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Junie B. Jones & a Little Monkey Business by San Diego Junior Theatre  When Junie B. Jones learns she has to do her first
show-and-tell in her kindergarten class, she’s not at all sure what to do it
on. That is, until Grandma Helen tells her that the little brother her mom has
been telling her is coming has finally arrived, and that her brother is the
cutest little monkey. How many kids have an actual little monkey for a baby
brother? Suddenly Junie is excited over this new arrival, and she tells
everyone in class that she is going to bring her little monkey brother for
show-and-tell.
This Joan Cushing musical based on the popular book series by Barbara Park is narrated by said Junie B. Jones, here played by spunky eight-year-old Kayla Solsbak who brings great personality and humor to the role as she takes us through her last days of an only child while delivering several insights into life and the “true” meaning of certain words. She also has the propensity to get in trouble – especially when she accidentally shoots off her “big fat mouth.” Joining her in her monkey business is a great group of young actors at San Diego Junior Theatre. Kara Keyes glitters as Lucille, Junie’s amusing vain, prima donna rich girl friend. Ayanna Florence is entertaining as Junie’s best friend That Grace, a burgeoning athletic star already posing for her fame. Both play large parts in definitely one of the funniest scenes of the show – the highly anticipated show-and-tell that features Lucille as a princess (complete with new dress and tiara), That Grace as a track star with super fast shoes (that run like Chariots of Fire), Meanie Jim (Garrett Poladian) who has a flair for over-the-top karate moves, and Crybaby William (Jonathan Edzant) who has the most hilarious show-and-tell of the class when he brings out his crickets and finds they have croaked. Other highlights include Jenna Selby as the teacher just called “Mrs.” who carries all her office utensils in her frazzled hair and adds terrifically realistic expressions to the antics taking place in her classroom. Junie’s parents are played by Alex Dunbar as Daddy and Zoe Katz as Mother who does a great job of talking like she’s carefully trying to come up with the answers to Junie’s tough, complicated questions. Catherine Miller is genuinely grandmotherly as Grandma Helen and Josh Herren is humorously grandfatherly as Grandpa Frank, the latter sharing a great tune with Junie as he gets her to enthusiastically help him in fixing the toilet – one of the very few songs in musical theatre that ends with a flushing toilet. Alex Fleming is a hoot as the school principal (“the boss of the school”) who has to earn his pay with Junie in his school. Director Desha Crownover keeps the enthusiasm high and the action and comedy moving. The action moves about Tony Cucuzzella’s set of alphabet building blocks that are used in a variety of positions for the various scenes. The ensemble of younger and older kids do a fantastic job of staying in character and creating a wide range of personalities even when the focus is not on them, and they shine in their big musical numbers that are filled with humor and lessons and remind us of what the world looked like when we were in kindergarten.Performs through July 17, 2005.
~ Cast ~
Junie B. Jones: Kayla SolsbakThat Grace: Ayanna Florence Lucille: Kara Keyes Meanie Jim: Garrett Poladian Crybaby William: Jonathan Edzant Mrs.: Jenna Selby Mother: Zoe Katz Mrs. Guzman: Sarah White Daddy: Alex Dunbar Grandma Helen Miller: Catherine Miller Grandpa Frank Miller: Josh Herren The Boss of the School: Alex Fleming School Faculty: Maddy Barker, Brittany Liebman Junie's Classmates: Sophia Anderson Abigail Andreasen Nicolas Bluffin Maggie Foster Larissa Garcia Morgan Lebejko Samantha Littleford Eryn Moore Molly O'Meara Louis Petrella Roberto Quinones Ben Sutton Anthony Vargas Upper-Grade Kids: Zachary Ballon Lara Ballon Michael Barahura Alex Bitsko Danielle Gardner Miki Holmes Amanda Kleske Kylena Parks Janelle Wen Director: Desha Crownover Music Director: Natasha Senecal Choreographer: Jennifer Winspear Set Design: Tony Cucuzzella Lighting Design: Ginger Harris Costume Design: Shulamit Nelson Stage Manager: Ariana Dickey |