Theatre Students Present Play Based on Classic Children's Books

Eastern Florida State College's Department of Performing and Visual Arts will present the family-friendly musical "Miss Nelson is Missing" October 25-27.

Performances are at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, October 27. The play will be held in the Bernard Simpkins Fine Arts Center Main Stage on the Cocoa Campus. Tickets are $5 and seating is general admission, with tickets only available starting one hour before show time. The play is appropriate for ages 4+.

The musical play features book, music and lyrics by Joan Cushing.  It is based on the books "Miss Nelson is Missing!" and "Miss Nelson is Back!" by Harry Allard and James Marshall.

The show focuses on the students of room 207, the worst-behaved kids in the school. Their paper airplanes, spitballs and rowdy behavior send their teacher Miss Nelson over the edge. She disappears, only to be replaced by a scary substitute teacher, Miss Viola Swamp, who rules the classroom with an iron hand. The students set out to find their beloved teacher and in the end learn the value of being kind and respectful of others.

“Although this story is written for children, the themes resonate with people of all ages,” says director Jeanine Henry.  “We all struggle with discipline and sometimes forget that with discipline comes freedom.”

The play is produced by the Theatre Rehearsal and Performance class at EFSC. For many students featured in the show this is their first musical theatre experience.

In addition to the play's public performances, it will be presented for audiences from area schools on October 23 and 24.

To learn more about Eastern Florida's theatre and performing arts programs visit www.easternflorida.edu/go/arts.