Purdy performers wow audiences with “Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr."
The Purdy High School “Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr.” cast, from left to right, in the front row: Joy Grace as Miss Flannery; Heather Greenway as Helen; Anna Hoffman as Ethel Peas; Makayla Mazza as Alice; Mercedes Harris as Lucille; Emma Mitchell as Cora; and Jacob Corter as Cop. Back row: Tatum Burt as Miss Dorothy Brown; Drew Graham as Mr. Trevor Graydon; M’Kena Propps as Millie Dillmount; Ryan Mitchell as Jimmy Smith; Haylie Harris as Bun Foo; Shana Whisman as Mrs. Meers; and Levi Maddocks as Ching Ho. The cast presented performances on Friday, November 1, and Saturday, November 2, to enthusiastic audiences. Photo by Linda Van Deuren.
November 20, 2019
“The two of us have just clicked,” noted Purdy High School Sophomore M’Kena Propps of her “Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr.” co-star Ryan Mitchell. “We didn’t really know each other very well before ‘Millie,’ but now we yell random lines from the show at each other in the hallway!”
The Purdy High School Music Department presented two performances of “Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr.” in early November. Propps, as title character Millie Dillmount, and Mitchell, as Jimmy Smith, were joined onstage by veteran Purdy musical performers Shana Whisman (Mrs. Meers), Haylie Harris (Bun Foo), Joy Grace (Miss Flannery), Tatum Burt (Miss Dorothy Brown), Drew Graham (Mr. Trevor Graydon) and Heather Greenway (Helen) and a host of student actors making their debut appearances, to tell the story of a small-town girl with big Manhattan dreams in the popular Broadway production.
Director Lauren Lee declared her tenth musical production at Purdy a triumph. “I received a t-shirt as a gift that reads, ’Some people dream of meeting their favorite musicians. I teach mine.’ I believe that from the bottom of my heart. I can’t begin to describe the pride and joy that fills my heart when my kids perform. ‘Millie’ was so much fun!”
Co-director Linda Van Deuren, whose Intro to Theater class built sets, designed costumes, ran lights, sold tickets and developed promotional materials for the show, echoed Lee’s sentiments. “I love seeing students find themselves loving theater, both on and off the stage.” Ryan Mitchell credits Van Deuren for his appearance on the Purdy stage this year. “Near the end of last year, Mrs. Van Deuren pulled me aside and said, ‘I can see you being an actor. Why don’t you take my Intro to Theater class next year?’ I did, and, as it turns out, I love theater. It’s something I want to continue to pursue. I want to be as involved as possible. I definitely want to be in the musical every year. Being a part of ‘Millie’ this year may have changed my life.”
“The two of us have just clicked,” noted Purdy High School Sophomore M’Kena Propps of her “Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr.” co-star Ryan Mitchell. “We didn’t really know each other very well before ‘Millie,’ but now we yell random lines from the show at each other in the hallway!”
The Purdy High School Music Department presented two performances of “Thoroughly Modern Millie, Jr.” in early November. Propps, as title character Millie Dillmount, and Mitchell, as Jimmy Smith, were joined onstage by veteran Purdy musical performers Shana Whisman (Mrs. Meers), Haylie Harris (Bun Foo), Joy Grace (Miss Flannery), Tatum Burt (Miss Dorothy Brown), Drew Graham (Mr. Trevor Graydon) and Heather Greenway (Helen) and a host of student actors making their debut appearances, to tell the story of a small-town girl with big Manhattan dreams in the popular Broadway production.
Director Lauren Lee declared her tenth musical production at Purdy a triumph. “I received a t-shirt as a gift that reads, ’Some people dream of meeting their favorite musicians. I teach mine.’ I believe that from the bottom of my heart. I can’t begin to describe the pride and joy that fills my heart when my kids perform. ‘Millie’ was so much fun!”
Co-director Linda Van Deuren, whose Intro to Theater class built sets, designed costumes, ran lights, sold tickets and developed promotional materials for the show, echoed Lee’s sentiments. “I love seeing students find themselves loving theater, both on and off the stage.” Ryan Mitchell credits Van Deuren for his appearance on the Purdy stage this year. “Near the end of last year, Mrs. Van Deuren pulled me aside and said, ‘I can see you being an actor. Why don’t you take my Intro to Theater class next year?’ I did, and, as it turns out, I love theater. It’s something I want to continue to pursue. I want to be as involved as possible. I definitely want to be in the musical every year. Being a part of ‘Millie’ this year may have changed my life.”