MES kids go wild in ââ¬ËThe Jungle Book By Amanda Isley • Staff writer
MILLBORO - Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!
Their faces may appear to be innocent, youthful students, but don't be fooled. The cafeteria at Millboro Elementary School was filled with tigers, African boa constrictors, bears, orangutans, and a wide array of wildlife last Thursday.
 | | Toby Taliagerro plays that mischievous monkey King Louie and breaks it down during his solo song, "I Want to Be Like You." (Recorder photo by Amanda Isley)
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This June, MES will host its long-running dinner theater, where sixth- and seventh-graders will perform the Disney musical version of "The Jungle Book." Sixth- and seventh-grade English teacher Joy George is in her second year of directing dinner theater and follows on the heels of now retired teacher Joyce Hively of Millboro.
Donna Armstrong heads up choreography and Tammy Lindsay is the famed music director, said George.
 | | Seventh-grader Xavier Smothers (front) will play cunning tiger Shere Kahn in the upcoming Millboro Dinner Theater production of "The Jungle Book." Here, he shows off his slick moves. Also pictured are (l-r) back row: Jamie Sprouse, seventh grade, and D.J. Jack, sixth grade. (Recorder photo by Amanda Isley)
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George has been involved with theatre since her middle school years, but says last year was her first foray into the field of directing. "I had never directed before, so that's been a big challenge for me. They (students) don't have a lot of acting or singing experience so getting them into character, out of their shells - getting them not to be embarrassed is a challenge," she said.
Shere Kahn still struggles with his shyness when he has to roar, and some of the singing is still soft and a bit timid, but it's coming along, she explains.
George said the kids love performing and enjoy the experience of being onstage and speaking in front of an audience. "They get up onstage and they love it; it's very rewarding for them to take something from start to finish - it teaches them that hard work pays off."
Nearly the entire six and seven grade classes are participating this year. "There are 50 kids in sixth and seventh grades and 47 kids are in it," she said. George is quick to add that while the kids are encouraged to participate, the choice is theirs and they are not required to audition.
George initiated herself as director and changed the face of Millboro Dinner Theatre forever by choosing the famous musical "Annie" for last year's production. "Last year was the first time we've done a big, well-known musical and they really enjoyed it," she said.
She took main characters to Lynchburg to see a production of "Camelot" in order to familiarize them with musical theatre. This year, she was able to take all of the sixth and seventh grade to a high school production in Harrisonburg. "They were all just blown away - so many of them had never seen a live musical."
George is a fan of musicals and found out last year the students are, too. "It gives the kids a chance to be creative. They are in seats all day long - all year long - this gives them a chance to just be kids," she said.
It is also educational, she says. The importance of speaking clearly, confidently, and audibly is sometimes underscored, but in today's world you often have to be seen and heard in order to meet a number of job descriptions. "This gives them public speaking experience, which is such an important skill to have."
Seventh-graders Mary McCoy and Joseph Ingram were in last year's production of Annie and hold prominent roles in The Jungle Book.
McCoy played orphan Lily in Annie and plays village girl Shanti and a coconut tree in The Jungle Book. She oozes enthusiasm for theatre. "I like being in front of people," she confides. The toughest part for McCoy is learning the songs. "At first, when you're up there singing, you feel nervous, but then you think, ââ¬Ëhey, this is fun,'" she said.
Ingram plays that lovable, silly bear Baloo and has a solo during the song "Bare Necessities." While George and McCoy agree he has a beautiful voice, Ingram gets nervous. Being a bear is a challenge all in itself. "It's frustrating because everybody expects you to be loud and scream a lot."
Although the singing can be a intimidating, Ingram says he was thrilled to be Baloo. "I didn't think I would get the part, so that was exciting," he said.
Usually main roles are reserved for seventh-graders, but this year two sixth-graders earned top roles. Toby Taliagerro, an energetic and talkative sixth-grader, was bubbling over with pep. Taliagerro plans to participate in dinner theater again next year and is ecstatic to be playing King Louie this year.
Playing the zany king of apes won't be hard, he said. He already knows all the words to his solo, "I Want to Be Like You," and practices often. "I sing in the shower," he said. "To me, nothing's hard - you get to have fun, and to be fun and exciting; it's awesome, I'm going to be rockin' on stage," he said.
Taliagerro used to watch the movie as a kid and is familiar with all the music.
MES has organized theatre productions for more than 20 years, and George is happy to carry on the tradition. However, she deplores the fact that Bath County High School has no theatre program or event in which the students leaving MES can participate. "That's a big frustration because we've got real talent here," she said.
The Millboro Ruritan Club prepares the dinner for the event, and volunteer parents organize serving and donate desserts.
Former director, Hively, said she organized the first musical production at MES in 1978, along with music teacher Jim McGinnis, and that got the ball rolling. It was titled "Millboro Memories." Then, off and on, she partnered with other teachers to put on various productions.
It wasn't until 1993, when she partnered with music director, Lindsay, that dinner theater was born. "She really came up with the suggestion for dinner theater," said Hively.
Hively co-directed with Lindsay until 2005, when she retired. She taught sixth- and seventh-grade English and coached forensics. "I think Joy is going a step above what we were trying to do and I commend her for it. She's doing a great job and has a wonderful rapport with the kids," she said.
"The Jungle Book" will be performed twice on June 2, with each performance lasting just under an hour. For information, call MES at 540-839-5804 or 540-997-5452.
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