Get your kicks: Drama students bring ’50s comedy to stage
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BELLEVILLE -- A runaway movie star, an ever-hungry diner customer, a celebrity-obsessed waitress and even a young Elvis Presley are headed to Belleville Christian School this fall as the school's drama program presents “It Happened on Route 66.”
The family-friendly comedy comes at a fitting time. As America prepares to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66, the production pays tribute to the golden age of roadside diners, classic cars and small-town charm with a story designed to make audiences laugh from beginning to end.
For Belleville Christian School, the production represents more than just another play. It is another step forward in rebuilding a drama program that recently returned to the stage.
"We are working on rebuilding our drama program," director Heidi Yoder explained. "Last year was our first production since 2024."
Finding productions that match the school's mission and values can be challenging, Yoder said, making “It Happened on Route 66” an ideal choice.
"Trying to find plays that align with our mission and core values can be difficult," Yoder added. "This one is family friendly and appropriate for all ages."
Written by Todd Wallinger, the 70-minute comedy is set in a 1955 Arizona diner along America's most famous highway. The story centers on Sally, played by Adair Hoyt, a bubbly waitress eagerly following the upcoming wedding of glamorous movie star Lovey Lamour (Addie Weaver) and popular crooner Johnny Jerome (Evan Swab). Her ordinary day takes an unexpected turn when a mysterious customer turns out to be Lovey herself.
After fleeing her highly-publicized wedding and breaking down along Route 66, Lovey hides in the diner while trying to avoid the press. Sally's solution is simple: disguise the celebrity as a waitress. The plan works only until curious reporters and unexpected visitors begin closing in.
Besides Hoyt, Weaver and Swab, the cast also features:
Audrey Foote as Cookie
Eva Turner as Babs
Aura Hearn as Twyla
Ethan Foote as Roscoe
Japheth Turner as Otis
Alyssa Doggett as Delores
Saoirse O'Neill as Maxine
Reese Peachey as Gladys
Hunter Rickert as Fred
Drew Yoder as Earl
Madison Jurasz as Judy
Addy Hearn as Violet.
Elvis Presley is to be determined
While the story provides plenty of laughs, Yoder believes one character may steal more than a few scenes.
"I think my favorite part is Otis," she said. "He is a diner regular that is taking advantage of Cookie's all-you-can-eat special. He spends the entire play sitting at the counter eating everything from pancakes to a hot dog with sauerkraut. He is a soft comedic presence."
The humor on stage will be matched by an immersive audience experience off stage.
The school is embracing the play's nostalgic setting by going "all out" with its 1950s theme. Before the curtain rises, audience members can attend a dinner theater fundraiser complete with diner-inspired food and atmosphere.
"I want families to be reminded of a simpler time, where the local diner was the hub of a community," Yoder added. "To remember to slow down on the route through life and take time for human connections."
Doors will open at 5 p.m. for the dinner theater event, which includes admission to the performance. Diners will enjoy hamburgers or hot dogs, French fries and a soda float served by 1950s-style waitresses and soda jerks. The performance itself begins at 7 p.m., and patrons may also purchase show-only tickets.
Whether attending the dinner theater or simply coming for the performance, audiences can expect a fun evening celebrating a bygone era.
The production will be staged in the Belleville Christian School gymnasium, transforming the familiar space into a lively Route 66 destination.
Behind the scenes, preparing the show has required flexibility from a cast made up largely of middle school students. Because of the school's size, many students participate in multiple activities throughout the year.
"We are a young group, majority in middle school," Yoder said. "Because we're a small school, our students have the opportunity to participate in both athletics and the arts, including drama, music and art. These are great blessings and what makes us unique, but the logistics can be a challenge."
This year has been a particularly busy one. While students have been preparing for the production, fall sports have also demanded their attention.
"Our boys varsity soccer team went to districts and our boys cross country team is going to states," Yoder explained.
Even with packed schedules, rehearsals have continued as students work to build on the momentum created by last year's return to the stage.
The result promises a lighthearted trip back to the 1950s filled with colorful characters, small-town humor and plenty of heart.
“It Happened on Route 66” will be presented Saturday, Nov. 21, at Belleville Christian School, located at 4105 Front Mountain Road, Belleville. Dinner theater begins at 5 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.
Dinner theater tickets are available by reservation only. The reservation deadline is Monday, Nov. 9.
For audiences looking for an evening of family-friendly entertainment, classic diner nostalgia and plenty of laughs, Belleville Christian School's journey down Route 66 might be the perfect road to take.