CASSOPOLIS — Rebeccah Kieffer has never actually surfed, so her prowess balanced on the back of a boogie board for Cassopolis Thespian Troupe’s surf musical “Wipeout” is all an act.

And Rebeccah has been acting a long time, since “Oz” in fourth grade.

The senior joined Thespian Troupe freshman year as soon as she could be inducted.

“I like coming together with everyone in friendship,” she said.

After high school, she’s undecided, but hopes to attend Ferris State University.

“We started in February,” Rebeccah said. “I would like to do community theater. I’ve looked into the Civic Theater in South Bend.”

Rebeccah is drum major of the Ranger Marching Band when not playing piccolo and flute, plays soccer and belongs to Neighborhood Gang 4-H. At the fair she shows rabbits and dairy feeder steers.

She and Chandler Kraus, who plays saxophone in band and belongs to Silver Spurs 4-H, for which he exhibits sheep, were already well-acquainted.

Chandler is at the other end of the spectrum, for crutch-banging Riptide is his first lead role.

“I like coming together with friends and putting on performances,” he said.

He’s considering drama or radio broadcasting after high school.

Jean Porath directs a large cast of characters whose names seem inspired by Beach Boys songs. As she describes “Wipeout,” it sounds like a sandy “West Side Story,” pitting affluent Coast kids against the less well-off gang fearful of losing their hangout, Mom and Poppy’s Surf Shack, where Cokes cost 25 cents and surf wax sets you back 30 cents. Midge is their daughter, Riptide her love interest.

Cassopolis Thespian Troupe 2323 presents the surf musical “Wipeout” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 2; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 24; and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 25, at Ross Beatty Junior/Senior High School.

Tickets cost $7 general admission, $5 students and senior citizens.

Cast

Surfer One/Cap’N Bill — Thomas Bosler

Surfer Two/Mom — Diana Lary

Surfer Three/Midge — Rebeccah Kieffer

Surfer Four/Riptide — Chandler Kraus

Zelda — Faulnesa Cooper

Sandy — Kayleigh Sheets

Wendy — Emily Waldschmidt

Rhonda — Nicolette Harris

Freddie Seaturtle — Cody Hoff

Loco Moco — Amelia Ayers

Bodhy — Molly Moroz

Reef — Sebastian Westphal

Fender Bender — Alec Hoff

Barbara Ann — Rhianon Morris

John B. — Alex Brown

Mr. Saucelito — Dustin Miller

Marcella March — Hannah Deubner

Scratch — Eric Bosler

Shutterbug — Kayla Tobias

Duke “The Duck” Slater — Zach Newton

Sally Valley — Noelle Kraus

Brock “Longboard” Lealapoopau — Na Luangasa

Musicians

Piano — Kelli Flory

Percussion — Tina Stutzman

Guitar — Dylan Sears

Alto sax — Celia Ash

Backstage

Set/props — Lois Barrett-Bush

Stage manager — Faulnesa Cooper

Set helpers — Faulnesa Cooper, Diana Lary, Dustin Miller, Alec Hoff

Lights/sound — Susan Lary, Zach Newton

Makeup master — Robert Moore