by Anne Rittenberry

Sing this: “Annie, Annie, Annie, look what you’ve done for us!” Get ready – right here on Signal Mountain - for a summer with Annie, the most loved little redhead in Broadway history!

Auditions for the Signal Mountain Playhouse’s “Annie” will be on Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5. On Saturday, May 4, auditions for 9- through 12-year-olds will be from 10 a.m. until noon. For teens and adults, they will be from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.  On Sunday, all ages can audition from 5-7 p.m. The place is the Playhouse amphitheater on the corner of James Boulevard and Rolling Way. In case of rain, there will be a sign at the Playhouse entrance directing auditioners to an alternate location.

Auditions are casual, and there’s no need to have a prepared piece of music. The songs from the show will be taught on-site along with simple dance moves.

Everyone coming to auditions should wear study closed toe shoes because set construction will be in progress.
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Dates for the show are July 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, and 27.

Rehearsals for adults will begin May 20 and start for children on May 28. If you’re auditioning, have a list of your conflicts on rehearsal evenings. Too, there will be no excused absences from rehearsals after June 23 or from any performances.

Director Allan Ledford reminds us that “Annie” has great parts for adults as well as children, and he hopes for a large group of adults to audition for roles, besides those listed above, for members of FDR’s Cabinet and other characters. In addition to Allan, other professionals involved in the show include Jennifer Arbogast Wilson as musical director, Lindsay Fussell as choreographer, and Nicholas Hartline as playhouse orchestra conductor. These are highly respected names within the Chattanooga theater community.

If you have questions about auditions or the Signal Mountain Playhouse, go to smph.org, the Signal Mountain Playhouse page on Facebook, email signalmountainplayhouse@gmail.com, or call (423) 763-7219.

By Ian Parten

After the productions of “The Odd Couple” by Neil Simon, and “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” Signal Mountain Middle High School closes its 2018-2019 season with Stephen Sondheim’s and James Lapine’s “Into the Woods,” directed by Ruth Farrimond, with vocal direction by Beth DuRoy.

“Into the Woods” is a compilation of several well-known fairytales, like “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Rapunzel,” “Cinderella” and “Jack and the Beanstalk.” The main character, the Baker, on a quest with a wife, encounters other fairy tale characters on their own quests. With a recent movie adaptation and its staple on Broadway, “Into the Woods” is one of the most popular works of musical theatre in the world, and the fourth most produced show in American high schools, according to Dramatics magazine.

“What makes this production unique,” Farrimond says, “is that the cast spans a wide range of experience. We have seniors and juniors with strong acting chops and freshmen, even an eighth grader.” The ensemble of “Into the Woods” is nearly all freshmen, giving the ninth-graders a great opportunity to grow into the department and learn from the upperclassmen. Farrimond says, “I can pull from the more experienced students to role model rehearsal etiquette and practices, yet the newer actors challenge and invigorate the cast,” which gives a “fresh energy” to the show.

“The best part of working in this production,” Farrimond says, “has been collaborating with Beth DuRoy as vocal director. She is a gifted musician and teacher. She makes a real connection with the students and brings out their best.”

“Into the Woods” will be performed at SMMHS on Saturday, May 4, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and on Sunday, May 5 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. The department hopes that these matinees will appeal to our Signal Mountain community supporters. Tickets are $10 for adults, and $7 for students. Come out and support the cast and crew of “Into the Woods!”

The Town of Signal Mountain celebrated its centennial on April 4, 2019. The Town became official on April 4, 1919. This entire year, 2019, will be set aside to celebrate this momentous occasion.

A series of historical lectures will highlight the important events in the history of the town and the surrounding area. The first of these lectures will be presented by James L. Douthat, noted historian for the area, at the Signal Mountain Library on Saturday, May 4, at 10:30 a.m. in lower level of the library. During this lecture, Mr. Douthat will explore the history of the area leading up to the beginning of the town.
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A great deal of history comes before the creation of a town like Signal Mountain. This lecture will start with 800 A.D., with the emergence of the Mississippian era Indians who left their mark on the mountain now known as Walden’s Ridge. He will then continue to share the area’s history through the various communities that finally gave rise to the Town of Signal Mountain. The lecture series is free of charge and everyone is welcome to attend.

by Melissa Barrett

Theatre Arts wasn’t on the drawing board for Signal Mountain Middle High School when it was designed, but the original lecture hall has been used more for rehearsals and live productions than it has for meetings since the school opened its doors in the fall of 2008.

