JBHS Drama Club

Welcome to the James Buchanan High School Drama Club page!

08/24/2026

Curious about drama club? Want to know more about our fall play and how auditions work? Interested in helping out behind the scenes? Come to Mr Poe’s room (Room 304) this Thursday 8/27 during Activity Period for an informational meeting about the fall play KNOCK KNOCK!

Audition packets and sign-ups are already available on the gray bookshelf in Mr Poe’s room- stop by any time!

08/23/2026

Audition signups and packets are in Mr Poe’s room (Room 304) for the fall play, “Knock Knock”!

Crew sign ups for stage crew and set crew are also posted. You do NOT need to fill out an audition form if you just want to serve on crew.

Listen to the announcements to find out when an informational meeting about the show will take place during activity period in case you have any questions about auditioning for the show.

Any questions (or to signup for a different time if you can’t make it on 9/3) can also be directed to Mrs Z at [email protected]

We hope to see you at auditions!

08/15/2026

Congratulations to the student leadership team for our upcoming fall production of “Knock Knock!” More information about auditions will be posted here soon!

07/31/2026

We are excited to announce our FALL PLAY for 2026!
"Knock Knock" is a one-act comedy play by Kathryn Funkhouser & Jason Pizzarello.
From Stage Partners: "When you deliver packages, anyone might be behind your next door, from your elementary school teacher to a burglar on the job. Jaded veteran Logan thinks she's seen it all, while newbie Sam is convinced attitude is everything. The only sure thing in this job? They're both going to be surprised. Knock Knock is a rapid-fire comedy that delivers!"

JBHS DRAMA CLUB UPPERCLASSMEN - Check your school e-mail for important information regarding STUDENT LEADERSHIP opportunities for this show!

All students interested in joining JBHS Drama Club for the 2026-27 year, both onstage and off, should listen to the announcements and check school e-mail as well as drama club social media accounts for more information once the school year starts!

We can't wait to get started! Enjoy the rest of your summer : )

07/29/2026

This summer has been flying by! We have been busy behind the scenes reading scripts, listening to music, looking at schedules and budgets, and making plans for our upcoming season. We are still working on rights for our SPRING MUSICAL - but look for a fall play announcement coming soon!
In the meantime, mark these dates on your calendars! We can't wait to see you in the JBHS Auditorium this year!

07/22/2026

We are so grateful to our supporters who shop our Amazon WishList! Amazon stopped sending slips in packages to let us know who sent us these items- but we wanted to send out a giant THANK YOU! These items are things we ran out of after our spring production of “The Magician’s Elephant” and having them donated to us will allow us to allocate our resources to other things for our upcoming season! We truly appreciate your support!!!!!

Interested in checking out our wish list? The link is in the comments! Can’t support us by shopping? Please share this post so others can see the link!

07/21/2026

Time for a throwback! From March 17-19, 2023, the JBHS Drama Club in conjunction with the JBMS Drama Club presented the musical “Cinderella” directed by Luke Spurgeon, Kristin Zimmerman, Christa Fowler and Vanessa Murawski-Farrell. The show starred senior Sydney Fleming in the title role, as well as senior Connor Slemp as Prince Topher. This production featured 58 performers in the cast ranging from 4th through 12th grade as well as many faculty actors. The pit orchestra, made up of a few students and professional musicians from our community, was directed by Vanessa Murawski-Farrell.

We had a student crew and many family members and community members contributed to our props, sets, and costumes. An actual carriage was lent to us by local businessman Amos McCoy for use in the show. Transformation gowns for Cinderella were a labor of love (and sweat and tears) by Kristin Zimmerman.

All three performances were well attended. Patrons were able to reserve “VIP” tickets that allowed them priority access to the auditorium for seating, as well as access to a lounge set up in the library with concessions and photo ops.

Photo credits: Oktober Hollow Photo

06/30/2026

Time for a throwback! It has been TEN YEARS since the JBHS Drama Club performed its landmark production of “Jekyll & Hyde.” Starring Hunter Daugherty in the title role, Lauren Dukehart as Emma Carew, and Claire Alfree as Lucy Harris, this steampunk influenced show set ticket sales records for JB and won many local theater awards.

This production was the first directed by the team of Luke Spurgeon and Kristin Zimmerman, with an all-student pit orchestra conducted by Sheryl Deike. It featured 30 student cast members, 2 faculty cast members, and a dedicated student crew.

In 2016 we also participated in the Totem Pole Playhouse Awards for local high school theater productions. "Jekyll & Hyde" was nominated for 13 of a possible 15 Totem Pole Playhouse Awards! (*** indicates awards that were won)

*** Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Claire Alfree/Lucy Harris

*** Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: Hunter Daugherty/Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

*** Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Lauren Dukehart/Emma Carew

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: Sam Ortbal/Gabriel John Utterson

Outstanding Performance by a Featured Female Ensemble Member: Veronica Harmon/Lady Beaconsfield

*** Outstanding Female Solo Vocal Performance: Lauren Dukehart/“Once Upon a Dream”

*** Outstanding Male Solo Vocal Performance: Hunter Daugherty/“This Is the Moment”

*** Outstanding Vocal Duet: Lauren Dukehart & Claire Alfree/“In His Eyes”

Outstanding Small Ensemble Performance:“His Work and Nothing More” Hunter Daugherty, Sam Ortbal, Lauren Dukehart, Rick Burkett

Outstanding Musical Chorus

*** Outstanding Musical Production Number: “Murder, Murder”

*** Outstanding Stage Crew

*** The Carl Schurr Award for Outstanding Production of a Musical: Jekyll & Hyde/James Buchanan High School

*** The Jean Stapleton Award for Outstanding Contribution to a Musical was presented to Veronica Harmon.

While this production was acclaimed, many of us also have heartbreaking memories connected to the show. Following a cast party to celebrate the Totem Pole nomination announcements, senior pit orchestra member Violet Clark was involved in a fatal car accident while leaving the high school. Violet was a well-loved member of the JBHS community and an exceptional human being. Ten years later, we continue to honor Violet’s memory, and extend our love to Violet’s family and close friends.

Address

4773 Fort Loudon Road
Mercersburg, PA
17236

Telephone

(717) 328-2146

Website

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1I9L21317V7I0?ref_=wl_share

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