Thursday, April 16, 2009
Olive Hill Historical Society Holds First Community Play
The Olive Hill Historical Society is “breaking a leg” in preparation for the first ever community play to be held on the old Olive Hill High School stage. “To Kill A Mockingbird,” the theatrical production written by Christopher Sergel, adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Harper Lee published in 1960, has become a classic of modern American fiction. The play is being done in partnership with The Olive Hill Public Library, The Adult Learning Center, and The Big Read.
The novel is loosely based on the author’s observations, told from the perspective of the lead character of Scout. The narrator gives a vivid description of her family and neighbors, as well as on an event that occurred near her hometown in 1936, when she was ten years old. Scout lives with her father, Atticus, her brother, Jem, and their black cook, Calpurnia, in Maycomb. Scout, an intelligent tomboy has a combative streak and a basic faith in the goodness of the people in Maycomb. Her faith is tested by the hatred and prejudice that emerge during Tom Robinson's trial. Scout eventually matures in her perspective and begins to appreciate human goodness without ignoring human evil.
The novel despite dealing with the serious issues of rape and racial injustice, covers many facets of life in a rural small town setting in the 1930’s and yet still conveys a sense of warmth and humor. Scout’s father, Atticus Finch, has served as a moral hero for many readers and as a model of integrity for lawyers.
The assessment of the book has varied widely. While some have ranked it as highly as the Bible, others have sought to get it removed from public classrooms, condemning the book’s treatment of black characters. Yet the emphasis, despite racial epithets, has somber lessons that disturbingly show the affects of prejudice while in the end teach tolerance.
The Big Read project of “To Kill A Mockingbird” has been on going for the last few months with different groups reading the novel and forming discussion groups. The performance will take place on Saturday, April 25th. On the following Tuesday, April 28th, at 6 PM, Arnold Kimbler, professor of English, at Morehead State University, will conduct a mini-lecture concerning the novel at the historical society. And then on Saturday, May 2nd, at 7:30 PM, the historical society will show the Oscar-winning film released in 1962 by director Robert Mulligan.
The actors, including their bio’s, in the theatrical production are as follows:
Mallory Aronhalt, a sixth grade student at West Carter Middle School in Olive Hill, Kentucky, plays Jean Louise “Scout” Finch. She is the twelve-year-old daughter of Kenny and Mary Aronhalt, of Olive Hill. Her grandparents are Gil and Ruby Aronhalt of Springfield, Ohio, and Tom and Othelle Lykins of Olive Hill.
Mallory has enjoyed working with the cast and crew of “Mockingbird.” Her first experience with drama was in the fifth grade, where she played Mrs. Claus in Mrs. Anita Holbrook’s musical presentation of “Santa’s Ho-Ho Holiday Hoedown.”
Mallory participates in many activities in the school and community. She is an equestrian student at Morehead State University where she takes riding very seriously. She is also an honor student at her school and plays on the West Carter Tennis Team.
Mallory loves riding her horse, Pepper, and has ridden trails all over the area with her family. Mallory also enjoys roller-skating, riding and showing hunt seat and western pleasure horses, being outdoors, hiking, swimming, tennis, music and singing. Mallory sings regularly at the Christ Community Church where she is a member as well as at other gospel concerts and events in the area.
Michael Fox, “Atticus Finch,” a lawyer in real life, grew up in Olive Hill and still lives and works here. After graduating from West Carter High School he enrolled as a pre-med student at Morehead State University. Broke and unsatisfied with his chosen career path, Michael left college and worked as a welder’s helper for a couple of years to save money for college. He returned to MSU and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree and a double major in Philosophy and Psychology. Having decided on a career in law, he attended Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University and obtained a Juris Doctorate.
Michael established Fox Law Office in Olive Hill in 1992 and maintains a civil and criminal trial practice. He is licensed to practice in all courts of Kentucky, and has argued cases before the Kentucky Court of Appeals and the Kentucky Supreme Court. He is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky and the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Michael married Chesla fourteen years ago and they have two children, Michael Blaydes (12) and Ryan Alexandra (11). An avid reader, Michael most enjoys spending time with his family and participating with them in virtually all-outdoor sports and camping.