Theatre Arts was added when some local theatre supporters easily convinced Eddie Gravitte and Janet Brodsky, the school’s first principal and International Baccalaureate director, that the program was needed at the new school.

After obtaining approvals, Gravitte approached John Lennon, an old friend who was teaching theatre and coaching wrestling at Notre Dame High School, and convinced him to come to Signal Mountain to lead a new Theatre Arts program (and coach wrestling), starting in the fall of 2009.

Julie Daniel and Snoda Hendricks completed paperwork to organize a Theatre Arts Boosters group, commonly known as TAB at SMMHS. Daniel was the first president, assisted by Hendricks, who didn’t yet have a child at SMMHS but was instrumental in starting the Arts Guild for Theatre and Choral Arts at Notre Dame, where she knew Lennon.

Bringing Lennon to Signal guaranteed success for the new theatre program, Hendricks said, because “He kind of lights a fire under people.”

Before he arrived, a small group of students led by Laura Wilkerson started the Drama Club, while TAB leaders sought corporate supporters above basic memberships to help finance initial needs, which included buying basic tools and different kinds of saws for set design, as well as theatrical make up.

When her daughter started sixth grade at SMMHS the same year that Lennon arrived, Hendricks served as TAB treasurer and started raising money under auspices of the Mountain Education Foundation. “We were just constantly campaigning,” she said.

Amy Meller, whose family has long been involved in local theatre, said money is always needed because purchasing rights for shows is expensive.

“The rights for musicals are crazy,” said Meller, who has served as a TAB president in addition to various leadership positions with other community theatres. “Then, you’ve got to hire a choreographer and music director for vocals.” Replacing and upgrading stage microphones is a constant expense, she added.

“Fortunately, Signal Mountain bleeds theatre,” said Lennon, who praised the community for supporting the school’s theatre arts program.

The Signal Mountain Community Playhouse contributed money and initially loaned a spotlight before eventually buying a spotlight for the school’s theatre. Fundraising drives produced more lighting and an expensive new soundboard.

Since the auditorium is small, each show has four performances to meet audience response. And since theatre wasn’t part of the original design, the adjacent choir room serves as a dressing room, a janitorial closet off the stage serves as director’s office, and a storage room is far down a hallway.

A series of monologues titled “Relevant” was the program’s first presentation in the fall of 2009 and included Meller’s son, Eric.

The school’s first play was “The Foreigner,” presented in spring 2010. After that, Signal’s Theatre Arts program has generally produced a fall drama and a spring musical. “Senior Scenes,” featuring short scenes selected, cast, and directed by senior students, was introduced in January 2012 and has been presented in late winter thereafter.

Fall productions often hit on hard subjects, such as the death of a gay man in Laramie, Wyo., (“The Laramie Project”), a relative’s death from cancer (“Steel Magnolias”), and a scientific experiment to create intelligence that is first performed on a mouse and then a mentally challenged man with success but gradual regression (“Flowers for Algernon”).

Meller said the fall 2011 production of “The Boys Next Door” provided Signal students insight into how intellectually challenged young men live. Cast members visited the Trousdale School up the road in Cleveland to observe mannerisms and better understand resident students there. Many from there also came to see the show.

Visual Art teacher Betsy McClain led a drama club at the old Signal Mountain Middle School, but one wasn’t started at the new middle school until 2010 with the assistance of senior students. Taylor Smith led it in 2011 as her Senior Project.

Lennon also taught theatre to seventh- and eighth-graders, but those classes were dropped for a few years before being added back recently. Currently, theatre is offered one semester for eighth graders and the other semester for seventh graders. There is no class for sixth grade, but all middle school students are welcome to join the Middle School Drama Club, which Ruth Farrimond has led for the past three years.

The group now has two spring musicals under its wings. February’s show was double cast to allow every child who wanted to participate an opportunity to be in the play, Farrimond said, “because in order to know if you love that magical experience, you have to actually experience it!”

Farrimond replaced Lennon this year as director of the high school’s theatre arts program when he left to revive one at Howard High School.

