NCS Presents: It's a Madhouse

Our Middle School Drama students did a phenomenal job at both performances of It’s a Madhouse! by Todd Wallinger

Bestselling mystery author Byron Pembroke is dead, and one stormy evening, his highly dysfunctional family gathers for the reading of the will. Each member of the family assumes that they deserve the bulk of the estate, so imagine their shock when they discover that Byron converted his entire fortune into a single mysterious item which he's hidden somewhere in the mansion--with a four-line verse their own clue! Before they can find the treasure, however, the mansion is overrun by a horde of strangers seeking refuge from the storm, and these strangers soon join in the hunt.

Who will find the treasure first? Byron's spoiled, self-serving family members? The bickering trio of ghost hunters? The nosy news team? The busload of obnoxious tourists? Or one of the dozens of other crazy intruders literally tearing the house apart in their excitement and greed?

A Jesus moment… How often are we guilty of self-serving? When the Father has  given us all that we need and more, we worry about tomorrow. We horde. We let our  pride and greed get the better of us in this “me first” culture. The family squabbling in  this play reminds me of Jesus’s disciples, arguing over the best seat in the kingdom or  the jealousy of Joseph’s brothers. Does this feel uncomfortably familiar? I know I’m  guilty. Let’s face it—we’re just one big ‘ol dysfunctional family who desperately need  Jesus.
Thank you all for attending NCS’s performance of It’s a Madhouse, written by Todd Wallinger and brought to you by our very own enthusiastic middle school drama students. This mystery/comedy gives you all the “madness” of messy family dynamics, greed, life’s uncontrollable moments, and unwanted guests.

Last year, I made my directorial debut with NCS’s production of The Princess Capers, by Taryn Temple, and now I’ve gained another year under my belt! Throughout high school, a bit in college, and my adult life, I’ve been on stage with various roles. But navigating the director role with the kids has been both an enjoyable experience and a life- learning challenge. With each new avenue in life, it brings an opportunity to lean into the Father and grow in our relationship with Him. Getting to know each and every one of the kids and discovering their gifts and passions has been amazing. It’s a privilege to witness someone coming out of their shell or finding their voice and confidence to do something that’s hard and requires bravery.

I want to thank everyone who has helped and supported us along the way. This isn’t a one-man show—clearly! Many hands were at work both in view and behind the scenes. Thank you, Mrs. Leslie, for your encouragement and sharing your experiences of working with kids and performance! Thank you to the office gals—Jenn, Emily, and Priscilla—who offered support and assistance when I needed it. Thank you to all of the NCS parents who stepped up, put in the time, and filled the many roles like creating posters (Lauren), handling ticket sales (Jenn) and concessions (Anne), hair and makeup, making meals, loaning props and supplying costume pieces, building sets (Kevin & Joel) and providing sound and tech (Dean) while listening to my big and beyond expectations! Thank you, Jenn Long, for handling everything I had forgotten to take care of or needed assistance with. You are my fairy godmother! Yes, Jenn, I will say it again and again every year! Deal with it! LOL! I want to thank my husband and kids for your enduring patience and support throughout this whole director’s journey!

And thank you, God, for your patience, strength, and for giving us all this opportunity to produce and perform for your glory!

Praise the Lord! We did it, guys!
Andrea Knepper, Drama Director

Thank you to Mr. Joel Knepper for photographing Saturday night’s performance!

NCS Presents: The Princess Capers

The Princess Capers By Taryn Temple

When happily ever after isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, what’s a princess to do? Bored of their fairy-tale lives, Cindy, Snow, Beauty, Briar Rose, and Florine embark on an adventure to save the kingdom from rap-obsessed supervillain Delusia, whose dancing minions are stealing the youth of all the children in the land. With the help of exercise guru Rumpel Stiltskin and the Big No-Longer-Bad Wolf, they may stand a chance, but only if the Narrators can remember how the story goes. Will they discover the shadowy figure behind D-Diddy’s evil scheme before it’s too late? Find out in this funny and fast-paced fractured fairy tale. 

A Jesus moment… 

Because we all find ourselves between battles of good and evil, we can lay down our burdened hearts before Jesus and put our trust and our hope in the One who brings us the ultimate peace…

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world.” 

John 16:33 NIV

Enjoy some photos from both performances of The Princess Capers.

