Challand Middle School put on the production of “The Magic Bookshop” on January 24 and 25 with the help of Sterling High School students. These students were selected to be student directors and help out with this play. 

  Before being selected as a student director, interested applicants had to fill out a form of why they should be chosen. Many people applied to this position but only five were selected from the high school. The main director of Challand production, Ellen Johnson, then chose who she thought would be a good fit for this position. 

  This year the student directors were freshman Malachi Johnson, sophomore Evalyn Gaffey, junior Gavin Fischer, and seniors Ashton Stange and Kaitlyn Moore. These students were very excited when given this opportunity, as they all participate in theater at the high school. 

  Sophomore Evalyn Gaffey said,“It was a new experience that I felt was very unique and was excited to have this opportunity.” 

 Student directors had to be at all practices which were Tuesday and Thursday 3:30 to 5 up until two weeks before the performance when they had practice every day. At these rehearsals, the student directors helped block acts, made notes for the students, and picked out all of the costumes. 

  Moore also built the set for this production, on top of being a lead in the high school musical. Moore said, “The internship program here at the high school and with [her] experience at the wood shop let [her] not only design the set but construct it [herself] as well.”

  These Student Directors put so much effort into helping these kids with this production and it wouldn’t have been possible without the work they put in.