LMS plans spring cabaret

The contrast between work and play will be examined in the context of music, comedy, song, and dance when the Lancaster Mennonite School (LMS) drama department presents "Stop, Time," a spring cabaret event to be held on the LMS stage on Thursday through Sunday, April 20 to 23. Performances on April 20, 21, and 22 will be at 7 p.m., and the April 23 show will be at 3 p.m. All shows will be discounted for students.

"Stop, Time" will feature 14 cast members singing 14 songs from musicals and movies. According to director Dean Sauder, the first half of the show will focus on songs related to work and jobs. The first song will be "9 to 5," associated with the movie and musical of the same name. Seniors Jinge Ma, Julie Eshenauer-Rivera, and Abby Brubaker, will each have a solo in the number. The second half of the show will begin with "Footloose," also a movie and later a musical, to introduce the more playful subjects, followed by "Stop, Time" from the movie and show "Big." The song is sung by Brubaker and Eshenauer-Rivera, playing two mothers who, according to Dean, "wish they could stop time and delve back into childhood a bit." Eshenauer-Rivera will also solo on "Me and the Sky" from "Come From Away." "Seize the Day" from "Newsies" will be performed by Micah Sauder, who will also sing "The Other Side" from "The Greatest Showman" with Caleb Metzler. The two will pair up again for "The Book Report" from "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." Metzler will solo on "Trashin' the Camp," from "Tarzan."

Dean pointed out that the songs are not chosen for their familiarity. "We try to do songs that people may not know," he said.

Metzler said that the show will give audience members a chance to step back from their own lives. "(They can) reflect on the past and what (they) want from the future," he pointed out.

Eshenauer-Rivera added, that she hopes the songs will give attendees a meaningful glimpse into the themes. "I think they will enjoy how work and play can go hand in hand, and in the second half enjoy the small moments that are really important," she said.

While rehearsing for a show is hard work, the students who are taking part are finding the fun in their preparation. "I enjoy the singing," said Ma, who added that time with her classmates involved in musical endeavors is fun to her.

Both Micah and Brubaker lauded the choreography Katelyn Coryell has designed for the program. Brubaker noted that the steps for "Footloose" and "9 to 5" "really match the energy of the song." Eshenauer-Rivera will serve as student choreographer on "When I Grow Up" from "Matilda."

Eshenauer said that working with the creative team, which includes Dean and Coryell, has been especially enjoyable. "It has been great to collaborate with Dean and Katelyn," she said. "We have been allowed to offer creative input."

Tickets, which are necessary to attend, may be purchased at by calling the box office at 717-740-2456.