Published: November 05, 2009 10:07 pm      

Oliver! Show runs through Nov. 15

Floyd Central theater director brings in alumnus, elementary students to fill cast roles for the school’s big fall MusicalL

Floyd Central High School’s big fall musical is reaching out beyond the school’s doors to bring the best to the stage.

The “Oliver!” cast includes a number of children, including the two lead roles of Oliver and Dodger, but also an alumnus, Matt Payne, who came back to play Mr. Bumble.

“We brought back a graduate to do this role, because he is this role,” Director Chris Bundy said. “I wanted to do this play then when he was in school, but I had so many shows I wanted to do first.”

Payne said he was surprised when he was asked to get back on the stage he said goodbye to in 2008.

“I was very much involved in theater when I was in high school and it was a true honor to be able to come back,” he said.

Though he’s seasoned to dealing with the nerves, the two leads are young and admittedly nervous for the opening tonight. “I’m a little bit nervous, because this school is nationally recognized for their theater so it builds up a lot of pressure,” 12-year-old Ryan Bickett said, who is one of the two Olivers that were double cast for this play.

“For me, it’s the very first big thing I’ve ever done and all my friends will be there and I’m really nervous,” said 9-year-old

Mitchell Lewis, who is also double cast in the role of Dodger.

Bundy said the play is a classic, based on the story of “Oliver Twist” by Charles Dickens that follows an orphan, named Oliver, on a journey that eventually leads to him reuniting with the family he never knew.

It takes place in the mid-1800s in London and has elaborate period costumes, he added.

The cast is large, featuring about 50 high school, 25 middle school and 70 elementary students, all who are on stage at some point, Bundy said.

“Organization. You just have to be organized,” Bundy said of managing such a large cast.

He said the budget for this show is about $40,000, which he said is typical for the school’s large fall production.

Students have been practicing for weeks, perfecting their lines, songs, staging and more.

Payne said he’s looking forward to opening the show tonight; however, he knows it will be an emotional curtain call once the play ends, like it was during his senior year.

“I’m sure I’ll get very emotional,” he said.