Looking back at the theater department and the top works they produced this season. Between plays, musicals and experimental theater plays; this theater year for CMU was very busy. All of the performances put on this year were packed and said to be good. The top three are…
In third place, there is “Grand Night for Singing” which premiered in the fall.
“A Grand Night for Singing” took the CMU stage in September. As one of the first performances of the year this production was light hearted and happy. With a smaller cast of just eight students and singing this production showcased the talent of those performing. It was a string of Broadway love songs uninterrupted by dialogue. Rather than playing specific characters from these various musicals, the actors portray dramatized versions of themselves. They are allowed to express their own feelings and thoughts about love through the lyrics of Rdogers and Hammeristein numbers. The audience will be able to experience how Broadway songs from the early ‘90s relate to their lives today. The show was fun and joyful and meant to bring everyone together and remind those of the importance of love.
In second place is “Mr. Burns Post Electric Play” that was performed in the Mesa Experimental theater and was the most recent performance. Besides it being completely unique from all other performances this was one for the books. This production explored the philosophy behind the power of story in human society, introduces technical challenges and creative freedom with the cast and crew. The story follows a group of survivors after the apocalypse who recall old episodes of “The Simpsons”.
The costumes and sets had no restrictions because it was based in the future and did not have to be historically accurate. It was not the average show put on by the CMU theater department, but it definitely left an impression.
And first place goes to the large musical production put on earlier this semester, “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”
With singing, tap dancing and bright and large costumes and sets this play took the audience back into the 1920s. This comedic musical filled with villains and romance provides a representation of life in the Jazz Age when women were first entering the workplace and rewriting the rules of love. This production used the entire Theater Arts Department with the set being designed by students, dancing students being cast and of course the musical theater students.
This performance also took first because of the obstacles that the student performers had to overcome. As opening week hit, there was a sickness that went around. Although the lead had to sit out for a couple performances, understudies stepped up and the show went on.
The cast overcame challenges and ended up putting on the star production of the year.