Thank you all for attending NCS’s performance of The Princess Capers, written by Taryn Temple and brought to you by our very own enthusiastic middle school drama students. This is a story about friendship, adventure, and good versus evil—mashed together into a slap-slick comedy full of dancing, memorable one- liners, and 80’s and 90’s gems that only us parents can appreciate.

I’ve played the part of an actress but never that of a director, so this was a first for me. Navigating through this role with the kids has been both a challenge but yet an enjoyable learning experience. With each new avenue in life, it brings an opportunity to lean into the Father and grow in our relationship with Him. Getting to know each and every one of the kids and discovering their gifts and passions has been amazing. It’s a privilege to witness someone coming out of their shell or finding their voice and confidence to do something that’s hard and requires bravery.

I want to thank everyone who has helped and supported us along the way. This isn’t a one-man show—clearly! Many hands were at work both in view and behind the scenes. Thank you, Mrs. Leslie, for your encouragement and sharing your experiences of working with kids and performance! Thank you, Abby Bourne, for your director’s wisdom and advice! Thank you to the office gals, Jenn and Emily, who sorted through a thousand of my emails and offered support and assistance when I needed it. Thank you, Mrs. Plank, for taking on the photography while giving us photographers, Joel and I, a break! Thank you to all of the NCS parents who stepped up, put in the time, and filled the many roles like creating posters (Lauren), handling ticket sales and concessions, hair and makeup, making meals, loaning props and buying costume pieces, building sets (Kevin, Joel, Mike) and providing sound and tech (Dean) while listening to my big & beyond expectations! Thank you, Jenn Long, for handling everything I had forgotten to take care of or needed assistance with. You are my fairy godmother! Yes, I said it. Suck it up and allow me this moment of gratitude! I want to thank my husband and kids for your enduring patience and support throughout this whole director’s journey! 

And thank you, God, for your patience, strength, and for giving us all this opportunity to produce and perform for your glory! 

Praise the Lord! We made it, guys! 

Andrea Knepper, Director 

A Personal Invite and Greeting from Guest Speaker, Dannah Gresh

Join us for an afternoon luncheon as local best-selling author, speaker, co-host of Revive Our Hearts, and founder of True Girl, Dannah Gresh, shares about the value of Christian education in today's world.

Here’s a personal invite and greeting from our guest speaker:

Make plans to join us on Thursday, March 2nd. There is no cost to attend this event; however, an opportunity to make a financial investment will be extended.

You are invited to bring a guest. A reservation is required for each person planning to attend. Kindly RSVP by February 26th to your table host or online at nittanychristian.com/events

4th Grade Book Reviews

Our 4th Grade students wrote their own book reviews. Take a look at them below!

NCS Presents: Everyone's a Critic

By Rachel Benjamin and Suzanne Davis
Performed by the Nittany Christian School Middle School Drama Students under the direction of Mrs. Amy Green.

On the brink of a famous food critic’s first bite, the restaurant staff has a traitor in the kitchen. It’s up to the audience to help figure out who it is. This four-act play is perfect for exemplifying how the Body of Christ is made up of different abilities and talents.

"But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."

1 Corinthians 12:18-27 NIV

Enjoy the photos below from both performances of Everyone’s a Critic.

Friends & Families,

We want to thank all for attending the performances of Everyone's a Critic. The students have worked many long hours to craft their performance. It's a blessing to teach these wonderful students and it brings great joy to work alongside them. The cast's humor and passion will come through each character they play, and everyone will enjoy seeing the characters come to life.

The parents here at NCS are amazing and show their children the godly testimony of working together. We would like to generously thank a few people who have gone above and beyond:

A heartfelt thanks to the Long and Knepper families for making the stage vibrant and attractive. It is beautiful and adds so much to the performance. Aden Wertz for programming all the mics and lights. Bailey Weaverling for being the sound director. Tiffany Weaver for setting up volunteers for tech week and the candy grams. Anne Yorks for the delicious concessions and Topher Yorks for videography. Lauren Walters for designing the print materials.

Jenn Long, for running around gathering props, costumes, setting up volunteer lists, and praying for us. The NCS Administration for doing an awesome job every day. Thank you to all the parents for providing meals, volunteering, praying, and making this show a success. From the bottom of my heart, everyone has been a huge blessing and vital in making everything come together.

Our play was about each of us playing our part. God has gifted each of us uniquely to fulfill a purpose to honor and glorify Him; may we be an example of using our talents in unity to further Christ's Kingdom.

May He be glorified,

Amy Green the NCS Middle School Drama Students