BY BRYAN SABELLA
Staff Writer
METUCHEN — Anyone who watched Saturday morning cartoons in the ’70s and early ’80s certainly remembers "Schoolhouse Rock," animated musical shorts that taught grammar, history, math and social studies lessons in the form of catchy songs like "Conjunction Junction" and "I’m Just a Bill."
"Schoolhouse Rock" originally ran on ABC from 1973 to 1985, as segments sandwiched between popular cartoon shows.
PHOTOS BY MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Actors rehearse for an upcoming production based on the television series “Schoolhouse Rock” at the Forum Theatre in Metuchen.
In the early ’90s, ABC revived the series for a time; a successful off-Broadway play was produced, and an album of alternative rock bands performing versions of some of the more popular songs was released.
The Forum Theatre in Metuchen will bring the TV classic to life now through April 21 when it presents its production of "Schoolhouse Rock Live!"
Ellen Beattie is the director of the highly popular "A Kid’s Forum" series at the theater and oversees the production, which will feature a six-member cast performing the classic tunes live.
The songs will be hung on the framework of the story of a young teacher, played by John Rochette, who’s nervously anticipating his first day.
Along the way, "his students teach him that teaching is fun," Beattie said.
In addition to Rochette, the cast will feature Kristin Mingoia, recently seen in the title role of "Snow White" at the Forum earlier this year; Howard Whitmore, whom Beattie calls "a pretty big favorite"; and three newcomers, Irene Caguinguin, Tony Sanders and Amanda Conlon.
Beattie said the decision to mount the production was two-fold. "It’s the 30th anniversary, and we thought it would be fun to bring it back," she said.
The Forum had presented the show a few years ago and was in rehearsals when the events of Sept. 11, 2001, unfolded.
"We didn’t really have a full run," Beattie said. "It didn’t get as much attention."
"Schoolhouse Rock Live!" will feature the aforementioned "Conjunction Junction" and "I’m Just a Bill," as well as several other favorites, including "Interplanet Janet," "A Noun Is a Person, Place or Thing," and "Interjections."
The production will have a multi-media feel, as it will also feature video footage of the original cartoons and other images related to the themes of the songs.
This is made possible by the fact the Forum was at one time an old-fashioned movie house.
"We still have the screen," Beattie said. "You don’t find screens of that size anymore.
"What I find interesting about the casting of the show is it’s very multi-cultural," Beattie said, which is sure to work well with numbers like "The Great American Melting Pot."
"It teaches the kids tolerance," she added.
The production plays every Saturday at 11 a.m.; Sundays, March 28 and April 18 at 1 p.m., with several school day performances. For tickets, call the box office at (732) 548-0582, weekdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tickets are $12.50 each, with group rates available. For a complete schedule, visit the Forum’s Web site, www.forumtheatrecompany.com.