Rock around the chalk

Danette Goulet

NEWPORT BEACH -- They were twistin’ and a turnin’, they were a movin’

and a shakin’.

Students at Newport Elementary School began rocking the house Friday

morning and will continue to do so all weekend long, performing an

original musical: “Jukebox Jivin’ -- How My Grandparents Invented

Groovy.”

A morning sneak preview for students had one young audience member so

inspired he began flailing about in a seated rendition of the Twist.

“Jukebox Jivin”’ is a compilation of scenes that depict life in the

1950s, as it was for characters Grandma Molly and Grandpa Alvin.

The play, which includes 122 students in kindergarten through the

sixth grade, is an undisputed blast for children to perform and a riot

for parents to watch.

“My favorite scene is probably ‘Splish Splash,’ because I get to be in

the bathtub,” said Spencer Ashurst, 10.

Spencer was also in a hilarious scene that had poor Grandpa Alvin

landing in the clink.

Clad in striped prisoner pajamas, students slid across the school’s

stage on their knees and swung their hips to Elvis Presley’s hit

“Jailhouse Rock.”

“It took us about three weeks just to get ready,” said Brock Schulei,

10.

Prisoners even did acrobatics in the county jail, where the youngest

little prisoner was a kindergartner.

“What happened is, we tried to develop a musical that was inclusive,”

said writer and director Robin Morrison. “Plays usually have maybe four

lead characters, and then the rest are background. We wanted something

more active.”

With 14 scenes and 122 students, the production is definitely active.

Creative choreographer Deborah Garrett has children bopping like they

were born in the ‘50s, to such classics as “Rockin’ Robin,” “Lollipop,”

“Hand Jive,” “Wake Up Little Suzy” and “Rock Around the Clock.”

FYI

Performances of “Jukebox Jivin’ -- How My Grandparents Invented

Groovy” are at 7 p.m. today and 4 p.m. Sunday in Newport Elementary

School’s auditorium. For ticket information, call Chris Means (949)

675-4964.