Avon Art Teacher and Parents Prep for Upcoming Canton Play

Parents are often the unsung heroes of a high-school production, working around various schedules and driving their kids to and from numerous rehearsals. 

And in some instances, parents up the ante even more and help out behind the scenes, as approximately a dozen have for the upcoming production of "The Pajama Game" at Canton High School. 

Tuesday night, about eight parents were at work in the school's cafeteria and hallways painting backdrops, making boxes for a shop scene and creating and painting signs for a rally scene with slogans suggested by members of the student crew. 

"It's been really, really great," Technical Director Ken Jones said about the parent volunteers. 

Kate Ciccarillo organized the parent helpers and from there they just stepped up when needed, Jones said. 

"It gave us a huge leap forward," he said. 

And for some parents helping out is downright fun.

Avon Middle School art teacher Nora Goeler's daughter Jillian is a senior at Canton High School and her other daughter Emily graduated in 2010.

Goeler was involved in productions in high school, got back into them when the girls were young and will likely continue with area theater companies like Avon Summer Theater and Theatre Guild of Simsbury. 

"I guess it's in my blood," said Nora Goeler.

Fran Cahill's son Jon is a senior and the last of five Cahill children to be involved in school productions. Tuesday night he helped paint signs. As a professional painter, the task came naturally. He said he has enjoyed the productions over the years. 

"I like coming here," he said. "I'm thinking I'm going to miss this." 

The production will take place March 23 and 24 at 7:30 p.m. and March 25 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $8 for students and senior citizens and $12 for other adults. Learn more at http://pajamagame.cantonmusic.org/