Knowledge really is power at ‘School House Rock Live!’

By Allison Duck

Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009 | 11:09 a.m.

With all the focus on back-to-school shopping and getting students ready for classes, it’s easy to forget that school is starting for the teachers too.

School House Rock Live! opens with a scene of a nervous teacher preparing for her first day. The musical at The Stage Door Theater in Town Square returns the teacher to her early days of learning as characters from the beloved Saturday morning cartoon show remind her “knowledge is power.”

The show that taught several generations the basics of English, math, science and history through catchy, rhyming lyrics proves to be equally entertaining in a full-length production. The talented cast, ranging in age from 14 to 35, belts out the well-known lyrics to songs like “I’m Just a Bill” and “Three is a Magic Number,” as younger audience members eagerly listen, probably for the first time. Their parents seem equally enthralled as the vast majority of the adult audience members bob their heads along to every song.

Most of the performers in this production are no strangers to the spotlight. Jennifer King, who performs the role of the teacher, Miss King, has performed in Tony and Tina’s Wedding and other local theatrical productions.

Lysander Abadia, who plays one of the characters from Miss King’s favorite cartoon, is also an alum of the local musical scene, having performed in Mama Mia. Other performers who help bring this cartoon to life are David Andino, Kara Aschwege and Patrick Matzig.

The youngest cast members are Lawren Linehan and Stephanie Killian, 14 and 15 respectively. Killian has performed only in school productions before but hopes to pursue a career in the performing arts.

Linehan plans to keep performing as a hobby on the side. The teenagers get to wear leggings, neon colors and bright plastic hoop earrings for their roles as ‘80s characters though those of us who remember the pre-H&M days, know these fashions were once considered fresh and new, the first time around.

Aside from the vocal talent, the performers’ speed and precision with the plethora of props is downright impressive. Imagine having to toss blocks with adverb endings between three people, and always have the correct side pointing to the audience.

Abadia says, “It was a lot of material and we just attacked it every day. We started with the music and made sure we were familiar with that. Then we learned the blocking and choreography on top of that and then the props. We’re teaching too; so we can’t mess anything up.”

A small band of three provided the musical accompaniment to the memorable lyrics. Director Terrence R. Williams doubled as a bassist, Megan Schnizlein served as conductor and keyboardist and Nick Caruso manned the drums. The trio keeps the upbeat vibe going straight through to the ever-popular “Conjunction Junction” that literally gets everybody on board as the prop train of ifs, ands and buts crosses the stage.

Andino sums it up best, “What I love is looking out and seeing the audience sing along because everyone knows the songs. I know our show is advertised as a kids’ show, but the grown ups are going to love it too.”

Parents also have the option of leaving their 10- to 16-year-olds at the show while they shop their way through Town Square. Children and parents are given an identical playing card when they are dropped off for the show, as an added security check.

Seriously though, what adult would want to miss a chance to rekindle fond Saturday morning memories of munching on Cocoa Puffs while singing “Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?"