As a high school, we may unconsciously forget about the junior high, but there is a significant group of high school students that never forget the others who wander the halls. This year there are ten student directors helping out with the production of “Aladdin Jr.”

The junior high play has been performed for 22 years, but recently, to help out with the energetic junior high cast, the directors had to call in some reinforcements. “We added student directors in 2004 during our first showing of ‘Jr. High the Musical,’” said Mrs. Nancy Stockhaus.

The ten student directors this year are: Leila Aboussir, Shannon Cron, Matt Carney, Jack Abraham, Kate Harrison, Emma Eldred, Elizabeth Krane, Becky Germscheid, Brenton Jayasuriya, and Nate Muckley.

The student directors participate in helping the cast of the junior high play perfect their acting skills. This job requires large amounts of dedication to ensure that the play will be a success. “As a student director you have to attend two practices a week and every rehearsal and show,” said student director senior Matt Carney.

The group of student directors is chosen by those in charge of the junior high play. In order to become a student director, those interested had to turn in an application and be interviewed by Mrs. Stockhaus, director Michael Lee, and choreographer Megan Hubbell. “Student directors are extremely helpful. They help with crowd management, being a person to look up to for the junior high kids, and bring tons of energy to the cast,” said Mrs. Stockhaus.

Some student directors are given jobs where they can specifically help one head director. Senior Matt Carney was named the assistant choreographer and with this he colaberates with the dancers. “My correct title is swing dance assistant coach, but that kind of got cancelled because there were only six boys and no one could lift [girls],” said Carney.

Besides helping count out steps or run lines, student directors have a way with the junior high cast that no adult can understand. “They communicate better with the kids. The senior high students also get an idea of what is on the other side of a production, because the best way to learn something is to teach it,” said Mrs. Stockhaus.