CHARLOTTESVILLE — It’s a scene from the “Crumpled Classics” version of “Phantom of the Opera.” Madame Pompadour, Giselle and Marie are on stage. The lights go out and the actors scream. A thump and lights come back up.
“Madame!” cries Giselle glancing around the stage. “Marie has disappeared!”
Except that “Marie” hasn’t disappeared. In her hurry to get off stage during the blackout, she ran stage left and straight into a desk which knocked her flat. As the lights come up, we see her — laughing — as she quickly tries to crawl out of the audience’s view.
Madame Pompadour is laughing. Giselle is laughing. The director is laughing. This reporter is laughing. Everyone watching has absolutely lost it.
“We’re keeping it!” shouts out director Corey Yeaman between gasps. The next 10 minutes are spent perfecting the bit, which could have been taken straight from “The Carol Burnett Show” or SNL: the timing of the lights coming back up; the looks on the faces of actors Katie Brown (Madame Pompadour) and Lexi Ray (Giselle) as they realize Payton Harliss (Marie) is still on stage; the strategic pause before announcing Marie’s disappearance; Marie’s dazed and slow recovery from her encounter with the desk. It’s all comedy gold.
As humorous as the lights coming up on Harliss’ crumpled body, so are the spoofs in “Crumpled Classics,” as presented by the Eastern Hancock Drama Department at 7 p.m. April 29, 30 and May 1. In the play, the English teacher is out sick, while the students take over the annual “Classics on Parade” presentation, acting out famous stories from their literature class. However, they decide to update the stories for this collection of plays-within-a-play: Romeo and Juliet set in a fast-food place, Frankie Stein trying to assemble the perfect prom date, and teenage slacker Artie surprising his unimpressed mother with a sword he pulled from a stone.
It’s contemporary, comedic fun and a perfect vehicle for Corey Yeaman’s inaugural production as Eastern Hancock’s Drama Director.
Hired on in the fall of 2020, Yeaman is the fourth drama director in four years.
A teacher at Warren Central by day and theater aficionado by night, he brings a wealth of performance and directing experience to the position. His acting credits include high school musicals, community theater during college and performances with the Buck Creek Players, the CrazyLake Acting Company, Footlite Musicals and the Ricks-Weil Theatre Company. Yeaman had directed or assistant directed productions with CrazyLake and KidsPlay Children’s Theatre before coming to Eastern Hancock.
Yeaman will be first admit that his tenure got off to a slow start thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. But he spent the first semester building interest with regular drama club meetings and workshops that covered character building, improvisation, voice and body language.
“In school theater, you usually just put on shows and give notes (on performance),” Yeaman said. “I wanted to give them more practice on skills that help them dramatically.”
When second semester rolled in, Yeaman held auditions for “Crumpled Classics.” Not knowing how many kids would try out, he headed into the production with plans to double- and triple-cast parts. But when 25 auditioners showed up, Yeaman revised his casting to make room for them all.
“I wanted to build up a good group of kids,” he said, “so with the experience they’ve had, they’ll come back and do more.”
Rehearsing twice a week, Yeaman’s biggest challenge was fostering a culture of theater at Eastern Hancock with kids that are committed to drama.
“I want to create a total theater experience where we don’t just do shows, but we provide theatre education and practice skills used in shows,” Yeaman said.
These skills include volume, body language, character development and technical skills with set building, sound and lights.
The occasional struggles have been worth it to Yeaman.
“The most enjoyable part,” Yeaman said, “is seeing the talent that is here. The kids all get along and treat each other like equals. They take notes and fix things that need fixing. They’re starting to try things out of their comfort zone.”
It seems as if the lessons are sinking in. Sophomore Mia Griesmeyer speaks highly of her new director.
“He is so much fun to work with,” Griesmeyer said. “He helps us so we’re not just making our own characters, but that we play off other characters as well.”
With his many theater connections, Yeaman has been able to call on his theater associations for help with lights from Ted Jacobs, auditorium manager at Warren Central, and KidsPlay for help with sound and some set pieces. Add in co-directing help from Andy Sparks, the costumes, props and publicity are all expertly covered.
Yeaman has support from the administration as well as the band director and the music director. He is already looking forward to future productions.
“My goal is to create a unified performing arts department,” Yeaman, said, “that will keep people coming to shows and to make it fun for the kids while they’re learning.”
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Eastern Hancock High School presents “Crumpled Classics” at 7 p.m. April 29, 30 and May 1 at 7 p.m. in the school’s auditorium at 10320 E. County Road 250 N. All tickets are $7 available at the door.
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