Submitted
Hays Middle School students will present a one-act play at the Hays Public Library during the Hays Art Walk on Saturday.
The performance, “You’re Driving Me Crazy,” is a series of four short comedies by Todd Wallinger that spoof driver’s education training. Two performances are scheduled for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in the Trish Davies room on the second floor of the library. No admission will be charged for the performance, which should last around 30-40 minutes.
Bill Gasper, a retired journalism teacher at Hays High School and current director of the Hays High spring play, is directing the students in what might be the first time (or at least in recent history) that the middle school has presented a public performance.
“I enjoy working with students in theater and volunteered to see if we can get a program started at the middle school,” Gasper said. “My goal was to provide middle school students with an interest in theater the opportunity to perform in front of people. Initially, we had a number of students who expressed an interest, but for one reason or another decided to bow out. The 11 students who decided to stick with it have done a good job overall.”
Those students include eighth-graders Ella Fenwick and Caleb Nicholas, seventh-grader Sarah Niehaus, and sixth-graders Isabella Anderson, Braelyn Dumler, Annelise Buller, Adelyn Williams, Augusta Green, Kadence Farr, Lillian Kuhl and Ava Breit.
“I admit it has been a bit different working with middle schoolers,” Gasper said. “They bring a different level of energy to each rehearsal. It’s been a fun experience for me, and I’m hopeful the kids have enjoyed it as well.”
Although he was hoping for a little more student interest, Gasper said things actually worked out very well.
“A smaller group has been much more manageable in regard to rehearsals, rehearsal space, scheduling and so on,” he said. “Sometimes it’s best to start out small and see if interest grows in the future.”
In addition to Saturday’s performance, the group was also scheduled to perform in front Karen Nowak’s communications classes at the middle school.
“Mrs. Nowak has graciously allowed us to rehearse in her classroom after school, which as a former teacher, I know can be a bit inconvenient,” Gasper said. “I also want to thank Tom Albers and the office staff at the school for their support as well as the Hays Arts Council and Hays Public Library for giving us this opportunity. The USD 489 Foundation also deserve a round of applause for providing us the funds to pay for books and royalties.”