Woodhull Drama Club Production
Takes Shape
The Lion King Jr. is shaping up to be quite a show at Woodhull Intermediate School. The curtain will go up on successive days in late January, but in the meantime there is plenty to keep the cast and advisors busy.
Teachers Allison Van Vange and Todd Hiscox are co-directing the play. More than 100 students will be involved in the show. Woodhull drama productions typically result in a sold-out house and the two January shows are not expected to deviate from this tradition.
The show’s main cast includes Alexandra Kustera (Nala), Joshua Youngquist (Mufasa), Shannon Milner (Zazu), Christopher Maichin (Simba), Lauren Holly (Scar), Alexis Kaloudis (Rafiki), Emily Geller (Timon), Angie Hernandez (Pumbaa), Jean Marie Maleszewski (Sarabi), Hannah Robert (Sarafina), Katie Gallagher (Banzai), Finley Dunn (Shenzi), Sophia Segal (Ed) and Caitlin Murtagh (Mouse).
The show is scheduled for Friday, January 29 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, January 30 at 5 p.m.
Ms. Von Vange has directed many plays at Huntington Intermediate, Jack Abrams Intermediate and Woodhull Intermediate schools stretching back 15 years. In more recent years she has collaborated on productions with Mr. Hiscox, an art teacher known for his creativity and ability to get things done.
The plays that Mr. Hiscox earlier directed at Woodhull include: Big: The Musical, Singin’ in the Rain, The Wizard of Oz, The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Oliver!, 42nd Street and Grease.
The plays that Ms. Von Vange directed at Jack Abrams Intermediate School include School House Rocks, Aladdin Jr., Annie Jr., Beauty and the Beast Jr., Willie Wonka Jr. and The Music Man Jr.
Since the district consolidated classes at Woodhull Intermediate School, Mr. Hiscox and Ms. Von Vange have collaborated on The Music Man, Willie Wonka, Annie, Aladdin and The Little Mermaid.
Ms. Von Vange and Mr. Hiscox have both been teaching in the Huntington School District for two decades. Mr. Hiscox has been in the faculty fold since 1995. He obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees at Syracuse and Purdue, respectively. Ms. Von Vange’s career in the district kicked off in 1996. She holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s College and a master’s degree from SUNY Stony Brook.