Averett University’s Theatre group captivated audiences this past week with a vibrant adaptation of Junie B. Jones, drawing old and young together for a lively journey through the unforgettable adventures of the spirited first-grader. This rendition of Barbara Park’s beloved series brought Junie’s humor, heart, and life lessons to the stage, leaving an impression on the audience.
The play effectively blended humor with emotional narrative, touching chords with kids who could identify with Junie’s relevant experiences. While adults valued the underlying themes of empathy, friendship, and stubbornness, younger audiences laughed along with Junie B.’s blunders.
Directed by Dr. Richard Breen, Professor of Theater, the performance underscored the importance of early exposure to the arts.
“Theatre for youth is, by far, one of my favorite areas of theatre. They are our audience of the future. The challenge is getting the message across to them without appearing to talk down to them,” Breen said. “We find the message in the play and find moments that are just for the children and then those moments to engage the adult audience as well.”
Looking back at the performance, Breen thinks that the play delivered a heartwarming message of embracing differences and being a compassionate friend, a sentiment that lingered with attendees.
“It is nice when they see a play like this and come away with a message of acceptance of people who might be a little different from us and the message of being a good person and a better friend to others,” Breen said. “We all see the world differently, but that in the end, we all need to work together to make it better for all of us. In this play, I think people can see a little bit of themselves in the characters on stage.”
Also, for the actors in the play, this production was special, crafted specifically for young audiences. Erin Hayes, a senior, playing Junie B. Jones’s mother, reflected on the unique experience.
“While the children don’t understand theatre etiquette, they react so honestly. You know if you are keeping them engaged or not,” Hayes said. “My favorite part is seeing the kids react to these characters that they’ve read about and having them ask about where a certain character is. It was so sweet to see. Especially at the end of the show when we are fully our characters. The children don’t separate the person from the character. To them, Deedee, who played Junie B., was fully Junie B.!”
The Junie B. Jones performance left a lasting impact on the audience, reinforcing the significance of children’s theatre as a bridge to both joy and meaningful life lessons. Averett University’s Theatre for Youth created an experience that inspired laughter and reflection in equal measure, showing the transformative power of storytelling across generations.
