For Library Media Specialist Shannon Robinson, Morgan’s Library Media Specialist and new director of the Morgan Musical, theater has always been a really important part of her life and was always a safe space for her. 

“It was therapeutic for me as a kid. It was a way to get away from the woes of life. It was where all of my close friendships developed,” said, Mrs. Robinson.

She believes theater is a magical place that can do many things for students, both socially and academically. It teaches students things such as deadlines, and having to stay organized, as well as learning to support one another in different ways. Now Mrs. Robinson will be providing students with the same experience to kids through running shows.

This school year, Mrs. Robinson will be the director of the Morgan School’s spring production of Mamma Mia! In 2025. Alongside her, is Chorus Teacher Leila Mustakos, the new choral Director at the Morgan School, where before she was the choral Director at Eliot Middle School. Mrs. Mustakos will be taking over as the Musical Director. Mrs. Mustakos will be teaching all the music, and will be coaching all the artistic side of the music and helping kids learn how to sing their parts. 

What Mrs. Mustakos is most excited for is the opportunity,“ to work with Mrs. Robinson,” and ”just working with high school kids [and] older kids that are focused and serious about it.” She hasn’t musically directed in almost 10 years, but is ecstatic to get back to the scene. In the past, she has directed many shows at three different middle schools, including West Hills Middle School, Kerrigan Middle School, Bailey Middle School, and even helped out with the Eliot Middle School productions in Clinton as well.

One of the main things that they are changing about the musical program this year is that there will be both an Artistic Director and a Musical Director. In the past years, those positions were the same person, John Lampe but, he retired at the end of this past school year. Now they are going to be able to give more individualized instruction and opportunities to work on the musical’s character development and the music in depth. 

Mrs. Robinson is excited about the number of students interested this year, and that she was able to get the rights for the musical.  “I’m excited to finally get my feet back into the director position because it’s been a good 13 years that I haven’t been able to take on that role,” said Robinson. Robinson was a teacher for the Bethel School District before coming to Morgan and was a director for their middle school productions, such as High School Musical.

To get people excited about the musical this past year, Mrs. Robinson created a countdown bracket, this past spring revealing the selected Musical. Every few days she would advance a musical title and students waited anxiously to find out what it would be. She stated, “For my first show, I wanted to pick something that the students really wanted and were requesting.” Before even getting the director position, she helped the school apply for the rights and miraculously the Morgan school was chosen. 

This year, Mrs. Robinson and Mrs. Mustakos want to do at least one workshop for students to get some prior experience and help before the first round of auditions on November 20th. They are planning on Columbus Day weekend. Both of them hope that it will attract students interested in participating in the musical this year who are maybe new and want to try it out for the first time, or just want to get more comfortable. 

Mrs. Robinson says anyone interested should know, “there’s a role for everybody, whether it is on the stage or helping with costumes backstage or doing tech with Mr. Smith.“ Anyone with questions are welcome to reach out to Mrs. Robinson or Mrs. Mustakos at any time. Mrs. Robinson also added, “If your vision is there, but not quite your comfort level, advocate for yourself and reach out. Then, see how we can involve you to a level that you’re comfortable with.”