Our story
Our Founder,
Jim Neal
Jim Neal founded Viking Drama Club in 1973 after their first show and led the club through many shows, experiences, stages, and memories. The substitute teacher for drama turned leader of the Viking Drama Club is now retired, Mr. Neal remembers fondly his years at Viking.
Our Story
The Viking Drama Club is 50 years old. It seems like only yesterday that a group* of students and Jim Neal were working with came together and formed the club. Mr. Neal was their substitute and had taken over for a teacher who was on maternity leave. They decided to take the small drama offerings and make them into something larger. Their first show, The Ugly Duckling, a one-act comedy by A.A. Milne, was produced with the help of a loan from the Student Council. Our Principal, Verna Rocheleau, was enthusiastic in her support and provided the fertile ground from which the club has grown.
*Group included Jeff Spencer Greene and Kevin Anderson, Co-presidents.
Who we are
Viking Drama is a beacon. It is meant to show that a theatre program can be chiseled out, gain acceptance and built into a celebration of young adolescent growth. The struggles are not easy. The obstacles, at times, seem overwhelming. But the effect of theatre on learning and the benefits to middle school students cannot be underestimated. The Road not Taken is often a little rough. Please excuse those bumps included. The story of the journey wouldn’t be the same without them.
Our Philosophy
Our philosophy is that theatre is an environment within which to empower young adolescents to actively rehearse adult behaviors. Our passion to be a theatre artist must be sacrificed to better prepare our students for the demands of society. Middle school theatre’s mission is to guide young people across the bridge from childhood to responsible adulthood. Viking Drama: a place where respect, responsibility, cooperation and pride are words to guide and challenge; a place where young adolescents can gather and be listened to with respect; a place they that provides opportunities to develop their self-confidence and self-respect; a place they are given responsibilities with expectations to fulfill them at a level to instill pride. That’s what we strive to be.
Viking Drama Timeline
Jim Neal driven by his students, decided to form the club after the first show, The Ugly Duckling.
Sight Unseen, the first full length show marks the start of many shows to come. Pictured above, Kevin Anderson, J. Spencer Greene, Chris Ambrosio, Gayle Sachs, and Chuck Elsbury.
The Ghost Story, The Post Office, The Devil and Daniel Webster, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Curtain Going Up were shows feeding the ever growing demand of students for more theatre. The demands on the teacher were great. All shows up to this point were unpaid endeavors. requests for a stipend went ignored.
After a protest year with no show in 77', the Club sponsor got paid for the first time and produced How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. What was he thinking?
1980-1983 the classroom provided opportunities for each literature class to present a show. A true hands on learning of theatre, not just reading in class. Above, Good-bye to the Clown, 1983.
was the show that made the move from the steps in the gym, to a brand new dedicated stage in the new cafetorium.
Our new stage had a mezzanine level. We used it for the upper balcony of Annie.
Our tradition of singing Greatest Feeling in the World, composed by Marilynn Walters, began with Your Good Man, Charlie Brown.
Multiple drops were used in the production of The Wizard of Oz. Draw drops, as well as Roll drops provided multiple scenes. We also welcomed the use of Periaktoi.
brought our first ever attempt at flying actors. An expensive technical aspect required the famous Flying Foys from Las Vegas who were hired to keep actors safe and effects fun.
With a cast of 78 on our small stage, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat forced added performances due to audience demand.
During the 97/98 season a new Viking School was being constructed. All hands on deck were needed to produce Sight Unseen, and School House Rock, Live!
With a new larger stage and up dated technical equipment, lighting booth, sound booth, scene shop, tool storage, paint storage, dressing rooms, and scene storage. shows take a major step up with The Hobbit.
The 1940's Radio Hour brought the band out of the pit onto the stage for this live broadcast of a radio show in 1940.
While many view Birdie as a fun Elvis romp, it's underpinnings show racial prejudice by Albert's mom working. Challenging topics open doors for young adolescents. Bye, Bye Birdie provided a fine vehicle for learning.
With my teaching career drawing to a close, Pippen struggles with crossing the bridge from young adolescence to adulthood reflecting the same struggles that all middle schoolers face.
Fame and Give My Regards to Broadway under the direction of Darthea Powden graced the Viking Stage during Mr. Neal's leave as the ED of the Genesee Theatre during it's renovation in Waukegan.
Melissa Peterson asked if she could direct a show for her Final master's project. I agreed if she would do The Little Prince (on my wishlist of shows to do).
My final show as director of Viking Drama was HONK!, a musical version of my first show, The Ugly Duckling. Ugly flew, sometimes gracefully, across the stage, "smart" lights were programmed to follow, and I, for the first time, took a bow with the cast.