R.O.P is putting on a play @CLHS's auditorium May 8th!

In Concordia Lutheran High School's Auditorium or on the R.O.P youtube channel live, you can watch and freely critique at the end of the show, Kaleb's screen play.

Article written by Kaleb Vanden Akker

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After a 6 year journey, the show fully written by the mind of CLHS Senior Kaleb Vanden Akker, debuts on the BIG STAGE in the CLHS Auditorium! The show is called New Beginnings: Traveling the Transcontinental Railroad. It is set in the 1860’s and follows Kara Luther’s diary as she goes from a once-fragile woman hardened by hardship to a woman of great faith and strength. Joined by her inquisitive daughter Alice, they journey west to reunite with Lex—a devout Irishman whose noble intentions for his family, fractured them instead. Guided by Delilah, a cunning, New York stewardess who yearns for gossip and secrets, she reveals that even these fragile bonds, delicate as magnolias, can thrive against the unyielding steel of a journey.

Rocket On Productions is working with the theatre department at CLHS, to host the debut of Kaleb's screenplay as a semi-staged reading.

Kaleb Vanden Akker is collaborating with the CLHS’s Theatre Department to put on a semi-staged reading of his very own screenplay May 8th. This means that it is a one time performance, where hand held props will be limited and there’s zero set. Actors/actresses will perform mostly (but not entirely) seated, meaning there’s emphasis on telling the story through the dialogue, rather than movement unless necessary. Quality of story and production, where story telling and intentional emphatics are at the heart of the show, takes priority. Lights and SFX are occasionally used to enrich the meaning of the lines delivered by the cast.

To further the quality of the show, Kaleb is teaming up with CLHS Sophmore, Yara Pflughoeft who’s volunteering as Assistant Director and Lead Dialect Coach in this female strong show, to bring it fully to life! “I am very excited to be working alongside Kaleb for this show because not only is it a cool experience, I also get to join the legacy of Non-Concordia shows that are written and directed by students, that get performed at our school! My biggest motivation for joining the team was to get the opportunity to see another side of theatre. Rather than always seeing the acting side, I was very intrigued on being able to see what the directors do as well. I cannot wait to work with you all through this production” Yara Pflughoeft!

Progression of the show since the first rehearsal on February 27th has been going swimmingly. Though there have been a few hitches with actors/actresses being absent due to extracurriculars and/or illness and injury unrelated to the show, recorded rehearsals have been the saving grace in keeping the cast informed and teaching them remotely, what to do. For a show that has rehearsals twice a week, it is amazing how well things are going and both the directors are incredibly anxious for you as audience members to watch and listen to the diary of Kara Luther, brought to the big stage!

This article is not copyrighted and is fully for informational purposes only. It was written on March 30th, 2025. All logos are property of Rocket On Productions.