes any sense, kind of the peacemaker. She gives advice to younger kids about how they need to take their time and not just go go go all the time. Or how to spot the change in the world, kind of as Cole said, just spot the change that goes on through the town.”
The story follows Jim and Sally (played by Cole Wimberly and Sarah Morris), a young couple, and their love evolves through the years. Filled with fun characters, lots of humor, plenty of heart, and the theme that change comes for us all, whether we are ready or not. Senior Drama Club Vice President Cole Wimberley describes his role,
” It sends a really good message, like most the shows I’ve done have just been like Disney, musicals, comedies. This one really sends a message to the people, and it’s relatable. Personally, I play Jim, a father who kind of grows up through the years, like I start small in high school with my significant other. Then, we go on to get married, then we have a kid and, then we send our kid off to college. It just shows for me, my relationship building and my love building throughout time.”
The First week of shows begins Thursday, November 14th, 15th, and 16th at 7, and the 17th is a matinee at 3. The second week of shows begins Thursday, November 21st, 22nd, and 23rd at 7. Tickets are 6 dollars for students and 8 dollars for adults. Tickets are being sold at the front office of the High School, SalemILtheater.org, and at the front door of show nights.
Chyann Sprinkle, Halle Nix, Aurora Wagoner, Krisjewlynna Kuntsman, Cesily Carmona, Kinley Montgomery, and Mallory Hopkins are arguing over who will win the drag race.
Cast List for One Stop Light Town
Engel – Tech Manager
Kylie Vieira – Directors Assistant/ Social Media/ Protestor 1
Rylan Lawson – Flash/ Crew
Ria Niepoetter – Crew
Olivia Howe – Sam/Crew
Gavin Buchanan – Prodigal Son/ Crew
Kinley Montgomery – Melvin/Crew
Aurielle Winkler – Protester 2/ Crew
Hannah Teitsort – Emmet/ Crew
Emma Turner – Drum Major/ Crew
Andrew Trout – Tech
Cesily Carmona – Teen 3/ Crew
Chyann Sprinkle – Teen 4/ Crew
Aubree Hoagland – Green Bean Queen
Sarah Morris – Sally/ Crew
Mallory Hopkins – Clarence/ Crew
Gabby Pineda – Casey/ Protestor 3/ Crew
Jaci Gammon – Runaway/ Crew
Dafney Winebarger – Tech/ Crew
Ash Collier – Props Manager/ Crew
Elara Brubaker – Barb/ Crew
Krisjewlynna Kunstman – Teen 2/ Crew
Jasmyne Askew – Protestor 4/ Crew
Alek Vaughn – Police Officer/ Crew
Cole Wimberly – Jim/ Construction Manager
Aurora Wagoner- Teen/ stage manager
Halle Nix- Teen/crew
