Belpre City Schools will present the original production of “Through These Doors” this weekend which details the district’s history. The dancers in the production will be wearing orange shoes Friday and Saturday. (Photo Provided)

BELPRE — Belpre City Schools will be commemorating its 150 years with the original production of “Through These Doors” this weekend.

The show, which details the history of the district, was written and directed by Belpre Elementary School music teacher and band director Robin White and features stories of successful Belpre grads, memories of past teachers and events, and musical numbers by a community and student choir as well as the band.

The show will be Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Belpre High School gym. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for current students. They can be purchased at the high school or the administration building, or by calling 740-423-3000.

The cast is made up of current students, alumni, staff members and community members.

Belpre City Schools Superintendent Jeff Greenley contacted White at the end of last year about trying to put something together for the district’s 150th year.

This Friday and Saturday, Belpre City Schools will be putting on the original production of “Through These Doors” at the Belpre High School gym. Pictured are teacher and choreographer Mya Contillo, music teacher and production writer/director Robin White and teacher and stage manager Katherine Austin. (Photo Provided)

“I jumped at the chance and started thinking about how we wanted to approach this,” White said. “I began by searching in alumni groups and other relevant groups for stories about things that have happened at Belpre.

“I visited the Belpre Historical Society and looked through some old school board records, talked to alumni, retired staff members, current staff members and so many more to gather their ‘stories.'”

The project started to take shape and organizers decided that “Through These Doors” was a fitting theme because everyone goes through so many physical doors every day.

“While some of these doors are physical doors that might close a chapter, others open a new chapter in our lives,” White said. “Some of these doors are emotional doors as well where we are able to ‘walk through’ and start over because someone cares or we realize we need to just do better.

“A setting like a school, and specifically our school for this situation is rich in experiences like this for our students and all involved.”

Belpre City Schools will be commemorating its 150 years with the original production of “Through These Doors” this weekend. The show features stories of successful Belpre grads, memories of past teachers and events, and musical numbers by a community and student choir as well as the band. Pictured are the cast. (Photo Provided)

Belpre used to have an active drama program and White said there recently has been an interest in reviving it. The district has some new staff members who have experience in drama and musicals and they have started a small drama club.

“We hope that this project will be a catalyst to get the program back on track,” White said.

The show is made up of narration depicting so many stories and experiences of students and staff over the course of 150 years.

Ashley Matheny and her son Evan are both in the show. Evan is a freshman at Belpre High School.

Ashley is singing in the choir. Evan has a speaking narration role as well as singing a solo and dancing on the stage.

Belpre City Schools students and community members practice for the production of “Through These Doors,” commemorating the district’s 150-year history. The show will be performed this Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Belpre High School gym. (Photo Provided)

“The show talks about Belpre and all the different things that go on here, things that have happened through the years,” Evan said. “There are stories from alumni members that were sent in to be narrated as part of the show.”

Evan said he will be talking about his family’s history, other families’ histories and some of the teachers’ histories in Belpre.

“The audience will be walking away with more information about Belpre and the school district as well as the people who went here and the interesting things that happened here,” he said.

They both are enjoying their time being involved in the show.

“I’m just enjoying watching the kids with this experience,” Ashley said. “We haven’t had a drama program for some time so it is nice watching them grow.

Belpre City Schools students and community members practice for the production of “Through These Doors,” commemorating the district’s 150-year history. The show will recount stories of successful Belpre grads, memories of past teachers and events throughout the district’s history and will feature musical numbers by a community and student choir as well as the band. (Photo Provided)

“It is nice watching my son do something that he enjoys and watching the whole thing.”

White said the show is not a chronological story, but more of a series of vignettes that capture the theme.

“We have linked this with music that helps capture the spirit of each section as well,” White said. “For instance – there are stories about the athletics, music programs, teacher stories, alumni perspectives, and more.

Some of the songs include “We Go Together,” “Yesterday,” “You Will Be Found”, the Belpre Alma Mater and Fight Song and more.

White hopes people will come out and share in the memories and history of the district.

“I think it is going to be something really unique and special for our district as we celebrate 150 years in our community,” he said.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com