Theatre has always been a part of the Diploma Program at SMMHS, first taught in the 2011-2012 school year with the first class completing its two-year study in May 2013. As such, students perform a critical analysis of text, study and compare elements of theatrical productions, look at how theatre was used in various cultures and time periods and learn how to apply research and theory to inform and to contextualize their work.

“Theatre is not a club,” Lennon said. “We’re studying theatre and if IB wasn’t there, we wouldn’t be studying theatre as a program. It legitimizes the study and pursuit of Art.”

Students keep a theatre journal throughout their studies to chart their development and experiences of theatre as a creator, designer, director, performer and spectator. This serves as their resume when auditioning for performance or technical scholarships.

Lennon and Farrimond are quick to note that each school production is totally student driven.

Students review texts, design sets and lighting, as well as costumes and makeup. They record and play sounds, produce, direct, market, coordinate people and technical elements, learn any necessary music and dancing, and of course, act.

“There’s a place for everybody, whether it’s on stage or as an organizer,” Meller noted. “There are lots of opportunities for leadership and creativity.”

Farrimond added that school productions are open to all students and that several “non-theatre kids” participate every year. She believes theatre enriches the lives of students because of the sense of belonging.
“Being part of a production is a magical experience that draws people together because you invest not just time and effort, but also emotional openness and vulnerability,” Farrimond said. “Theatre teaches students to empathize, support, communicate, collaborate, and find their own voice.”

Directors and parents also appreciate the bonds created among the long hours students devote to each production.

“They become very close together,” observed Meller, who has had children involved with school theatrical productions since SMMHS opened. She always enjoys “seeing the kids work so hard and the boosters and full audiences.”

Lennon agreed Boosters are essential to the program’s success and praised TAB presidents that also included Lisa Beeching and current leader Nancy Fell.
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TAB is currently raising money to provide an outdoor space for set design and especially painting. If you’d like to support this project and ongoing expenses, send a check to SMMHS Theatre Art Boosters, 2650 Sam Powell Drive, Signal Mountain, TN 37377.

By Michelle Michaud​
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Physical therapy can be a humbling experience for anyone, especially if you are pregnant. That’s why Signal Mountain resident and physical therapist Meagan Moyers opened a practice that caters specifically to the needs of women who are navigating health issues around pregnancy.

“Physical therapy during pregnancy is highly effective in addressing pain, posture, body mechanics, and pelvic floor strengthening that will not only help during pregnancy, but can help during birth and postpartum recovery,” said Moyers, owner of ResiliancePT of Chattanooga.

She admits she has a true passion for pelvic health. “My passion for pelvic health really started to take form after the birth of my second daughter. Through my personal journey through infertility, miscarriage, pregnancy, and post-partum recovery and return to fitness, I became passionate about translating my personal experiences into clinical practice, though each women’s journey is uniquely her own.”

Meagan grew up on Signal Mountain, returning to the mountain four years ago with her husband, Collin, after finishing college, grad school, and a short stint in Knoxville. They now live in Walden and have two daughters Madison, 4, and Ellie, 2. Both girls attend Signal Presbyterian Day School.

Meagan has worked as a physical therapist for 10 years, primarily working in outpatient orthopedics. She has advanced certifications in orthopedic manual therapy, ASTYM, and dry needling techniques.

“I graduated from PT school with honors from Duke University. It was at Duke that my passion for women’s health/pelvic health started to take root as I took a women’s health elective and completed my thesis on pelvic girdle pain,” Meagan explained.

For Meagan, helping women become healthy every day is a dream come true. “One of the main driving factors in my decision to open a private practice for pelvic health is the ability to see patients one-on-one for a one-hour session each visit. There is huge value in individualized care, and research has shown more efficient, faster results with this type of practice model.”

Meagan says her clinic is unique in that it features women treating women, only.
“This can include women of any age, as physical therapy can be very helpful for any pelvic floor dysfunction at any phase of life,” she said.

She believes each person has a story and there is value in listening, so her initial visit begins with conversation. “Pelvic health can be a sensitive topic, so all conversations will take place in a private treatment room that is safe and comfortable.”

Go to resilienceptchatt.com or contact Meagan at (423) 876-8991 or meagan@resilienceptchatt.com.