
DATE: Friday, November 14, 1997             TAG: 9711120104

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 04   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   58 lines

ZANY PLAY WILL GET OSCAR SMITH STUDENTS ``IN REAL TROUBLE''

THEY'RE EXPECTING a lot of shenanigans at Oscar Smith High School tonight and Saturday, but no suspensions are anticipated.

That's because all the ruckus will be created on stage at the school's Little Theatre. Under the direction of drama/English teacher Kristina C. Baumgaertel, the OFS Theatre Company will present its fall comedy production of ``If today is the first day of the rest of my life, I'm In Real Trouble.''

``There's a dead body, FBI agents, the mob, the local sheriff and her staff, a group of lost photography students, an old gold miner, employees of an insane asylum and more,'' Baumgaertel said. ``And the play especially answers the question of what happens to English teachers after they've taught too many years.''

Baumgaertel, a first-year teacher at Smith, said she chose this particular script because of its zany content and the fact that it can incorporate a huge student cast.

``It's fast, funny and has a lot of parts,'' said Baumgaertel, who taught middle school English in Washington, D.C., and Maryland before coming to Smith this year. ``It gives most of my students the chance to get up on stage. Everybody who auditioned for this play got some type of part. And we're believers in the fact that there are no minor parts in this play. No matter the length of time on stage, every part is important. Since I'm new here, this play gives me the opportunity to see what type of actors I've got to work with.''

Baumgaertel said the production includes a 32-student cast and several understudies. She said the comedy is a complete school collaboration featuring the efforts of the school's art club, stage crew and graphic arts/technology department. Those groups had a hand in the production's design, staging and advertising. In addition, several teachers, including art teachers Bill Sams and Bill Kane and technology teacher George Garnett also spent many hours working on the production.

Baumgaertel said government/history teacher Felicia Washington-Price was especially helpful.

``She designed and created all of the costumes,'' she said. ``She has done a magnificent job.''

Baumgaertel said the end result will have audiences rolling in the aisles.

``Come prepared to suspend disbelief at the door and come prepared to laugh,'' she said. ``Everything in this play is crazy and it will go like a freight train.'' ILLUSTRATION: Graphic

WANT TO GO?

What: ``If Today Is the First Day of the Rest of My Life, I'm In

Real Trouble,'' a contemporary comedy by James L. Seay

Who: Presented by the OFS Theatre Company under the direction of

Kristina C. Baumgaertel

Where: Oscar Smith High School Little Theatre, 1994 Tiger Drive,

off Great Bridge Boulevard

When: Today at 4 and tonight at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m.

Tickets: $4 for adults and $3 for adults, payable at the school

box office

Call: For more information, call 548-0696.