FORT KENT, Maine — About thirty students from grades 5-12 at three schools in the St. John Valley will come together for a production of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” later this year. The show, which features sets built by vocational students, will be performed at the Fort Kent Community High School cafeteria, with sets on either side of the rectangular room and a center stage.
Theater Director Doug Clapp said that while plays are normally held at the UMFK Fox Auditorium, it was moved to the cafeteria this year due to auditorium renovations.
The school’s last play, “Mamma Mia!,” was shown earlier this year and highlighted the program’s outgoing vocal talent. Clapp said this year they wanted to do another play where younger kids, from fifth to eighth grade, were included, like they did with a 2023 play based on Oliver Twist.
Three Fort Kent middle schoolers play the kids “Lock,” “Shock,” and “Barrel,” who are antagonistic children in the film.
Madison Granatowski, who plays Barrel, said this is her 14th play. She went to an acting camp in Eagle Lake when she was four, and has enjoyed acting ever since. She said she’s looking forward to performing with older students in this play.
“I’m really excited,” she said. “This is kind of a big step.”
Zoey Dumont plays “Shock,” and is also excited to perform with the high schoolers.
“Working with older people that I’ve seen in plays before is really nice, and I’m just happy with the role I’ve gotten and the schedule,” Dumont said.
Bryce Littrell, who plays “Lock,” said he joined a play in elementary school after a friend convinced him, and that he’s enjoyed acting ever since. For this play, he said he’s looking forward to everything going well.
“What I’m looking forward to for this play is having it go good, and not messing up,” Littrell said.
The play also will not have any seniors, which Clapp said will give the younger students an opportunity to shine.
The two lead roles of Jack Skellington and Sally are played by freshmen.
Troy Celik, who plays Jack Skellington, has been acting in plays since he was five years old.
“My first play, I think my mom put me in it when I was young, and I’ve just loved it ever since,” he said of acting. “It’s been a real passion of mine.”
Shanelle Rossignol, who plays Sally, had a lead role in the musical “Chicago,” and has been acting in plays since she was eight years old.
“She is very interested in what Jack seems to be thinking about and what the mystery is behind all of this,” Rossignol said of her character. “And I think towards the end Jack and Sally start to fall in love.”
Both said that the singing parts are easier to remember than the speaking parts, as the music makes it easier to memorize the words.
Shanelle’s mother, Samantha Rossignol, is the play’s music director, and has been music director for the school’s plays for eight years.
And Dominique Rossignol, Samantha’s husband and Shanelle’s father, also teaches a vocational program through the school’s alternative education program. He also is a basketball coach and soccer ref. Samantha Rossignol said that Dominique pitched the idea of working on the set to his vocational class, and they were thrilled to help.
“[Shanelle] is a freshman, so we’re excited to see what these next four years are going to hold for her,” Samantha said. “That’s on my family level, but I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of this program.”
Young actors are rehearsing three times a week, with each rehearsal lasting at least two hours. Costumes are also designed by Selena Bouchard, who has worked on the school’s plays since its production of “Chicago” last year.
Bouchard said, with these costumes, she’s trying to stay truthful to the film while taking inspiration from Tim Burton’s work and the director’s affinity for fairy tales.
Since there are about 30 participating in the play, she said some costumes will be sourced from online retailers while she makes others herself. Bouchard said another specialist will come in to do makeup.
“I’m hoping for a more realistic look rather than a manufactured, fake, Spirit Halloween look,” she said. “I want the audience to be able to see the textures.”
Clapp said the show will not be performed on Halloween night, as most kids and parents will be out trick-or-treating. The show will go on the following weekend, on Nov. 1 and 2, with two performances on Saturday and possibly a Sunday matinee. Clapp said that on the following weekend, shows are also planned for Nov. 6, 7, and 8 with the possibility of another weekend matinee.
