Record Number of Students Join Latest AMS Show

The Amherst Middle School Theater Club is going down the rabbit hole.

The young performers began rehearsals for their production of Alice in Wonderland, which will premiere in March.

Director Jennifer Stover said that this latest club production has a record number of involvement with 66 cast members and 78 students in crew.

“It is a number we have never had before,” said Stover.

The AMS Theater Club has been performing for eight years and began with a group of 40 students.

Stover said that a lot of the kids are excited about doing a Disney show for their play, which she said is quite different from the versions people have seen.

“It is not going to be like the movie or the Johnny Depp version,” she said. “It is much more comic and really emphasizes a lot of lessons that I never realized.”

Stover joked that she wants to incorporate these lessons into the rehearsals, which they hold every Tuesday after school.

So many students means that the club has plenty of ways for students to become involved in all aspects of the theater production. There is a publicity team to promote the show, ticket sellers who design and calculate tickets and a concession stand team who work out every aspect of their task.

“We make every crew member a part of the learning experience and have fun,” said Stover.

The shows also give students from different grades in the school a chance to intermingle and form stronger bonds within the student community.

She added that most of the middle school students involved are also involved with other theater groups in the area, which brings a high level of quality to each show.

Many parents and staff provide support for each production and Stover said the school is very supportive of their work. Kim Whitehead is serving as music director, Denise Jacobs is acting producer and Rachel Rouillard is leading set design.

“It is labor of love,” said Stover. “I am always amazed by how it comes out and am always proud of them every year.”