"I don't care what age group they are, it's going to make them laugh," said Tom Zimmerman, who teaches English at Hershey High School by day and is pursuing a show biz career by night as director of "The Beverly Hillbillies: A Comedy in Three Acts."
More than 50 Derry Township School District teachers, administrators (including two elementary principals) and staff are involved in this year's 27th annual fund raiser.
A true community event, all proceeds from the production will benefit the Hershey Education Association Scholarship Fund which has granted more than $100,000 in scholarships to 147 graduating Derry Township School District seniors in the past 26 years.
In the leading roles are Mary Turner (high school math) as Granny, Al Fricke (health, P.E., highway safety) as Jed Clampett, Stephanie Lupacchini (third grade) as Elly May, Sue Kreider (second grade) as Cousin Pearl, John Gaydos (high school social studies) as Jethro, Julie Mackneer (fourth grade) as Miss Hathaway, and Rod Dickinson (art) and Colleen Mullikin (sixth grade) as Mr. and Mrs. Drysdale.
Zimmerman said he understands the unique appeal of a show where teachers are willing to put themselves in a vulnerable position of being in the spotlight and invite others to laugh with them.
"We ask the kids to do a lot of things, and now we do just the same. It gives them a different perspective," he said.
Audiences will recognize some veteran "actors" as well as some new faces when they attend the shows.
"This is the second-largest cast, " Zimmerman, who has directed about half of HEA's annual shows, said. "And we have good representation from every building," he noted proudly.
The cast also includes Brian Ogle, Jeff Mackneer, Elizabeth Pegg, Jason Sibbach, Christine Heard, Carol Fricke, Leann Eshleman, Ed Knutsen, Linda Daniels, Kay Dull, Jennifer Pizzico and Rich Bittinger. The play is produced by Jane Zimmerman.
A highlight of the show is a teachers' Jug Band that provides music to introduce each act. Featuring a variety of real and homemade instruments, the band includes Eric Barber with the harmonica and spoons, Joan Bechtel on the washboard, Collette Buchanan with the fiddle, Kathy Graham and Leslie Shearer on the sand blocks, Mary Kepple with the triangle, Alice Knutsen on the bass tub, Lori Lindsey and Kevin Stover on percussion, Jan Mark with wooden spoons, Stacy Simmers with wood and stick percussion, and Nikki Smith with wood blocks. Veteran teacher Joe Sollenberger makes his stage debut by playing the mandolin, the harmonica and the guitar as a member of the Jug Band.
"We have 15 or 16 in the Jug Band, 21 in the cast, and another 30 or 40 doing art, programs and backstage work. There are a lot of hours tied up in it," Zimmerman said during an evening rehearsal where some of the teachers corrected papers in the auditorium while waiting for their turn to go onstage.
What makes it worth the effort is "that feeling when they give out the scholarships," Zimmerman said. "Most important, it does show that we go the extra mile."
Last year the HEA presented $1,000 scholarships to graduates Brandon Bitner, Timothy Curry, Megan Grimes, Aleisha Patrick, Matthew Sido, Jonathan Stauning and Amber Ziegler.
"The Beverly Hillbillies" will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 11 and 12, in the Hershey High School auditorium. Tickets are $5 and may be purchased at the door. Call 531-2244, ext. 2240, for more information.
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