New shows take the stage
The LU Theatre Department and Tower Theater offer a season sneak peek
NEWSIES — The Disney musical announces a sparkling selection of shows.
Photo Credit: Caroline Cummings
A spotlight hits the stage, the director says a word of prayer and the curtains part.
This is what audiences see when they enter the Tower Theater.
Chris Nelson, Theatre Arts associate professor, said there is a lot of behind the scenes work that goes into every production before it premiers.
“When we meet as a faculty, wev begin by brainstorming titles that we think would be good challenges for our students,” Nelson said.
According to Nelson, the size of each cast is taken into consideration as well as the flow of how the genres should move throughout the year.
“This season has a little bit of everything, from classic drama, dark comedy, a regional-specific play, Shakespeare and modern and classic musicals,” Nelson said.
The upcoming season of the Tower Theater productions
includes “Newsies,” “Wait Until Dark,” “Thoroughly Modern
Millie” and “Arsenic and Old Lace.”
Tower Theater will open with the widely acclaimed musical,
“Newsies,” on Sept. 15.
The musical is inspired by the Newsboy Strike of 1899, as listed on Broadway.com.
It is the first of many productions at Tower Theater that will premier month after month.
Just days after “Newsies” ends, the drama “Wait Until Dark”
premiers Oct. 13, telling the story of a blind woman plagued by a home intruder, with illicit drugs and murderous criminals thrown in.
Following Nov. 3 is the musical “Thoroughly Modern
Millie,” that brings a light-hearted relief to the Tower Theater with a song-and-dance treat straight from the Roaring 20s.
Then a balance of comedy and morbidity plans to bring the fall season to a close with “Arsenic and Old Lace,” set for a tentative
premier date Dec. 1.
No matter what genre the play or musical is, the productions go through the same rigorous schedule.
Nelson said the productions will start with casting and go into rehearsals, while the designers gather inspiration for the set
and costumes.
After four weeks of the director and actors working closely together, the technical elements of the show and the performers meet for a week to bring the production to life.
“The end goal is to have a production that is unified in design, and supports the text and the work of the actors,” Nelson said.
Nelson considers it his mission to help build the strongest team possible with the actors and crew.
According to Nelson, it is important that everyone involved in the production plays their part with the best quality possible, whether it be in the delivery of lines or the precision of stage movement.
“Motivating the actors and keeping everyone in line with the overall purpose is what drives me,” Nelson said.
The dedicated actors and crew members are what give the
audience the best experience in the Tower Theater the moment the curtain parts.
“Performances are great escapes from the routines of daily life and they have the ability to speak to us personally, sometimes in powerful ways,” Nelson said.
YODER is a feature reporter.