In the Wee hours Stages Grade School Musical for JG Wentworth
Bicoastal production company In the Wee hours expands its long-running JG Wentworth “Opera Redux” campaign with its latest entry, “Grade School Musical”. In the new spot, a local elementary school recreates its regional community theatre’s “Opera Redux” – only in miniature.
Director/DP & Founder Dan Hertzog had pitched several concepts earlier this year but always had a particular fondness for this one. Having a ten-year-old daughter, Hertzog said, “She may not have the slightest clue what a structured settlement or annuity is, but she sure does love those Vikings and definitely knows the words to the jingle.”
Watch "Grade School Musical" on Instagram
An extended version, titled “Showtime”, takes viewers behind the curtain as the students prepare their rendition of the famed Viking Opera. Filming took place at the Gov. Charles Stratton School in Swedesboro, NJ, just after the end of the school year. Elizabeth Southwick plays the Drama Club Teacher and Tommy Smith plays the Drama Club Coach.
JG Wentworth CEO Randi Sellari and SVP of Marketing Megan Parzych’s team chose this and one other concept (to debut soon) for this year’s creative refresh. In just two weeks, the young cast of Viking lookalikes came together. Producer Ganna Hertzog added, “As a company, we’re always looking for ways to bring new opportunities to the Greater Philadelphia area, and our client was thrilled to see these fresh faces singing their jingle.”
Up-and-comer Alani Zaya Hertzog (Young Kindra) was just one of dozens of kids to audition and be cast to portray a member of the acting troupe. The junior cast also includes Blake Jaindl (Young Conductor), Rhys Kevin Murphy (Young Erik), Alice Maldener (Young Brita), Dru Satterfield (Young Frode), Jaxson Zadorzany (Young Axel), Liam Lafond (Young Gunnar), Daxton Lodise (Young Ivar), Hadassah Johnson (Young Frida), Audrey Lee (Young Ingrid), and introduces Gavin Molter as the Presenter.
The campaign launched across TV and social media just in time for the back-to-school season and, according to Parzych, is already delivering “the best start of a campaign” since the original “Opera Redux”.
