MMS holds second annual musical

By Jon Dykstra | March 13, 2026 |

JON DYKSTRA/THE FORUM
Pooh (Asher McComb) dances with Pooh’s Tummy (Harper Hamilton) during last Friday’s afternoon performance at Maryville Middle School.

MARYVILLE, Mo. — Middle school is often about finding what you are passionate about as you get older, and a group of 51 Maryville Middle School students spent the last week finding out if theater is going to be one of those passions for them.

“Our goal is to get as many kids involved in activities here as possible,” Maryville Middle School principal Kate Lydon said.

The inspiration to create an annual musical at the middle school came with the hiring of Jennifer O’Gwin two years ago as a seventh-grade language arts teacher. O’Gwin brought with her theater experience from local productions, and the idea for a musical was born.

Last year, the school put on a production of Disney’s “The Aristocats,” and Lydon was blown away with the response from the community.

CAST

Red – Paisley Logan
Orange – Kimber Whitney
Yellow – Renner Shipley
Green – Brody Moore
Blue – Raeley Kirkpatrick
Indigo – Brinklee Baldwin
Violet – Harper Hamilton
Pooh – Asher McComb
Pooh’s Tummy – Harper Hamilton
Tigger – Madi Wood
Piglet – Isolina Tadlock
Rabbit – Colton VanVactor
Owl – Eden Emmons
Kanga – Izzie Dreher
Roo – Hadley Pargas/Alana Carter
Eeyore – Isla Borey
Christopher Robin – Jarom Mitchel
Bees – Lenore McKenzie, Vivian Montemurro, Kenzie Union, Paisley White, Alana Carter
Animal Chorus – Chase Creason, Zola Kirt, Avery Marsh, Kloverlynn Langley, Lenore McKenzie, Cameron Mikkelsen, Vivian Montemurro, Elia Poe, Kenzie Runion, Paisley White

“Last year, we did one show one evening to see how it would go,” Lydon said. “It was insane. I had to quit counting, but there were over 250 people here. We had people lining the stairwell. I had to take every chair out of this office and chairs out of the wings. The entire commons was full end-to-end and you couldn’t even see the stage.”

So this year, O’Gwin went back to the Disney well for another timeless classic: “Winnie the Pooh Kids.” The cast and crew had four performances last week — Thursday and Friday night for the public, and two Friday daytime performances for their classmates.

“To perform something like ‘Winnie the Pooh’ in front of a bunch of middle schoolers seems like it could be a little bit of a tough sell,” O’Gwin said. “But ultimately this is a show about friendship and belonging, which I think is a timely and important message for every middle schooler.”

The school isn’t trying to spend a lot of money on costumes and the set, with that not really being what the experience is about for the kids. The set was built by the students with the help of paraprofessional Joseph Haley. The students did their own costumes and makeup as well.

“The kids have taken a lot of ownership in this,” O’Gwin said. “They do all the makeup themselves and do each other’s hair. It is really about giving the kids ownership and giving them a chance to step up and try something new.”

It’s been an extra bonus for O’Gwin to be able to see the children take the lessons from “Winnie the Pooh” into their lives, whether they realize it or not.

“It is so much fun,” O’Gwin said. “It is a lot of work, but the positive relationships that the kids build with each other and the growth that I see in each of the kids, both in and out of the classroom, is really neat. Today in my language arts class, one of the girls wrote a piece about how this experience helped her be more brave and how she’s overcome fears that she had by being on stage.

“This is something that impacts the kids across the board. It changes their relationships with others, how they see themselves and the confidence that they are able to take with them off stage.”

CREW

Director – Jennifer O’Gwin
Vocal Director – Lauren Carr
Tech Crew Coordinator – Joseph Haley
Choreography – Dena Mullock & Bailey Pierce
Backstage Hands – Aaron Cannon, Landon Lawrence, Olivia Jackson, Lauren Frank
Props & Set Design – Sophia Mitchell, T.J. Nuffer, Levi Walker, Daisy Welch, Jett Wyatt, Kayla Lucy, Kimber Nelson, Collin Mayes
Hair & Makeup – Hadley Baker, Kohlby Cook, Lilly David, Kimber Nelson, Mia Piveral, Zoie Strayer, Ashtyn White
Lights & Sound – Aaron Cannon & Jessep Brown
Applause Coordinator – Henry Lowe

Asher McComb participated in last year’s musical as well, but landed the leading role of Winnie the Pooh in this year’s production. He said that the cast and crew have bonded over the experience of putting the production together.

“I really like doing this,” McComb said. “It is fun getting to work with all these people in a smaller setting. It feels closer, more family-like. We work really well together. Mrs. O’Gwin does a great job directing.”

For Eden Emmons, the play has given the first-year Maryville student a chance to perform with her new friends after moving here from Excelsior Springs.

“The play has definitely helped me learn about people and make friends,” Emmons said. “It has been a very friendly and welcoming environment.”

Emmons plays Owl in the musical, who advises Pooh and Piglet, played by Isolina Tadlock, during their adventure. Owl’s advice might not be the most accurate, but Emmons likes the swagger Owl brings to the 100 Acre Wood.

“Owl is supposed to be very wise, kinda a know-it-all,” Emmons explained. “But still friendly. I think my favorite part of being Owl is being able to be dramatic … just be a boss, you know.”

That “just be a boss” attitude is what Lydon said makes the musical special — the opportunity to explore different sides of the students’ personalities that they might otherwise not get to see.

“It’s fun,” Lyon said. “For me, it is incredible to see kids who maybe I hadn’t seen their genius yet … then they are on stage and it comes out. It is fun to see.”