Hays Middle School Performing Arts
Hays Middle School Performing Arts students will present a joint stage and vocal music performance at the Hays Community Theatre on Thursday, May 8, followed by a stage performance only on Sunday, May 11.
On May 8, the HMS Falcon Singers will open the performance at 7 p.m. with about 25 minutes of vocal music, followed by the one-act play, “Gossip,” presented by drama students. On Sunday, no vocal music will be presented, only the play at 2 p.m.
“I’m pleased that the vocal students will join us for the Thursday performance,” said play director Bill Gasper. “It makes for a little longer evening of entertainment for parents and friends. It was decided to do the Sunday performance of the play because of family members wanting to attend from out-of-town.”
The Falcon Singers, under the direction of Michael Davidson, will perform four or five songs. That will be followed by several solo and small group numbers for a total performance time of 25 minutes.
“This is a talented and dedicated group of singers who practice with me early before school each week,” Davidson said.
Members of the Falcon Singers are Isabel Enriquez Carrasco, Kennedy Smith, Sarah Niehaus, Isabella Anderson, Addison Booze, Annelise Buller, Kenzie Wolcott, Briggston Anderson, Elaina Bach, Evie Dietz, Ryker Barrett, Rachel Dees, Nadia Hernandez, Kahner McGuire, and Reese Custer.
“Gossip” is an award-winning play by Brian Hampton that spins a cautionary tale about the negative effects of gossip.
The 35-minute show personifies Gossip as a new student with a charismatic yet cunning personality. Gossip quickly befriends one of the popular girls, Dallas, but it’s soon revealed that Gossip has entered the friendship with sinister intentions, aiming to take Dallas’ place in the school play and get closer to her boyfriend, Tim.
As Gossip weaves a web of lies and deception, twisting the truth to get what she wants, the group of friends she’s infiltrated begins to unravel until they eventually learn of Gossip’s ulterior motives and turn on her in a dramatic twist.
“It shows how the rest of the kids deal with gossip and eventually learn that gossip is not a very good thing to spread or to believe all the time,” Gasper said.
The play features 10 students, including Isabella Anderson, Jackson Berges, Addison Booze, Annelise Buller, Kalliape Butler, Braelyn Dumler, Zach Leiker, Korbin Miller,
Savannah Wittkorn and Kenzie Wolcott. Helping with the production is assistant director Emily Buller.
No admission will be charged for the performance and everyone is invited. Hays Community Theatre is located at 121 E. 8th Street.
“I want to thank Hays Community Theatre for its generosity in allowing us to use their performance space,” Gasper said.