Behind the scenes at Herrin Junior High School, a vibrant community of young performers and technicians is hard at work preparing for their annual spring musical, "Willy Wonka Junior," scheduled for May 1-3 at the Herrin Civic Center.

What makes this production remarkable isn't just the talent on stage—it's that nearly every aspect of the show is managed by the students themselves.

"Everything's kid-run from the lights, sound, selling tickets—everything," explains Mark Gibson, who co-sponsors the Drama Club with fellow teacher Mr. Robinson. Gibson founded the program in 2003 after noticing a gap between the elementary and high school theater offerings.

The program has grown to include approximately 45 actors and 25 tech crew members. Eighth-grader Maxx Piper, who plays Willy Wonka and serves as one of two eighth-grade directors, takes his leadership role seriously.

"As an eighth-grade director, I like teaching blocking," Piper says. "I love watching people finally feel comfortable in what scene they're doing or what character they're portraying."

Seventh-grader Jace Burns, who plays Mike TV and serves as a seventh-grade director, appreciates the inclusive atmosphere Gibson has created.

"He's really good at making Drama Club feel like a safe place where everybody can express themselves," Burns explains. "If there was a different sponsor, more people probably wouldn't have done it. He's very welcoming to new people."

Gibson, who has a theater minor but teaches exploratory classes at the school, sees the program as an opportunity to showcase student talent. "That's the key to everything," he says. "When they finally realize they can do something, man, get back and watch, because it's going to be great."

Rehearsals run Tuesday through Thursday from 3-5 p.m., with students balancing their theater commitments alongside other activities. The production intensifies during "Tech Week" in late April when rehearsals move to the Civic Center for final preparations before opening night.

The show includes two school performances for elementary students and honor society members, followed by public performances over the weekend.

The operation is impressively sophisticated. Students manage everything from lighting and sound to costume selection, makeup application, and ticket sales. The club even has dedicated tech directors who coordinate backstage operations.

Students often recruit their friends to join, expanding the program's reach. "I knew that he should do it, so I convinced him," Piper says of a friend who had transferred from a school without a drama program. "Now he's doing chorus, he's doing Drama Club, he's taking voice lessons."

Gibson similarly scouts for talent. "If I find out you're a singer, I'm going to talk to you constantly about coming to Drama Club," he admits with a smile.

After 23 years of building this program, Gibson plans to retire in two years. He's already working to ensure the program's future by recruiting other music educators to get involved.

For Gibson, the reward comes during performances, when months of hard work finally click into place. "I cry my eyes out every year because I'm so proud of what happens," he says. "When we get to Tech Week, it's like somebody flipped a switch and they get serious. It turns into a great show."

The "Willy Wonka Junior" performances will be held at 7:00 p.m. on May 1-3 at the Herrin Civic Center. If past productions are any indication, the community can expect a professional-quality show delivered by some of Herrin's most talented young performers.