Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook

Production Role - Director

After taking many courses during my undergraduate degree, directing small scenes or short plays with friends and colleagues, and even directing for UMM's student theatre organization's Play in a Day event, Junie B. Jones is Not a Crook was my true debut to the world as a director! For the University of Minnesota Morris Theatre Discipline's 49th Annual Children's Show, I directed this production as the capstone project for my undergraduate degree. This production, and my role in shaping the process was the final stepping stone to achieving my BA in Theatre Arts, and it served as a chance for me to direct a love letter to all that I adore in the art form of children's media. My concept for this show was deeply inspired by many cartoons that I grew up with, and the creation of this "On Stage Cartoon" was seen and felt deeply in the staging and direction of the actors, as well as the ways in which I helped inform the design team in their work.

Though it would be impossible to fully recount all of my favorite moments of the process here, a few of the achievements that I take the most pride in throughout this production are the music that I wrote for multiple dream sequence moments throughout the show, the way in which I blocked and staged a massive Scooby-Doo style chase all across the many levels of the stage, and the final scene of the play in which the audiences of children without fail engaged with the actors in response to the many silly knock knock jokes. It is my firm belief that a well crafted piece of children's theatre both can and should be entertaining and enriching for all ages, not just children. I have found that when the adults in the room can engage with, and learn from, the media their kids do, it makes the experience that much more meaningful for the children. Throughout the week long run of the show, we reached almost 3,000 unique audience members, and in their reactions I was able to take joy in having made a piece of children's theatre that was equally theatre for a family.

CAPSTONE PAPER TO BE ATTACHED SOON

Produced by the University of Minnesota Morris

Director - Michael Oberton
Stage Manager - Parker Stach
Scenic Design & Properties - Lucas Granholm

Assistant Scenic Design - Jack Strong

Lighting Design - Mikayli Marciulionis

Costume Design - Emma Arends Montes

Assistant Costume Design - Clara Dubuc

Sound Design - Kieda Wagner