Willowbrook to present winter play, ‘SCHOOLED’

Willowbrook students rehearse a scene from the school's upcoming winter play, "SCHOOLED." The show will take place on Feb. 9, 10 and 11 and tells the story of 13-year-old Capricorn (Cap) Anderson (played by sophomore Joe LaPointe, pictured at left) as he transitions from being homeschooled on a farm commune by his hippie grandmother (played by junior Genevieve Corkery, second from left) to attending a typical middle school.

In this scene, students at the middle school begin to discover they shouldn't judge Cap (played by sophomore Joe LaPointe, center) so quickly and harshly, as he leads them in a song after finding a dead bird. Pictured with LaPointe are (back row, from left) junior John DeAngelo, junior Julia Cicero, (front row, from left) freshman Emma Cismesia and freshman Liana Weaver.

Surviving the turbulent years of middle school can be a challenge for anyone – but what if you’ve never before experienced a classroom setting with other students?

That’s the situation 13-year-old Capricorn (Cap) Anderson faces in “SCHOOLED,” which follows Cap’s journey as he transitions from being homeschooled on a farm commune by his hippie grandmother – where he has never watched television or owned a phone – to attending a typical middle school. Willowbrook will present “SCHOOLED” as its winter play on Feb. 9, 10 and 11.

Director Maggie Kelly said she fell in love with the story after being encouraged to read the book by her daughter. Kelly quickly realized the themes, characters and dialogue would be perfect for a play and reached out to author Gordon Korman to see whether a script was available. When she discovered there wasn’t a script, she worked with Korman and his agent from this past May to October to bring his story to life on stage.

“I chose ‘SCHOOLED’ because it’s different,” Kelly said. “It’s lighthearted and fun for the whole family, but it also has a powerful message of ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover.’ It also explores the theme of fitting in as a teenager and what it truly means to be ‘popular.’”

Kelly said what makes this production unique is the actors will speak directly to audience members at times, thus breaking the “fourth wall” (a performance convention in which an invisible, imagined wall separates actors from the audience). The show also will use mixed media such as video clips, projected images, lighting and sound to guide the audience through Cap’s journey.

Willowbrook sophomore Joe LaPointe will play Cap and said it has been a fun challenge to portray that character. LaPointe has read “SCHOOLED” several times and is thrilled to bring the story to Willowbrook.

“Cap had a very sheltered upbringing, which prohibited him from learning some social norms and typical societal conventions, but it also allowed him to develop skills his peers haven’t experienced,” LaPointe said. “It’s really about a young boy going to school for the first time and learning the ropes the hard way. In the end, the lesson he learns is he still has more to learn.”

“SCHOOLED”
When: 7 p.m. on Feb. 9, 10 and 11

Where: Willowbrook High School, 1250 S. Ardmore Ave. in Villa Park

Tickets: Tickets cost $7 for adults, $5 for students and children 12 years old and older, $3 with an Activity Pass and are free with a District 88 Senior Gold Card. Children younger than 12 years old also are free. Tickets will be on sale before the show (beginning at 6:15 p.m.) at the box office.

Raffle: Audience members will have an opportunity to buy raffle tickets during the show for $1 each for a chance to win a copy of “SCHOOLED,” signed by author Gordon Korman. Unsigned copies also will be available for $7 each.