Emanuel Picazo, “ Jeremy Atticus “Jem” Finch,” won the outstanding speaker award in KYA. 
Emanuel has many interests, which include swimming, speaking, and martial arts. He is a member of the Just Say No to Drugs team. He has maintained a 4.0 grade average.
Emanuel hopes to become a professional actor when he grows up and has aspirations of winning an academy award.
Israel Binion plays Bob Ewell, Mayella’s father. He is a 1992 graduate of West Carter High School. He participated in two previous plays during his senior year, one of which was written by the drama club entitled “Joe Needs Help.” He played the part of Tony who was the main antagonist. The second play was Thornton Wilder’s, “Our Town.” In that he played the role of the stage manager.
Since graduation Israel has worked for over a decade in the marine transportation industry and has traveled extensiv
ely.
Laryn Hignite, “Charles Baker “Dill” Harris,” is a senior at West Carter High School. She is the daughter of Larry and Sardi Hignite. She participates in FFA, varsity cheerleading, and all-star cheerleading as well as numerous other activities. She plans to attend Murray State University in the fall and major in pre-vet and animal health.
Annie Bak
er, thirteen years of age in the seventh grade, attending West Carter Middle School, plays “Miss Stephanie.” Her parents are Jim Baker and Linda Taylor Hay. Annie is on the academic team in language arts and humanities and quick recall.
Since age seven she has shown Tennessee Walking horses. Her current show horse is Cb’s Pushy Lady, but Annie calls her Rosie. Her advice to anyone in the play is to always bring a book to practice.
Mary Aronhalt, playing the part of “Miss Maudie Atkinson,” is a second grade teacher 
with the Carter County School System. Mary also worked for nine years as a counselor at Prichard Elementary in Grayson, KY. She graduated from West Carter High School in 1980 where she acted in Mrs. Jackie Callihan’s production of “Cheaper by the Dozen.” Mary attended Morehead State University and Eastern Kentucky University.
Mary is married to Kenny Aronhalt and they have one daughter, Mallory. She is the daughter of Tom and Othelle Lykins of Olive Hill, KY.
When not teaching, Mary enjoys horseback riding with her family, playing the piano, painting, making jewelry and other crafts and reading. She is an active member of Christ Community Church in Olive Hill, KY.
Sherrie Howard, “Calpurnia,” is an undergraduate attending Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, KY. She plans to use her counseling psychology degree to pursue a career in Drama Therapy and Marriage and Family Counseling. During high school, Sherrie acquired roles in five plays -“Annie,” “The Taming of the Shrew,” “Our Town,” “Arabian Nights,” and “Anything Goes.” 
She has written several plays for school assignments and church activities. She was also in ICCU’s production of “TheTempest” and “Eyes on the Cross” in which she had two major roles. This is Sherrie’s first time taking part in a community play. Sherrie’s love for theatre is one of the many reasons why she has chosen to pursue her career in drama therapy and use it to make a difference. She thanks God and all that share this love that she has for acting.
Megan Henderson, “Mayella Ewell,” eighteen years old and a senior of West Carter High School appeared in her first play, “A Midsummer Night’s Midterm” in 2005. Her hobbies include sports, reading, and spending time with family. She plans to attend the University of Kentucky on The Robinson’s Scholarship in the fall of 2009.
She is the daughter of Danny and Sharon Henderson with one sister, Danielle, and a nephew, Will. Her mother Sharon participates as a prompter in the production.
