L-R front Luke Chavis Amanda King Jessup Jacobs Copeland Snyder Mara Hardy Scott Andrews Sara Crouch Gracey Gardner Viva Lang Ward Hardy Joseph Tranes
L-R back Belle Carabo King McColl Hamton Hubbard Luke Eaves Fred McDaniel Erin Eaves Lucy Schauer Bella Schauer
Photo| Marlboro Players
BENNETTSVILLE—Next week, the Marlboro Players will present the classic play, “Cheaper By the Dozen,” at the Marlboro Civic Center. The shows are Thursday-Saturday, March 14-16, at 7 p.m. nightly.
“Cheaper By the Dozen” is a story about family, but not just any family: a family of 12 children whose father specializes in time and motion study and efficiency – and applies those principles to raising his large brood. The results are both hilarious and heartwarming.
Leading the cast – and the family – are Scott Andrews and Sarah Crouch as Mr. and Mrs. Gilbreath. Both Scott and Sarah have extensive stage experience and bring their talent and enthusiasm to every role, including these. They both said they enjoy the opportunity to work with the strong cast, and especially the children in this play, including:
Gracen Gardner is Anne, the oldest Gilbreath daughter, who wants to be independent and make her own decisions. Gracen is a senior at Marlboro County High School and enjoys wrestling, softball, soccer, acting, and dance. She has previously appeared in “Oliver” and “Junie B. Jones,” but says, “This is my first time having a main role, and I’m excited.” She is the daughter of Ryan and Jamie Gardner and has three brothers, Dayne, Gunner, and Jake.
There are many real-life family connections in the cast, including brother and sister Mara Dae Hardy and Thomas Ward Hardy in the roles of siblings Ernestine and Frank. They are students at McColl Elementary/Middle School (8th and 7th grade, respectively). Their mom is Mary Megan Hardy, and they have a younger brother, Elijah.
They may be young, but many of the performers already have stage experience in plays such as “The Sound of Music,” “High School Musical,” and “Junie B. Jones.” These include Amanda King (Martha), a 7th grader at Marlboro Academy; Viva Lang (Jackie), a 7th grader at Long Middle School in Cheraw; Luke Chavis (Bill), an 11th grader at Marlboro County High School; Jessup Jacobs (Fred), a 9th grader; and Copeland Snyder (Lillian), a 7th grader at McColl Elementary/Middle School. Joseph Tranes (Dan), a 6th grader at McColl Elementary/Middle School, is excited to be cast in his very first play, and his sister Kimberly, an 11th grader, serves as prompter for the production.
Also portraying Gilbreath children are Belle Carabo and real-life sisters Bella and Olivia Schauer. Bella and Olivia’s mother, Lucille Schauer, also has a role as Ms. Brill, the teacher. Rounding out the cast are James King McCall, a 6th grader at McColl Elementary/Middle School, as Joe Scales; Luke Eaves, a senior at Richmond Community College, as Larry; Luke’s mom Erin Eaves as Mrs. Fitzgerald, the housekeeper; and Fred McDaniel as Dr. Burton.
You don’t want to miss this extraordinary cast! Make plans now to see the show March 14, 15, or 16.