Pedro – More than two dozen Rock Hill students will take to the stage Saturday to revive the high school’s dinner theater program.

Thursday, May 11, 2000

Pedro – More than two dozen Rock Hill students will take to the stage Saturday to revive the high school’s dinner theater program.

"This is kind of like the spring highlight for our show choir," their teacher DeNeil Hartley said.

Students try each year to develop a music and dance mix show, then volunteers and other classes come in on the production, offering dinner to guests while they enjoy the performance, Mrs. Hartley said.

Last year, the school didn’t hold the annual production so students wanted it back this year, she said.

"They have been practicing since January and are absolutely excited," she said.

Rock Hill senior Bridgette Barker is one of those excited students who is glad the show will continue this year.

"It’s great," she said. "I signed up because I liked the last show."

And, Miss Barker likes performing in front of audiences, although putting together the dinner theater was a lot harder than she thought, she said.

The student hopes to use her experience this summer, maybe at choir and show group tryouts at King’s Island in Cincinnati.

The 45-minute dinner theater show, "Encore! The Music of Our Times!," begins at 7 p.m. Saturday in the high school gym.

It features music and dance spanning the last 110 years, so the audience not only gets an entertainment treat but a little history lesson as well, Mrs. Hartley said.

The show comes after dinner entertainment that features stand-up comedy and solo singers.

The dinner menu is a choice of baked steak or honey mustard glazed chicken, salad, green beans, baked potato, desserts and drinks.

Lambert’s Market is providing the meat. A school cook and volunteer parents will fix the rest. About 25 students will work as servers during the meal.

"The dinner makes it nice for the community to get involved and enjoy a part of their school," Mrs. Hartley said.

Also, students in computer classes, home economics, art and others have given of their talents to the dinner theater, provided set work, programs and production assistance, she said.

"A lot of kids not normally involved with theater are involved with it and that makes it well-rounded," she said.

Mrs. Hartley wants the community to have a good time, and wants students to feel they have learned not only to gain confidence in themselves but also to work together.

"It’s important to know how to handle yourself in public in front of an audience and theater takes tremendous teamwork," she said.

Senior Kevin Dilley said he has learned some valuable lessons.

"I thought it would be an easy A, but it’s a lot of hard work and a whole lot of fun," he said.

Dilley has been practicing with his classmates about five days a week.

"It’s well worth it," he said. "To actually have a large group of people accomplish one show together, a big production, that’s something."