Student thespians with the theater department of Springhouse Middle School will present "Oklahoma Jr!" this weekend.

Written by Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II, the musical is filled with beloved tunes such "People Will Say We're in Love" and "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning," which chronicle the tale of a strapping young cowboy named Curly and the girl of his dreams, Laurey.

The part of Laurey is played by eighth grader Autumn Colalillo, who is also involved in the chorale and TV studio broadcast every morning at Springhouse Middle School.

Autumn says she has been doing theater since age 3 and has a message for the next group of students coming into middle school.

"If there's anybody in sixth grade who's interested in trying out for the musicals or plays, it's so worth your time and energy," she said. "You're just going to come out with so many friends."

Dan Stewart plays Curly, a strapping young cowboy who wants to take Laurey to the Box Social.

Dan credits the theater and the support of his father and Reitnauer with helping him to come out of his shell in middle school.

"I tried out last year in the seventh grade and ever since then, I've started opening up," Steward said. "I've had a lot of fun working with people."

In the play, Curly and Laurey are smitten with each other. Off stage, they joke about their roles.

"Curly is kind of a headstrong guy, and he and Laurey have a relationship where we both know we like each other, but nobody wants to say it." Stewart said.

"People will say we're in love," chimed in Colalillo, making a fitting reference to the duet they sing.

The role of Jud Fry is played by eighth grader Noah Erlemann who has been a member of all six productions during his time at SMS.

"Jud is nothing like me," Erlemann said. "He's like the bad guy, which is fun, but the biggest challenge is trying not to smile."

Emma Perlman, an eighth grader, plays Aunt Eller.

Perlman, who said she loves the theater and singing, is a member of the professional choir, Bel Canto.

"She's like the crazy old woman of the bunch who likes to rile everybody up together," Perlman said of her character, Aunt Eller. "She teaches everyone the farmer and the cowman really can be friends."

The Peddler and Gertie are played by Kevalin Kalra and Frances Russin, respectively.

The eighth graders, who are no strangers to the stage, consider their fellow actors their family.

"My character has this really obnoxious laugh, so I get to annoy everybody," Russin said about her character. "It's just really fun to play around with my friends."

"The people here are just one big family," Kalra added.

Celine Boychuck, Samantha Klotz and Mycah Corner, all eighth graders, are also veterans of the SMS stage.

"I've been in all six plays." Boychuck said. "I love everything about it, the acting, singing and dancing especially."

Riley Allsop, who plays Will, is also involved in his sixth play at SMS.

This is his second performing role, having been part of the sound and stage crew in prior productions.

"I like the character (Will) because of how squirrely he is," Allsop said. "That's kinda just how I am."

In her 17th year directing at Springhouse, Reitnauer credits not herself, but the incredible students at the school with helping her make it through 34 plays.

"It's all about the kids," she says.

The young artists have the same admiration for their director.

"Ms. Reitnauer is the reason why we are who we are," Colalillo said.

One of Reitnauer's former students, Stephanie Knowlton, is returning to SMS on the other side of the stage.

A former cast member, now a substitute teacher in the Parkland School District, Knowlton lends her talents as the play's choreographer.

Musical Director Alaina Swartz and Stage Manager Mike Palazzo, along with many student and parent volunteers, help the 31-member cast put together the full-stage musical.

Fun production numbers, such as "The Farmer and the Cowman" and the rousing hoedown "Oklahoma!" are real crowd pleasers.

"Oklahoma Jr." will be presented 7 p.m. March 5 and 6 and 2 p.m. March 8 in Springhouse Middle School auditorium.