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Gilbert’s Limelight Theatre readies for the stage
GSN NEWS STAFF
Twelve-year-old Savannah Springer doesn’t get in trouble very often. The Mesa seventh grader is pretty good at following the rules, from helping around the house to completing her homework on time.
But now, she is trying on a different personality for size as one of two performers playing the title role of the Arizona premier of “Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide to School.”
The new musical, produced by Limelight Performing Arts in Gilbert, is based on the bestselling books by Barbara Park and shares the saga of the wisecracking Junie B. – a self-appointed expert on all things first grade – who is determined to write the ultimate guide to school.
The production features a cast of 16 young performers.
Springer shares the role with 10-year-old Anna Scales of Scottsdale, who is also experimenting with the character.
“Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide to School” is the hilarious and heartwarming follow-up to “Junie B. Jones, The Musical” and uses high-energy music and comedic dialogue to take audiences through a series of stresses and mishaps as precocious Junie confronts the challenges of first grade – and gets in a lot of trouble along the way.
“One of my favorite lessons of the show is that Junie B. learns how to control her anger when things aren’t going
Lola Howard Piper Perea Gabriel Ritchie
see LIMELIGHT page 17
Gilbert woman solos on new Christian album
GSN NEWS STAFF
Gilbert native Nicole Swartz sings a solo on the new “Canyon Worship 2021” album by the Grand Canyon University Worship Arts program.
All 10 new songs on the program’s sixth album were written and performed by GCU students and recorded in the University’s state-of-the-art recording studio.
“This album is one of my favorites so far. The songs are stylistically set for corporate worship in local churches,” said GCU Worship Arts Coordinator Dr. Randall Downs. “The words have depth, glorifying God and encouraging His children, and the melodies are breathtaking.”
Swartz, who wrote and sings “In the Waiting,” Nicole Swartz’s “In the Waiting,” told the Grand Canyon news department that the genesis of the number was what she experienced during her first year in the Worship Arts program at Grand Canyon University, when everything seemed to be going right after she transferred from Chandler Gilbert Community College. “I felt a lot of fulfillment and I felt a lot of amazing things that God was doing in my life,” she said.
But then her brother enlisted in the military and was stationed on the other side of the world. Her sister moved to
Gilbert native Nicole Swartz has a solo on Canyon Worship for the first time with “In the
GILBERT SUN NEWS | SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 LIMELIGHT from page 16 her way,” said director Rio Chavez. “She faces her anger head on by learning to control El Toro Fabuloso, the bull who lives in her stomach, and learns to turn her frustrations into successful solutions.”
Young audiences will see a version of themselves in the over-the-top, slapstick characters of Junie B. and her friends. And people of all ages will appreciate the show’s lessons: that everyone makes mistakes, why it’s important to own up and how nobody is ever done learning.
Theatre is a fun learning experience,” added Ava Ciappetta, 13, of Gilbert, who plays the role of legendary lunch lady, Gladys Gutzman. “When a person is studying their character, they can step out of their comfort zone and try a new type of role. Gladys Gutzman certainly isn’t your average lunch lady!”
Chavez noted, “Our goal with this production is to teach the children of our community that it’s okay to make mistakes. Even ‘when things go wrong,’ with a little effort, ‘you can make things right.’”
“It’s a great opportunity for kids to see that we are always learning and growing – even when it’s an uncomfortable and challenging process,” said Emma England of Gilbert, the show’s choreographer and Limelight’s artistic director.
For England, it’s also a chance to show off the sizable talent in “Junie B.’s” small cast.
“It’s always such a surprise for audiences when young performers put on a very strong show,” she said. “The kids in this cast really hold their own and bring so much talent to the stage. I think people will be blown away by what the ‘Junie B.’ cast has created.”
Added Chavez, “We have a wonderful group of actors who are as dedicated as they are talented. These kids bring vibrance and life to their characters while showing a level of professionalism that is well beyond their years.”
“I am so excited to be playing my dream role, Lucille,” added Lola Howard, 9, of Gilbert. “This has been such a great experience and I am excited to do all the shows with some old and new friends. I have also learned to work hard and try my best. This has been one of the most exciting experiences of my life!”
Among the skills they’re learning are iconic dance moves from the 1990s.
“We wanted to stay true to the time period of the books,” said England. “That means learning the Roger Rabbit and Hammer Time. The kids are absolutely crushing it! Everything in this show features styling from the 90s, including lots of bright colors in the set and costumes.”
And there are bonuses for England, too. “I love the way Savannah and Anna work together,” she said. “I’ve never seen two kids who are so supportive of one another.”
Anna Scales of Scottsdale is the other actress playing JUnie B.
Six weeks since the cast list was posted, Limelight is ready to open the show. “Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide to School” runs from Sept. 24 to Oct. 2 at the Studio 3 Artspace Theatre, 511 W. Guadalupe Road in Gilbert. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at limelight.ticketleap.com. Limelight is also producing a “Page to Stage” storytime version for young children ages 2-7 and their parents.
ALBUM from page 16
Ukraine. And several family members passed away.
“Just like that, the baby of the family – six and three years younger than her siblings – was feeling a little lost,” GCU reported, “as she sat in her Old Testament class and listened to a discussion about the third chapter in the book of Habakkuk.”
That includes the verse, “I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
Swartz eventually penned, “There’s an end to every season, an open door to the unknown.
“Even in the drought, even in the waiting for you, Lord, my heart continues to beat for You. I continue to be faithful to You, Lord,” she said. “It’s this whole culmination of Israel and their suffering and their waiting for God to bring His fulfillment and then coming to that resolution that waiting with God is better than any fulfillment that you could have by your own works.”
GCU Recording Studio manager Eric Johnson then asked her if she had a song ready Demo Day, when students can record an original song.
She didn’t have one but thought of the book of Habakkuk and what had happened in her life. “By the grace of God. It just came out,” she told GCU. “I know a lot of people say they wrote it in five minutes. I don’t personally believe that’s the regular story.
“All I can say is, when I sat there at the piano, there it was. It was right for my heart. I think it was a really awesome point for me as an artist where I saw my writing go to the next step – my words were becoming right in touch with the words that God had put on my heart.”
Canyon Worship solo, and Worship Arts Coordinator Dr. Randall Downs said, “She’s always been a great songwriter since I’ve known her.”
“She is very distinctively a solo artist, and you can tell her style – she does so well with it. I love that she brings her own personality,” he added, telling GCU that Swartz “is a natural leader. She is a strong songwriter and sings with conviction.”
Swartz is grateful to make the album. “It’s a big honor,” she said. “One of the reasons I came here was Canyon Worship. I toured other colleges, and I haven’t seen anyone else that’s doing what GCU is doing right now. They’re building momentum in an amazing way.
“For me, as an artist and songwriter, this normally would never be an opportunity for me, especially as a college student, to have professional engineers and professional producers like Geoff and Dave. It was a beautiful song to the Lord; they’ve made it just so much more professional and brought out more beauty in it. They’ve taught me so much.”
She already knew a lot about the piano, which she has been playing for 15 years, and the guitar. She also loves playing the drums about as much as she enjoys coffee (has her own espresso machine), cats and photography. She loves the way Canyon Worship also utilizes the talents of students outside the Worship Arts program.
“I’m very passionate about music being the platform for all creatives to meet,” she said.
But Worship Arts – and the Recording Studio – are what she knows best, and she has a little advice for those who will come after her and her peers as she looks ahead to graduating next spring.
The album is available for streaming on various music sites and can be bought on GCU’s campus for $5.99.
Information: pages.gcu.edu/cwa/ canyonworship.php.