Jessie has performed in about twenty plays at six different sites since that time. Some of Jessie's work includes: “Frankenstein,” “Philadelphia Here I Come,” and “Abraham Lincoln” at the Kentucky Repertory Theatre at Horse Cave, KY, “The Night of January 16th,” in the Warren County Court House, Bowling Green, KY, “A Midsummer’s Night Dream” in Three Springs Park, Bowling Green, KY, “Master Harold and the Boys,” The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” “Twelfth Night or What You Will,” and the Public Theatre of Kentucky in Bowling Green; “The House At Pooh Corner, Winnie the Pooh,” “A Woman Called Truth,” at the Capitol Arts Theatre in Bowling Green, and “Dock Brown-Legend of an Outlaw” at the Pine Knob Outdoor Theatre in Pine Knob, Kentucky.
Jessie has also played his current role of Tom Robinson many times.
Othelle Lykins, “Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose,” of Olive Hill, is a retired elementary 
teacher of Carter and Fayette County Schools, wife of the late Tom W. Lykins, mother of Donald Lykins and Mary Lykins Aronhalt, grandmother of Lance Lykins, Shannon Lykins and Mallory Aronhalt. She is presently working with son, Donald, in Lykins Insurance Agency, Olive Hill.
She is a graduate of Olive Hill High School, has AB and MA Degrees from Morehead State University, and is a Christian Church member.
He is married to Lottie Cook and both are members of the First Christian Church of Olive Hill. Their immediate family consists of two children and their families: Edwin and his wife Susie, and children, Briana, Lindsey, and Hannah, of Edgewood, KY; Sonya Marie and her husband Don Mathews, and children, Turrel, Devin and Morgan of Palm Coast, Florida. Mr. Cook is a retired teacher of mathematics and a retired veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve. He is a member of Olive Hill Masonic Lodge #629, Olive Hill Chapter #290 of the Order of the Eastern Star and is currently serving as President of the Carter County Retired Teachers Association.
Kenneth Aronhalt plays two roles, Judge Taylor and Walter Cunningham.” Kenny, 
born in 1956, grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and New Berlin, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee. By age twelve, Kenny had moved back to Ohio and began singing with a rock band, spending the next twenty-five years pursuing the dream of becoming a rock star. As fate would have it, though, he met the love of his life and married in 1988. The rock star dream fizzled away to be replaced by becoming the Praise and Worship Minister at the Christ Community Church in Olive Hill, where he continues his music in singing and choir direction.
Kenny is the father of Mallory Aronhalt who plays Scout, and the husband of Mary who plays Maudie Atkinson, and the son-in-law of Othelle Lykins who plays Mrs. Dubose. The play has truly become a family affair.
Kenny says, “ I try not to let the duel personality thing get to me, unless the Judge and Walter start arguing with me, then it gets kind of messy.” Kenny also adds, “And I hope you enjoy “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
There are several extra’s in the play. Helen Boggs of Olive Hill is a prompter and understudy for Mrs. DeBose. Janie Qualls and Linda Lowe, of Olive Hill, also have choir parts. Bill Callihan and Ben Harmon are extras in the mob scene.
The directors are Diane Greene and Jackie Callihan.
Jackie Callihan married Bill Callihan and had three children: Billy, Jarrod, and Tracy Williams who gave her two grandchildren, Andrew and Hannah. She taught for 34 years: 24 at West Carter High School where she taught English and speech and drama. Among the notable plays she directed were “Cheaper by the Dozen,” “Our Town,” “The Bad Seed,” and “Greater Tuna.” Many of which were co-directed with her son Billy. Her husband always constructed the sets.
She is a graduate of Raceland High School and Morehead State University. While teaching at West Carter Middle School she directed several full-length plays including: “The Wizard of Oz,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Nifty Fifties,” “The Nutcracker,” “Tom Sawyer”, “The Stories of Scheherazade” and many others. She taught school for forty years as well as many outside activities.
Diane expresses her appreciation to the Olive Hill Historical Society, The Adult Learning Center, and the Olive Hill Library for their confidence in selecting her to direct this play, and also to fellow director, Jackie Callihan and the cast for giving their time and effort to bring you the play, “To Kill A Mockingbird.”
The play will be held at 7:30 PM, Saturday, April 25th. Doors open at 7 PM. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased through the Commercial Bank in Olive Hill.
