Drama Club has been asked to perform at Mattoon Middle School due to the school’s lack of funding. Every year, the bowling tradition has been kept alive, but this year, the school broke the tradition.

The annual field trip is held at the bowling alley in Effingham, where the students get the chance to eat, bowl and play games. This year, however, students have the chance to experience something different. MHS Drama Club sponsor Rebecca Nevius said she feels this will be a good experience for the kids at the middle school. 

“[I’m] hoping it makes them want to join drama when they come to the high school,” said Nevius.

Junior Dakota Yeck-Petty, playing the lead role of Doctor Disco, explained the plot of the play “The Last Dance of Doctor Disco.”

“It’s set at a dance studio, which an evil genius runs. When a girl gets murdered, everyone has to figure out who did it,” he said.

According to Nevius, the play is showing three times - once for each grade level - on Dec. 17. 

However, Yeck-Petty said he senses the students at MMS will be disappointed that they will not be going bowling this year.

“Bowling is fun, and you don’t get to take many field trips once you get older,” said Yeck-Petty.

Although the students do not get to go bowling, Yeck-Petty said he believes “it’s better than nothing.” 

As the days move forward, the actors prepare for the big showing, and according to Nevius, they are getting excited.

“We learned the dance Monday, and everyone’s getting into it,” said Nevius.
The actors have a lot to work to do, and they have been practicing after school in order to do so. 

Even though the MMS tradition has been broken, the middle school students get the opportunity to experience a taste of high school before they reach the halls of MHS.