New Miami math teacher gets bitten by the theater bug

District to perform 'School House Rock Live' for second annual musical.

Staff photo by Samantha Grier Students at New Miami School rehearse for a performance of “School House Rock Live." The second annual musical will feature the signature songs “Interplanet Janet,” “Just A Bill,” “Unpack Your Adjectives” and the ever-popular “Conjunction Junction.” Performances will be 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 12-13, at New Miami School, 600 Seven Mile Ave. Tickets are $5 at the door.

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By Richard O Jones, Staff Writer 10:42 PM Tuesday, March 9, 2010

NEW MIAMI — In celebration of New Miami’s STEM grant that allowed the district to outfit the entire building with the latest educational technology, performing arts teacher Ben Schneider chose “School House Rock Live” as their second annual musical.

Because none of his students had ever seen any of the vintage Saturday morning cartoons that inspired the musical, the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) stuff came in handy because he was able to look them up on YouTube.

“It was really funny to watch them watch the videos,” Schneider said. “At first, they thought the cartoons were really corny, but once they started getting into the music, they had a better appreciation for it.”

Schneider is directing a “junior” version of the stage musical, trimmed from a two-act show to about an hour’s entertainment, but still featuring some of the signature songs, “Interplanet Janet,” “Just A Bill,” “Unpack Your Adjectives” and the ever-popular “Conjunction Junction.”

Performances will be 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 12-13, at New Miami School, 600 Seven Mile Ave. Tickets are $5 at the door.

High school math teacher Adam Jacob makes his stage debut as Tom, the teacher who’s nervous about his first day of school but gets reassurances from a cast of cartoon characters, played by New Miami students in the fifth grade and older, who tell him he’s going to be a great teacher.

Jacob said that Schneider recruited him after seeing a video of him on — where else? — YouTube.

“I am involved in a ministry called Young Life and we put some silly videos on YouTube, one where I did a beat box and another where we did a ‘Chimpmunks’ thing, speeding up a song.”

Jacob said that being on stage, however, is “a humbling experience” and a lot more intimidating than making videos.

“These kids can sing and act and dance, and I can barely memorize my lines,” he said.

Nevertheless, he’s having so much fun that he confesses he’s been bitten by the theater bug.

“I told Ben after the first rehearsal that if he ever needs help in the future, to just let me know,” Jacob said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2188 or rjones@coxohio.com.

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