Student play invites you into the Studio
Brooklyn Kussmaul endures an unusual intervention in one of approximately 30 skits that will take place during the Prairie du Chien’s production of Studio C: On Stage. (Steve Van Kooten/Courier Press)
(Left to right) Emily Luedtke, Nathan Stout, Adam Stout and Aaron Stout take part in one of Studio C: On Stage’s many sketches. Students have multiple parts to play during the 90-minute runtime.
By Steve Van Kooten
If any atmosphere ever exemplified the term “madcap comedy,” the Prairie du Chien play rehearsal on March 20 was it.
Adam Stout, director of the spring play, brought his ragtag troupe together at the start of rehearsal for a pep talk and a few improv exercises to get everyone’s creative energy flowing. This year, the school is trying something new — brand new, in fact. A play that has never been performed before.
In a memo sent out to the school body on Dec. 11, Stout wrote, “I wanted to do something fun, new and original for the spring play. I looked at a lot of plays, but I didn’t love any of them. I even wrote (most of) one, but the timing wasn’t right for that project. Then I had an idea. Have you heard of Studio C?”
Studio C: On Stage is an adaptation of a popular sketch comedy television show that airs on BYUtv, a channel operated by Brigham Young University. The show began in the mid-2000s, running for more than 200 episodes (and counting), and spawned a YouTube channel that hosts more than 1,000 videos.
It’s a different production compared to the school’s past material, which include The Hobbit and Letters to Sala.
“The process started last spring when we finished The Hobbit,” said Stout. “It’s tough to find a play that’s good for a cast, and, personally, I really wanted to find something that was family friendly that didn’t have profanity, a lot of graphic violence or sexual content. That can be hard to find in a play.”
So, Shakespeare was out.
After viewing a sketch on YouTube, Stout contacted BYUtv’s legal department, found the company that handles the licensing and got the go-ahead to prepare a script.
This past December, Stout and some of the students wrote a 147-page manuscript, submitted it for approval, made changes and received approval on Dec. 10 to bring Studio C to the theater.
Some of the skits included a diabetic intervention, a performance review for Ms. Frizzle and using strategies learned from movies during criminal interrogations.
“This one is a segment of short stories and comedy bits. It’s a completely different medium,” Josyah Brunning said. “A lot of people enjoy comedy compared to somber stories, and Studio C is well known. I think name recognition is another reason people will come.”
Brunning, a junior who has participated in several of the school’s plays and musicals, said he also helped write the script, along with several other students.
The production will include approximately 29 sketches, with each show shooting for a 90-minute runtime.
The cast also gets to take on some unique challenges with a sketch comedy show.
“There’s not really a storyline. It keeps you entertained throughout,” cast member Stacy Xiong said. “You’re not dedicated to one character since there are a lot of skits; there are a lot of things happening.”
Studio C: On Stage will give the community a chance to see a different side of the students as they focus on delivering fun and frivolity rather than an epic story.
“It will allow people to relax and not have to pay attention to a drawn-out story. It’ll be a good thing to just sit down and watch,” Emily Luedtkde said.
The Prairie du Chien High School spring play will take place at the high school performing arts center (PAAC), with shows on April 10, 11 and 12 starting at 7 p.m. each night. There will also be a matinee showing at 1 p.m. on April 12.
