SPRING VALLEY – The cast members of “MISS NELSON IS MISSING” brought down the house at the family and friends viewing Thursday, Oct. 20 at the Spring Valley Stagehands Theatre.

The play tells the story of Classroom 207, a pack of wild, rambunctious, smart-alecky students who torment their sweet, kind teacher, Miss Nelson (played by sophomore Dani Ramirez). With a big test coming up, as Principal Humlecker (played by sophomore Harper Du-Mond) continuously reminds her, Miss Nelson decides that desperate times call for desperate measures. She disguises herself as a witchy, intimidating, terrifying substitute teacher named Viola Swamp. In one week, she whips the kids into sub- mission with a firm hand, loads of homework, and threats galore, including no recess and even more homework.

The kids are desperate to figure out what happened to Miss Nelson, for they are having regrets about their behavior. They seek the help of Detective McSmogg (also played by Harper DuMond), who is clueless, befuddled and confused. After that avenue is exhausted, the kids take things into their own hands to hunt down Miss Nelson.

The unique thing about this play was that all cast members are in elementary, middle, or high school. They include: Nolan Con- nors (second grade), Grivn Stein (fourth grade), Carter Connors (fifth grade), Frank – ie Hudson (fifth grade), Max Rozowski (sixth grade), Gwen Turner (sixth grade), Shelby Kerg (eighth grade), DuMond (10th grade), and Ramirez (10th grade). Each child had a distinct personality played to perfection by the actors. They had the audience convinced that they were one of the worst classes in history.

In the words of Principal Humlecker, the cast was excellent at “making a haha.”

While the show was only onstage for one weekend, don’t miss other upcoming Stagehands productions. Coming in December will be “A Christmas Story,” based on the beloved movie about Ralphie and his BB gun.

For information on up coming shows and auditions, go to svstagehands.org

Carter Connors has Nolan Connors tied up in a scene of “MISS NELSON IS MISSING,” which provided a sneak peek of the show to friends and family Oct. 20. Photo by Sarah Nigbor

Members of Classroom 207 salute Miss Viola Swamp, their nightmarish substitute teacher in “MISS NELSON IS MISSING” at the Stagehands Theatre. Photo by Sarah Nigbor

Students surround Miss Nelson (played by Dani Ramirez), who has just returned to her classroom after a week of being missing. Photo by Sarah Nigbor

Dani Ramirez (playing Viola Swamp) has her students, including Frankie Hudson and Gwen Turner, scared out of their minds. Photo by Sarah Nigbor

Harper DuMond plays a fumbling detective in “MISS NELSON IS MISSING” at the SV Stagehands Theatre on Thursday, Oct. 20. Photo by Sarah Nigbor

Nolan Connors and Frankie Hudson struggle to lift their school bags after Dani Ramirez (playing Viola Swamp) loads them down with 212 pages of homework. Photo by Sarah Nigbor