Welcome to The Best Western Hotel, where our guests are interesting, staff are unique, and absolutely nothing goes according to plan. This hotel is anything but relaxing. The Lewis Cass Cast and crew are thrilled to invite audiences along for a laugh-filled stay, so grab your room key, keep track of your luggage, and enjoy the show this January on the 24 and 25!

     This year, the Lewis Cass Drama department is performing The Best Western Hotel. But, not the typical Best Western Hotel, many people think of. Director, Mrs. Burch said, “This play spoofs many of Hollywood’s Westerns and has modern touches to boot.” The play takes place in a town full of women, with the supply of men running low, Burch said. She continued, “Slick and wealthy Richard Coldheart (“Oh, that’s Rich!”) must marry Polly Wanda Cracker to control the Cracker property. However, it is Polly’s sister, Prunella, who wants to marry him!” Burch continued with, “Meanwhile, our hero, Sheriff Waylon Jones, has his hands full surviving the hilarious antics of well-meaning but not too bright Deputy Bernadett Fife. When a bundle of villains, including Snydley Whiplash, Kid Kid, and Calamity Jan, attempt to take over, things really go crazy!” Burch stated, “You will have to pay close attention to whether the Schizophrenic Kid is wearing her white hat or her black hat to know whether to cheer or boo. But Blackest Bart will leave no doubt in your minds, for she is even meaner than Black Belle.” Sounds like this is going to be a great play.

     Some of the students featured in The Best Western Hotel are sophomores, Annika Townsend and Cassidy Cannon, and juniors, Gwendolyn Barker and Thomas Ehase. Annika Townsend has been in drama at the school for three years, and this is the sixth play she has performed for the school. This is not Annika’s first go around, as she also participates in theatre outside of school. Townsend plays the character Deputy Fife, who she says is not the brightest, but she hopes she can be a memorable and lovable character. Annika’s favorite part of the play is the way the characters interact with each other. She said, “It is so funny to see someone get jumbled on their lines, and another character comes and makes it even better with funny little remarks. The expressions delivered by our cast are priceless.” Annika said her favorite play she has performed was the Chateau La Roach. 

     Cassiday Cannon has been participating in drama at Cass since she was in seventh grade. This is her third year in drama and the seventh play she has done at Cass. Cassidy has already had experience on stage before she joined the theater because she started participating in musicals beforehand. With experiences with both drama and musicals, Cassidy said, “ I like drama better, because I am surrounded by weirdos, awesome weirdos. I do not think there is a single person in our drama club that I do not have any type of special connection with. They have become my family! I do really love to sing in musicals as well, though I believe I prefer the regular speaking and acting that comes from drama. I get to be super expressive with it, and I love it.”

     Gwendolyn Barker has been participating in drama for four years at Lewis Cass. She started shows in eighth grade and has been doing it every year since then. In The Best Western Hotel, she plays the schizophrenic kid, who is a villain when wearing the black hat. Gwendolyn said, “I really do like the stupid physical comedy we do and the things we insult each other with.” That is her favorite part of the play. She also said her favorite plays she has performed for the school would have to be Chateau La Roach or Clue. 

     Thomas Ehase has been participating in drama at Cass for two years and counting and has performed in two plays for the school. Thomas occasionally does plays outside of school, but not all the time. Ehase plays Sheriff Waylon Jones for The Best Western Hotel, and he would rather not share his favorite part, as he does not want to spoil the play for the audience. Thomas’ favorite play he has performed for the school has been Clue.

     So, Cass Kings, show up at The Best Western Hotel play performed by your Lewis Cass drama department on January 24 at 7 pm and the 25 at 2:30 pm. And, if you ever want to try something new, the drama club accepts students from sixth grade to seniors.