Student Production: Bus Stop

Hannibal Community Theatre is trying something different for this show. It is a full student production from top to bottom, with adult supervision by several board members. The students picked out what show they wanted to put on earlier this year, and their pick was "Bus Stop".
 
We have Ashlee Bross and Jordan Hull as co-student directors, and Kayla Drebenstadt as the student assistant director/stage manager. Jamie Grady, a college student, is their overall director. Cheryl Shadensack has been helping Jamie. Both are HCT board members. The Riedel Foundation has provided us with a generous grant.
 
The cast for this production are all high school students. They are as follows - Bryan Ruble as Virgil; Ian Burow as Dr. Lyman; Jordan Hull as Bo; Ashlee Bross as Cherie; Mandi Murkulin as Grace; Lairyn McGregor as Elma; Andy Gober as Carl; and Dakota Hoard as Will. (Cast Pictures)
 
"Bus Stop, by William Inge, takes place in the middle of a howling snowstorm. A bus out of Kansas City pulls up at a cheerful roadside diner. All roads are blocked, and four or five weary travelers are going to have to hole up until Morning. Cherie, a nightclub singer is the passenger with the most to worry about. She's been pursued, told that she is loved, and finally kidnapped by a twenty-one year old cowboy with a ranch of his own and the romantic methods of an unusually headstrong bull. The belligerent cowhand is right behind her ready to sling her over his shoulder and carry her all the way to his ranch in Montana. Even as she's ducking out from under his clumsy, but confident embraces, she thinks "somehow deep inside of me I get the funny feeling that I'm gonna end up in Montana. As a counterpoint to the main romance, the proprietor of the cafe and the bus driver at last find time to develop a friendship of their own; a middle-age scholar comes to terms with himself; and a young girl who works in the cafe also gets her first taste of romance.
 
This HCT student production of "Bus Stop" will be held on October 18, 19, & 20 starting at 7:30 pm and on October 21 at 2 pm. Theatre doors open 1/2 hour before performance times. Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for students 18 and younger. Due to scheduling conflicts, this production will only be held for one weekend. Advance ticket reservations can be made by calling 573-406-1300. Please leave your name, phone number and the number of tickets needed. Tickets may also be purchased at the door.