TMS theater takes center stage
'John Lennon and Me' performances Nov. 29

Olivia Mowery shines as "Star" in the Troup Middle School's production of John Lennon and Me. Also starring are Lexee Jones (below far left), Jaclyn Bender (below middle) and Hank Freeman (with Mowery far right). The play will be performed at noon Thursday, Nov. 29 and again that night at 7 p.m.

Troup Middle School theater students will present their One Act Play entry, John Lennon and Me, Thursday, Nov. 29, with two chances for the public to view this funny and touching story.

The first show will be held at noon for middle school students.

The second performance is scheduled for 7 that night, with both shows in the Troup High School Auditorium. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for students.

Written by Cherie Bennett (and adapted from her book "Goodbye, Best Friend"), John Lennon and Me is the story of Star (played by Olivia Mowery), a young teen with cystic fibrosis who experiences friendship, first love and loss in the approximate 40-minute play.

Freeman said the material was challenging for her young performers, but a perfect fit for their abilities.

"A good friend of mine at Tatum did this show, and when I saw it I thought of Olivia," said Freeman. "She was 'Star.'"

As played by Mowery, Star is funny, sarcastic and very expressive. The role requires Mowery to deliver the bulk of the play's dialogue, including several monologues spoken directly to the audience.

"This can be tough, even in high school," said Freeman. "She knew her lines almost from the first rehearsal."

Joining Mowery on stage will be Jaclyn Bender as Courtney, a new resident of the children's hospital where Star lives.

Other featured actors in the production are Hank Freeman as Jeff Levine, Star's potential boyfriend; Summer Freeman as Star's mother Claudia; LaShun Roy as Sally and Cheney Cover as Julie, two other friends of Star and Courtney; Summer Brown as 'The Torturer,' Star's physical therapist; and Lexee Jones as Nurse Janice.

Although theater classes are a new addition at Troup Middle School this year, many of Freeman's cast are already stage veterans of a sort.

Mowers, Summer Freeman and Brown all were named to the All-Star cast for last year's One Act Play, "In the Garden of the Selfish Giant."

"There are a lot of talented kids in this age group," said Freeman. "I'm looking forward to getting them in high school - I have big plans for them."

Freeman credits much of the experience, and enthusiasm, of her young students to former elementary music teacher Cherisa Cromer.

"I think Mrs. Cromer really prepared them for this," said Freeman, who collaborated with Cromer on a joint high school/ elementary production last year, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, which starred many of her now sixth-grade performers. "They did Annie in the fourth grade and a Broadway show last year."

Lexee Jones is one of those students. As perky Nurse Janice, who likes to break into song, Jones gets to broaden the appeal she showed in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

"That was really fun," said Jones, who Freeman class a natural with lots of energy. "It actually started in the first grade when we did this little thing. I just liked performing."

Photos/Charlotte Smith

In addition to the performances at Troup, the students will be competing in the district One Act Play contest on Dec. 4 in Arp. Troup is scheduled to perform at 1 p.m., though Freeman says to come early because the doors are closed when the show starts.