Every year for the past decade, North Atlanta’s talented theater students return to Sutton middle school to put on Sutton’s fall musical production. For these students, producing the Sutton musical is a great way to get involved in a program that was an important part of their formative years as middle schoolers. They remember how they looked up to the high schoolers who directed the musicals that they performed in and are excited to be able to fill their shoes. This year, seniors Juliet Joyce and Marley Jones are at the helm of this production and have decided to put on Beauty and the Beast. 

From ensemble member to director, musical theater has been the centerpiece of Juliet Joyce’s middle and high school years. During her career at Sutton, Joyce played a variety of supporting roles in the productions of Grease and Hairspray, and scored the role of Sarah, one of Sophie’s best friends, in Mamma Mia!. Once at North Atlanta, she played a variety of roles in Footloose. 11th grade was an especially important year in Joyce’s musical theater career as she absolutely aced the role of Mona in Chicago and joined the production team for the Sutton musical. Joyce was inspired to get behind the scenes by her fond memories of her favorite show as a middle schooler. “My favorite show that we did in my time at Sutton was Hairspray in my 7th-grade year,” said Joyce. “I had so much fun getting to play a variety of hilarious characters during the show.”

Marley Jones’ involvement in the Sutton musical theater program began with her friend Caroline Geckler, who started the Sutton musical theater program as her MYP project for the IB program. Jones became friends with Geckler through their childhood theater company and is now following in Geckler’s footsteps to lead the program. Like Joyce, Jones also participated in Grease and Hairspray as an ensemble member, and played the role of Rosie, Donna’s best friend, in Mamma Mia!. While Jones is not in the musical theater program at North Atlanta, her love of music and creativity has kept her involved with Sutton’s productions throughout high school. “We are hoping to have an exceptional set and costumes,” said Jones. “Costumes are arguably the most important part of Beauty and The Beast so we are hoping to make them extremely creative.”

The Wire staff is so proud of the hardworking Dubs that make the Sutton musical possible every year. We can’t wait to see another amazing production for the tenth year of the program!