‘Schoolhouse Rock Live!’ at SPMS Opens Friday

After school hours, the halls at Severna Park Middle have been anything but quiet lately as students prepare for the opening of Schoolhouse Rock Live!

The musical opens Friday night and student director Allison McClare has had a front row view of all the preparations.

“I really like being able to see how the show comes together and being part of it is really fun,” McClare said.

McClare is a sophomore at Severna Park High School, but was invited back by director Jose de la Mar to help with Schoolhouse Rock Live!

Students at Severna Park Middle have spent long hours at the school the past week preparing for the show. Schoolhouse Rock Live! tells the story of first-year school teacher Michael played by eighth-grader Michael Bateman.

“A new teacher is stressing about how he is going to teach his students on his first day of school because he has never been a teacher before,” McClare said. “He turns on the TV to Schoolhouse Rock and imagines the characters are in his living room teaching him new ways to teach his kids.”

More than 80 Severna Park Middle students are involved in the production and have been working on the show since January. McClare said being involved with the kids has been challenging, but at the same time a lot of fun.

“The kids are obviously crazy, but they are so fun and I adore them,” McClare said. “I really don’t know what I would be doing if I wasn’t doing this.”

Schoolhouse Rock Live! will run April 12, 13, 19 and 20 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, April 14 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students in advance; $12 for adults and $7 for students at the door. Tickets can be purchased online.

Check back with Patch for more coverage of "Schoolhouse Rock Live!"