TOWNSHEND — The Dutton Gym in Townshend will feel like a whole new world when it temporarily transforms into the “Dutton Theater,” during the Leland & Gray Players’ upcoming production of “Aladdin Jr.”
The show will run for three days on Thursday, Nov. 13, Friday, Nov. 14, and Saturday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m., as well as a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday.
The Leland & Gray Players, a long-running afterschool theater program at the Leland & Gray Union Middle and High School (LGUMHS), is typically open to middle and high school students from grades 7-12, but occasionally collaborates with students from nearby elementary schools. “Aladdin Jr.,” a one-act musical stage adaptation of the 1992 acclaimed Disney animated feature “Aladdin,” includes elementary school cast members from Townshend Elementary School and NewBrook Elementary School.
Director and LGUMHS English and Theater teacher Ray Chapin is excited to see students from a diverse range of ages and experience levels working together in a performing arts setting. He believes the performing arts can instill confidence and pride in one’s work within kids of all ages.
“The confidence that theater builds can easily be understated or underestimated, and I think that is one of the real strengths of a youth theater program,” said Chapin. “You start off with this idea of staging a musical or play, something that requires a lot of collaboration, and you start with a blank slate. The whole thing ends up coming together like a miracle, and when students are putting in the work every day and overcoming challenges, eventually you make it to opening night and the following shows, and then you’re left with this sense that you did something really special.”
“In this time of their lives, where things can be confusing and phones dominate everything, we can be here for three hours without technology, and they can feel this joy of collaborating and creating together,” added Chapin.
According to Chapin, seven high school and two middle school members of the Leland & Gray Players are about to be inducted to the newly formed Leland and Gray chapter of the International Thespian Society at an upcoming induction ceremony.
Stage manager, technical director and alumna of both Leland and Gray Players and LGUMHS, Kianelise “Kiki” Peńa, graduated in 2024, and returned to help give younger students the same rewarding scholastic theater experience that she had. Peńa joined the Leland & Gray Players in seventh grade.
“I think this is the perfect space for a young person to find themselves and explore every aspect of who they are. When I was a student here, when we did “Mama Mia” and I stepped into the role of Donna Sheridan, I embodied that character and took a piece of her with me,” said Peńa. “That’s the great thing about theater, how you can take things away from your characters and bring it into your own life. Through that, I learned how to be confident within myself, lead by example and ask others for advice. It’s such a major confidence booster and when I got the opportunity to come back and help, I knew that I wanted to help share that love and help them to have the same wonderful experience, and have as much fun as I did when I was here.”
Sophomore Mackson Wells is playing the leading role of Aladdin and said he’s proud of the work he and his peers have put in to bring the show to the stage.
“I’m very proud of the people who are in this, we really built a community and a family,” said Wells. “Looking back from where I started when I first got involved with [Leland & Gray Players] to where I am now makes me really proud, and I’m proud of how far all my castmates have come. I’m really excited for the community to see it and come together as a community.”
Wells, who began performing during the fourth grade at the “Dutton Theater,” said the theater program has been a rewarding part of his life.
“My favorite part of performing is being able to get into my own character and let go of my true self, and just perform,” said Wells.
Sophomore Gianna Birri is playing the role of the Genie, adding another notch to her belt of musical performances with Leland and Gray Players. Birri, who said that she joined in sixth grade and has participated in every musical the program has performed since then, said she is excited for audiences to see their hard work pay off.
“I’m really excited for people to see all of the hard work that we put in since the beginning of September,” said Birri. “We’ve all worked so hard in putting our best into each of our roles. We get a lot of challenging choreography, but we get the hang of it and always ask each other for help, which is something our community is great with. Even though it can be tough, we all help each other to thrive.”
Middle school student Jenna Devine, seventh grade, is playing the role of Omar, and said performing and music are some of her biggest passions.
“I started in sixth grade and I have been liking it a lot. Theater is one of my biggest passions, and I really like musicals because singing is so much fun for me,” said Devine. “I’m excited for my friends to come see me performing my role. It’s a pretty big role and I’m excited to see how they react.”
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