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Johnson leads another successful production
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Neighbors|Amanda Tonoli.Ron Johnson, director of the play and eighth-grade social studies teacher at Austintown Middle School, is shown directing the AV team for sound effects for "Aladdin."
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Neighbors|Amanda Tonoli.The stage, complete with intricate backdrops and props, was set up by the drama department for the Austintown Middle School production of "Aladdin."
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Neighbors|Amanda Tonoli.Austintown Middle School students gathered together for a picture at dress rehearsal on March 5 for the school's production of "Aladdin."
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Neighbors|Amanda Tonoli.Students of Austintown Middle School's drama club are pictured rehearsing "Aladdin" on March 5.
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Neighbors|Amanda Tonoli.Older students from past productions came back to help with the set-up for dress rehearsal.
By AMANDA TONOLI
This year, Austintown Middle School produced “Aladdin,” compliments of its drama club led by director Ron Johnson, an eighth-grade social studies teacher at the school.
Johnson said he knew what this year’s show was going to be last year — the planning began early.
Johnson’s shows started as one-scene productions at Frank Ohl Elementary School in Austintown when it was still open and have since led to major productions at Austintown Middle School. All of the props for the production this year are both student and staff made. This year’s newest edition is the flying carpet.
The planning has to begin early to prepare the materials necessary to put on such a major production.
“Well the drama club has zero budget,” Johnson said.
This puts the workload on the students and staff involved to raise money through various fundraisers, including pepperoni roll sales, Chinese auctions, 5050 raffles and running ads in their programs. The shows typically run about $3,000 a year.
They always seem to pull it off, however, leading to a celebration some time after the production. The students are rewarded by going on a field trip to have fun and relax, thanking them for yet another successful production.
Ron Johnson’s wife, Cindy, said Ron has been working on various plays, such as this one, for roughly 15 years.
“Ron really personalizes his plays,” Cindy said,
Ron confirmed that, with the help of the students, they made all the sound effects and a majority of the songs played throughout. In addition to the hard work from students currently in the drama club, Ron also has older students come back and lend a hand in helping with productions.
“Parents also help out,” Ron said.
Some previous productions this middle school drama club has put on were “Snow White” and “Alice in Wonderland.”
Ron said there’s always a certain level of nervousness before the big show.
“You just never know what’s going to happen,” he said.