By Libby Criswell
The LaGrange Daily News

The Gardner Newman Middle School Chorus will be performing “Mulan Jr.” Saturday at 3 p.m. in the LaGrange High School auditorium.

There was also a show on Friday night.

The production is based on the 1998 Disney Film “Mulan” and the story “Fa Mulan” by Robert D. San Souci. GNMS’s musical will have a couple of extra songs added as well.

About 69 students from grades six, seven and eight will be performing this weekend. They have been rehearsing since November and are prepared and excited to put on an outstanding show for the community.

“I think [the students] have learned a lot more discipline, and how to focus,” said Valeetia Allen, the chorus director at GNMS. “Normally, with regular chorus, we’re just working on singing and facial expression, but now they really have to focus on their bodies, which they weren’t as focused on before.”

Allen said the biggest challenge in preparing for “Mulan Jr.” has been simply pulling everything together to produce the final product of a very-involved production.

‘There’s so many different things [in the musical],” she said. “We need help from so many different parts of the community.”

The public is encouraged to attend this event to support the acting and musical aspirations of LaGrange’s younger generation.

“I think it’s a really good thing for [the public] to see what the kids are working on during school other than just academics, other things that they’re interested in other than sports,” Allen said.

Tickets for “Mulan Jr.” can be purchased at the door for $5. Children 6 and under will be admitted for free.