Breckenridge Texan

The Chorus from “Charlotte’s Web” rehearses the play Monday night. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The cast and crew of Breckenridge High School’s production of “Charlotte’s Web” put on an almost-flawless performance of the play during Monday evening’s dress rehearsal in Bailey Auditorium. They have been preparing for this week’s presentation since the beginning of school,

The setting should be familiar to local audiences, since it’s a scene that takes place in Breckenridge every January – kids taking their pigs to the livestock show or fair, hoping for a blue ribbon. It’s also the theme of a book that generations of youth have read since Harper & Brothers published “Charlotte’s Web,” written by E.B. White and illustrated by Garth Williams, in 1952.

The book has been adapted to several formats – an animated movie in 1973, a live-action movie in 2006, as well as several stage productions and even a video game. This week, the BHS drama department will present the version of “Charlotte’s Web” adapted by Joseph Robinette.

On Wednesday, Dec. 6, all of Breckenridge Independent School District elementary students will attend performances of the production, and then the play will be presented to the public on Thursday, Friday and Sunday. Tickets to the public performances will cost $5 each, and all proceeds will benefit the drama department, helping to pay for everything that has been purchased for this play, as well as to secure some needed items, such as new lights for the One-Act Play contest.

“Charlotte’s Web” is theater teacher Callie Stenson’s first production as a teacher – this is her first year as a teacher – and it was the first play she ever did as a student, back in 2009 at Brownwood High School.

“The first thing I decided when I came here was I wanted to do a big production,” Stenson said. “It’s better to have more (cast members) than just the best. My motto is to teach them a little about theater and a lot about life.”

She cast the play the last week in August, immediately after the beginning of school, and they started rehearsing the first week in September.

Stenson graduated from Brownwood High School in 2013 and from Angelo State University in 2017. She did her student teaching at Bangs High School under Billie Harvey, a Breckenridge High School graduate and former Breckenridge theater teacher.

She chose “Charlotte’s Web” not only because of the cast size – there are more than 30 cast and crew members – but also because it is a full-length production. At 90 minutes, it’s almost an hour longer than most plays that have been staged locally in the past few years, Stenson said. The play is presented in two acts with a 10-minute intermission between acts.

“I wanted to get the kids in the community involved, and the best way to do that is to do a children’s show,” she said. “This is a family show.”

This staging of “Charlotte’s Web” is being produced “just for fun, just for the public,” the drama teacher said. The theater department is already working on a second performance for the One-Act Play competition.

“I’m doing everything I can to expand the theater department here,” Stenson said. “There are two people who have been invaluable to us, Roxzann Glick and Terrye Smith. Terrye made all of the wonderful costumes, and Roxzann put flyers up, brings the kids food, has been to every single rehearsal…what hasn’t she done for us?”

The cast of the BHS production of “Charlotte’s Web” had a full dress rehearsal Monday night. The play will be performed for the public Dec. 7, 8 and 10. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The elementary students will attend the play during regular school hours and will see just the first act. “I hope they will come back with their entire family to see the whole show,” Stenson said. “I want it to be something you can do as a family. Adults know the story of ‘Charlotte’s Web’ as well as the kids do.”

The public presentations will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 7 and 8, and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10, in Bailey Auditorium. Tickets will cost $5 and will be available at the door. There will be a silent auction during the intermission to raise funds for the drama department. Stenson said some of the things in the silent auction include items donated by Turner Seed and some items pertaining to the show.

“My kids have worked really hard,” Stenson said. “I have pushed them to the limit. We have a lot of fresh faces in the department, and I want the community to come support what we’re doing. This is a new department with a new feel; I want to offer the community a new experience.”

The “Charlotte’s Web” cast and crew includes almost 40 Breckenridge High School and Junior High School students. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Cast Members
Director: Callie Stenson
Assistant Director: Roxzann Glick
Student Director: Elyssa Glick
Annakate Rodgers as Fern Arable
Braxton Post as John Arable
Jewell Graves as Martha Arable
Gavyn Wilson as Avery Arable
Dakota French as Homer Zuckerman
Bethany Boone as Edith Zuckerman
Abigale Wylie as Lurvy
Savannah Burns as Wilbur
Cheyenne Boone as Templeton
Samantha Heatley as Charlotte
Addison Dickenson as Goose
Tanner Chambers as Gander
Trinity Cooper as Sheep
Marisa Gonzalez as Lamb
Elyssa Glick as First Chorus
Emily Brannon as Second Chorus
Kaitlyn Crook as Third Chorus
Azucena Hernandez   as Reporter
Raylen Green as Fairgoer 1
Mawnika Wright as Fair Goer 2
Jordan Miller as Spectator 1
Raylen Green as Spectator 2
Jordan Miller and Gracie Malcuit as Judges
Azucena Hernandez as Announcer
Alexander Cooper as Uncle
Jordan Miller and Gracie Malcuit as Baby Spiders

BHS students handle the lights and sound for the production of “Charlotte’s Web.” (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Crew
Make Up: Ashlee Norman
Prop Master: Jaxon Adams
Lights: Cason Rincon
Spotlight: Elizabeth Griffith
Sound: Axel Puebla and Hayley Nored
Costume Designer: Terrye Smith
Stage Manager: Maggie Bates
Wardrobe Crew: Lydia Quick, Suri Alvarado, Samantha Andis and Knightlin Haley
Back Stage Crew: Bianca Guillen and Miriam Diaz

Click here for a photo gallery from Monday night’s dress rehearsal.

Story by Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan

Cutline, top photo: The BHS production of “Charlotte’s Web” is based on Joseph Robinette’s adaptation of E.B. White’s novel. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)