Anne Frank and fall musical performances

While to many Southerners fall is associated with tailgating and touchdowns, at Mountain Brook High School the Fine Arts department kicks off the season.

The Diary of Anne Frank, newly adapted by Wendy Kesselman and starring Dee Dee Joehl as Anne, was a fabulous beginning to the season.

“[This version of the play] really gives the kids opportunities as actors,” theatre teacher Jesse Tilton said. “It portrays Anne as a real young girl rather than a literary figure.”

The fall play set a high bar for the next performance, the choir show, which was certainly met! The night began with “Unplugged,” an hour filled with the voices of 33 students in 14 auditioned acts. While traditional instruments such as guitars, pianos and drums were played, Paul Styslinger brought out his “banjo-lele,” and Hannah Mouyal and Shelton McCullough used pink plastic cups while singing “Call Your Girlfriend.”

Soon after “Unplugged,” students appeared on stage as 1980s rockers in “Brookie School of Rock.” Classic songs from this time period such as “Somebody to Love” by Queen, “One Way or Another” by Blondie and “Hit Me with your Best Shot” by Pat Benetar, all choreographed by Todd L. Underwood, were featured in the musical. All of these spectacular performances are held annually, so make plans to attend next year if you missed out.

While the Fine Arts department at Mountain Brook High School has drawn things to a close for this fall, it also offers much to look forward to. The choir will be putting on a Christmas performance in which classical carols and more will flow through the air, and Kiss Me Kate will be performed in the spring.