Fort Dodge Senior High

Fort Dodge will once again present a fall play production. This year’s fall play is the Shakespearean masterpiece “Macbeth,” but with a twist.

Theater and speech adviser Lindey Krug said her cast will present the tragedy in modern English with a modern setting rather than the Shakespare of old.

“Every so often I choose a classic theater piece to challenge my students,” said Krug. “We did a comedy the last two years, so I decided a drama would be the way to go. And what is better than a Shakespearean drama?”

-Photo by Leif Hamilton
Fort Dodge Senior High Fall play director Lindy Krug, center, works with Elijah Lawrence and Mina DeJong during a script reading for the fall play. The high school will present a modern version of the Shakespeare play “Macbeth.”

This year’s production will include 47 cast members.

Macbeth is a Shakespearean tragedy in which the ambitious Scottish general Macbeth, after being told by three witches he will be king, murders the current king, Duncan, to seize the throne. Spurred on by his wife, Lady Macbeth, his paranoia and guilt lead to further violence and tyranny, including the murder of his friend Banquo and the family of the nobleman Macduff.

The play culminates in Macbeth’s defeat and death at the hands of Macduff, restoring order to the kingdom under King Duncan’s son, Malcolm.

Performances will be held 7 p.m. Nov. 6 – 7 with a Saturday matinee on Nov. 8 at 2 p.m.

Admission is $8 and tickets will only be sold at the door.

Photo by Ron Sturgis, Journal Herald
After a six year hiatus, MNW is working to revive the high school musical tradition with a fall production of “High School Musical Jr.” Elliott Droste and Abbie Kittleson star as Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez - two high school kids who try to balance the demands of high school with their feelings for each other.

All shows will be in the high school’s Gail Niceswanger Little Theater.

Krug said she wasn’t sure how long FDSH has produced a fall play, but she did look at yearbooks that showed the school has had a fall play as far back as 1935.

Manson Northwest Webster

For the first time ever, Manson Northwest Webster will be producing a fall musical instead of a fall play.

The cast of 35 students will present “High School Musical Junior.”

Submitted photo
Southeast Valley will present the timeless class “The Sound of Music” for their fall musical this year. The cast includes both high school and middle school students.

“We chose this musical because we believed that kids would get excited about participating in, and seeing, a familiar show. Manson had a long history of producing an annual spring musical, and the last one was in 2019,” said drama teacher Kimberly Keller. “The vocal program struggled when we lost our vocal teacher. Now that we have a talented high school vocal teacher on staff, we are bringing back this long tradition.

“In order to encourage participation, we are doing the musical in the fall rather than in the spring because we hope that there will be fewer time conflicts with a fall production than a spring production,” she added.

The musical is based in fictional East High and it’s the first day after winter break. The Jocks, Brainiacs, Thespians and Skater Dudes all find their cliques. Basketball team captain and resident jock, Troy, discovers that the brainy Gabriella, a girl he met singing karaoke on his ski trip, has just enrolled at East High.

The couple causes an upheaval when they decide to audition for the high school musical. Although many students resent the threat posed to the status quo, Troy and Gabriella’s alliance might just open the door for others to shine as well.

The musical will be presented Nov. 14-15 at the high school in Manson. Both nights’ performances start at 7 p.m.

Tickets for the show are $10 for adults and $5 for students.

Southeast Valley

Southeast Valley will be presenting a classical musical for this year’s performance.

“The Sound of Music” will include 31 students including some from the middle school playing younger characters in the musical. There are also 20 other students involved in the stage crew and playing in the pit orchestra.

“The Sound of Music” is the final collaboration between Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, It has become a musical beloved around the world. Based on the true story of the Von Trapp Family Singers, this musical captures a personal tale of growth and hope as the Nazis consolidate their power before World War II.

“The Sound of Music” tells the tale of young postulant Maria Rainer, whose free spirit has trouble fitting into the rules and regulations of Nonnberg Abbey. Commissioned by the Mother Abbess to serve as the governess for seven motherless children, Maria transforms the Von Trapp family home from a place of dour rules and regulations to one filled with joy, laughter, and music.

“We chose this show because it is a timeless story of resilient hope and steadfast courage in the face of adversity,” said vocal teacher Gwen McQuaig. “In addition to memorable and exciting music, loveable characters, and a thrilling story, it is a familiar show to many. We have an awesome, hardworking group of students that we know will do this story justice. We invite our community to come laugh, cry, and sing with us at “The Sound of Music!”

McQuaig will co-produce the musical with English teacher Brittany Geisler.

Performances will be held at the high school in Gowrie on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 15 at both 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Tickets are $5 and cash only will be accepted at the door. Those wanting to purchase tickets ahead of time can contact the Southeast Valley High School main office at 515-352-3142.