Ms. Guenther is beyond excited for her third show at Eagle Ridge! In 2021, she moved from Wilmington, NC where she had been teaching Chorus for 6 years. She was a part of a fantastic music and arts department at Murray MS and helped produce: The Lion King JR, Shrek JR, Madagascar JR, Mary Poppins JR, and Moana JR. During the 2021-2022 school year, she was vocal director for the ERMS production of Matilda JR. Over the summer of 2022, she directed Legally Blonde JR with Mr. Simonton (RBMS), Mrs. Broadfoot (ERMS), and Mrs. Walden (tech crew director). She can't wait to move-it move-it with the cast and crew of Madagascar JR! She'd like to thank the students, parents, and guardians for being outstanding and so thoughtful during the musical process!
Special thanks to all who helped with the show -- what an amazing group and support system!
Mrs. Walden was introduced to the ERMS theater program many years ago as parent volunteer with The Wizard of Oz Jr and Elf Jr . She loved the energy, excitement, and challenge of bringing the world envisioned by the director to life through sets and props designed, built, painted, and completed (almost entirely) by middle schoolers. Mrs. Walden has since led the creative crew for Peter Pan Jr, The Lion King Jr, The Addams Family Jr., Shrek Jr., Annie Jr., Beauty and Beast Jr. , Matilda Jr., and Legally Blonde JR. She is continually amazed by the talent, creativity and passion of the entire ERMS theater family. Mrs. Walden would like to thank Ms. Guenther, Momma E, Mrs. Saadah, Ms. K, and Mr. Simonton for being a fantastic team! Also special thanks to each member of the Creative Crew for being being lots of fun even when faced with challenges. Break a leg to the cast and crew!
Madilyn is an 8th grader here at Eagle Ridge and enjoyed taking a leadership role in this musical. She has acted in the past couple musicals here at Eagle Ridge, being Mrs. Wormwood in Matilda (2022) and a narrator in Beauty and the Beast (2021). She then directed a one act play for the drama class last year. She is so proud of how hard everyone has worked over the past couple months and she loved contributing to this musical. Madilyn wishes everyone a great show and to break a leg!
Miss K is extremely excited and grateful to be working with everyone involved with Madagascar Jr! Growing up, Madagascar was her favorite movie so what better way to join the theater than with this production. Miss K is looking forward to moving and grooving with such a wonderful cast and crew. Special thank you to everyone who has supported her while she learns to take on this new position.
Known in the Eagle Ridge theater as Ms. Jo, she is back after a 5 year break to help out with her 8th Eagle Ridge production. Long before Eagle Ridge Ms. Jo was a theater kid herself; acting, singing, dancing, directing and choreographing all throughout grade school, high school, college and community theater. Ms. Jo is so excited to be a part of Madagascar Jr and can't wait to dance and have fun with the cast!
Mrs. Edwards (“Momma E”) teaches Middle School Math and Exploratory Dramatics at Brambleton Middle School. She enjoys performing with the Master Singers of Virginia, playing piano, and traveling with her family. She recently music directed High School Musical, Jr. and the Wizard of Oz, Jr. at Brambleton, M.S. Mrs. Edwards has studied drama and voice at the University of Oklahoma and the Studio Theatre Acting Conservatory in D.C. She has performed with local community theaters with favorite roles of Julie Jordan (Carousel), Amalia Balash (She Loves Me) and April (Company). Mrs. Edwards has also performed at the Kennedy Center, the Music Center at Strathmore, and the Hylton Performing Arts Center. She is thrilled to be working with a wonderfully talented production team, cast, and crew on such a fun show.
This is Mr. Simonton's third production at Eagle Ridge! Mr. Simonton is now in his 8th year as director of River Bend Theatre, having previously directed Thoroughly Modern Millie JR, Annie JR, The Lion King JR, Shrek JR, Beauty and the Beast JR, Fame JR, Frozen JR, and The Addams Family JR. He has recently started branching out into non-musical theatre with shows such as The Internet is Distract-OH LOOK A KITTEN! and 6ft Scenes, as well as River Bend's upcoming one-acts, May 4, 5, and 6 at 6PM: All The Bases and Tribunal.