The Missouri Baptist University Theatre Department is performing their next musical about schoolchildren with schoolchildren in mind by partnering with local Confluence Academy and their three campuses, and hosting a book fair this week in the Art Gallery at MBU.
Sabrina Furman (center) stars as the title character in Missouri Baptist University’s performance of “Junie B. Jones, the Musical,” which runs this Thursday through Sunday in the Pillsbury Chapel. Photos by Madison Coumerilh
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“Junie B. Jones, the Musical” is a student-led play with one faculty adviser to help oversee production. Claire Baur, the musical’s choreographer, said students are getting out of their comfort zone with this particular piece. “Initially, I was only interested in acting as a choreography apprentice as I have never choreographed for a musical before. I wanted to be able to watch and learn the world of choreography from a safe distance,” said Baur, a senior theatre major from St. Louis. “However, when I brought this idea to the Theatre Department’s director, Kasey Cox, she expressed she believed I would be capable to be the show’s official choreographer. I won’t lie, I was hesitant to accept. If Kasey had not shown faith in my ability to choreograph this show, I don’t think I would have been brave enough to try.” Another difference in “Junie B. Jones, the Musical” from other plays is the Theatre Department’s partnership with Confluence Academy, a collaborative network of unique schools in an urban setting, aimed at “developing the whole child by providing experiences that require critical thinking, creativity and empathy to equip graduates to become leaders in a changing society,” according to their website. The book fair, which is being held Feb. 7-13 in the Art Gallery within the Pillsbury Chapel, is run by Cox, and has many advantages for Confluence Academy. There are two ways which Confluence Academy will benefit, besides the general proceeds from the book fair. “Some of the teachers are going to be coming by to pick out specific books for their classrooms, so we’ll have bins open. You can purchase specific books for their classrooms,” said Cox. “You can also just purchase a book that maybe you love from when you were a kid and we’ll have a bin at the front that you can purchase it and put it in there, and it’ll go to them just generally and they can decide where it goes.” The inspiration of “Junie B. Jones, the Musical” goes beyond today’s children, as MBU’s own Junie B., Sabrina Furman, points out it is also meant to be nostalgic for the adults in the audience. “We are all extremely ready for the children to experience this show,” said Furman, a sophomore speech and education theatre major from St. Louis. “I hope there will be children in the audience who are inspired by Junie B. Jones as well as adults that can remember what childhood was like.” To purchase tickets and to view more information regarding COVID-19 guidelines, visit mbuboxoffice.eventbrite.com.
Alexa Tippett 
Jack Gienke 
Emma Tihen