Eisenhower HS Alumni Talk About Disney+ Musical Reunion

‘Encore!’ on Disney+ is a fun flashback to the glory days of high school alumni. Eisenhower’s “Godspell” episode will air Friday, December 20, 2019.

The castmembers from Eisenhower High School’s 1998 musical production of “Godspell” reunited in 2019. Their production will air on Disney+ new series “Encore!” on December 20.

In 1998, classmates at Eisenhower High School bonded as they put on a musical, Godspell. They reunited this past summer at their alma mater, and now their reunion performance will air on Friday, December 20, on the Disney+ series “Encore!”

Zedrick Applin, an original cast member, had submitted an application to “Encore!” After numerous interviews, the “Encore!” production team selected Applin along with alumni Jabari Black, Roenia Thompson, Shavon Cannon, Candace Anderson Cade, and Tapatha Leviston for the 2019 performance of Godspell. The five comprised the original cast. Kevin Hansford, an Ike alumnus, was also invited to take part in the production.

“Encore!” comes from executive producer Kristen Bell. The series gathers high school alumni who performed in a musical to reunite and perform the same show one more time, 10 to 20 years later. With no set cast, each episode follows a different set of alumni from all across the country.

The cast members only have a week to put together their entire show with the same cast in the same roles from high school. They are provided with a director, a choreographer, and a music director, along with some professional performers to fill out the cast.

Several of the castmates had not seen each other in years. Roenia Thompson and Tapatha Leviston are current Aldine ISD educators. Thompson is the assistant theater director at Davis Ninth Grade School, while Leviston is a diagnostician at Eisenhower HS. Leviston previously taught at Vines EC/PreK/K School, and Thompson had previously taught theater at Eisenhower Ninth School.

When asked how they felt about seeing each other, the castmembers all agreed that they felt a flood of the camaraderie and support they had for each other then.

The group invited their former theater director Freddie Buckner and their choral director, Mrs. Heather Orr. For Bucker, this was an emotional reunion. He also got to participate with his former students.

“Watching my old students catch up was fun and brought a warm, nostalgic feeling,” Buckner said. “It was an honor to be a part of the experience and to see my students once again.”

None of the castmembers would give too much away about Episode 107 – Godspell. They encourage everyone to watch, especially those who love theater and the arts.

Eisenhower High School’s Performing Arts Department was given $25,000 due to the alumni’s performance with “Encore!” on Disney Plus.

Be sure to watch it!