By Walt Sindewald 
  It’s the jazz age in Ramona again. At least, it will be when Mountain Valley Academy stages “Thoroughly Modern Millie” in the Ramona High School Performing Arts Center on Feb. 11, 12 and 13.
   Show times will be at 7 all three evenings. Tickets are $5 and may be purchased at the door. Refreshments will be available.
   According to the director, Amy Krause, “This fast-paced, Roaring ‘20s, Charleston, flapper musical is going to become one of your favorites. You are going to want to go a second time, so you can hear the catchy tunes again.”
   “Thoroughly Modern Millie” is a musical comedy set in 1922 New York telling the story of Millie Dillmount, a small town girl from Kansas who seeks her fortune in the Big Apple. She finds work and falls in love with her boss, a wealthy insurance executive.
   Instead of getting the man of her dreams, however, she encounters the meaner side of life, when her friend Miss Dorothy mysteriously disappears. With the help of her friend Jimmy Smith and her boss, Millie discovers a white-slave ring being run out of the hotel where Miss Dorothy and Millie are staying. This results in a madcap set of adventures attempting to find and rescue Miss Dorothy.
   “Thoroughly Modern Millie” has a rich background as a musical. It started out as a 1967 movie musical directed by George Roy Hill (“Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid”) and starring Julie Andrews in the title role. As a movie, “Thoroughly Modern Millie” was nominated for seven Academy Awards and five Golden Globe Awards (winning one of each).
   Then, over three decades later, “Thoroughly Modern Millie” was adapted to be a stage musical, opening on Broadway in 2002. It succeeded in winning six Tony awards, including Best Musical, that year.
   By the nature of its academic program, Mountain Valley Academy (MVA) draws talented students. MVA is an independent study program that is part of the Ramona Unified School District. Students at all levels complete the primary portion of their education at home or in the community and may attend classes on the MVA campus for only a portion of their total study time. The program currently has several excellent singers, said Krause.
   “The students here at MVA have always been passionate about the musicals they put on every year, but this one has got them working harder than ever,” said Krause. “They love the show and the audience will get to reap the rewards of that effort.”
   The MVA Drama program benefits a lot from the help offered by the community.
   “We have had such great support coming from the students’ parents, and even from parents of past students who are still dedicated to the success of MVA drama,” Krause said. “When you hear the songs and watch the performance, be sure not to miss the efforts of the band. They are musicians gathered from Ramona’s community who volunteer their talents to support this wonderful effort. Some of the musicians have been raised in the Ramona Unified School District music programs. We are fortunate to have such great teachers dedicating their time and talents to our community and to these aspiring musicians.”
   One example is Ethan Jacobsen, who choreographed the show. He finished teaching the choreography just before leaving on a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints  to Croatia. He is an alumnus of the MVA Drama class and also the Ramona High School band. In addition, Jacobsen played in the pit bands for several previous MVA shows.
   Other former students have helped out in lighting, sound and other facets of the MVA productions.
   Guidance for the drama classes and production comes from Janet DeSantis, who teaches high school English at MVA, one of two programs that make up Ramona Community School. The other alternative program at RCS is the Montessori Academy, which is a kindergarten through eighth-grade program. MVA spans kindergarten through 12th grade. Both programs are part of the Ramona public school district.
   The high school department of MVA operates on a schedule not unlike a community college calendar. Interested parents are invited to call the school office to arrange a visit, or to get more information. Open enrollment for both programs began on Feb. 1. The school is at 1010 Ramona St. and may be contacted at 760-787-3600.