The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 95, No. 15, Ed. 1, Friday, October 13, 2006 Page: 5 of 23

                                
Friday October 13 2006
HOMECOMING MEWS
Page 5A
Musical 'Singin' in the Rain' challenges student actors
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By COURTNEE HEMBREE
SriimNTRtroRitR
1 heatre professors Mike
Iernandcv and Davvne
SwL'tiriiiKun spent rebruar)
IhumbliiK through scripts
Simjin' In the Rain was
decided upon bv the di-
rectlnn duo
Icrnandei third- ear
assistant professor and
director of the musical
..and Svvearingen assistant
J'flrofessor and choreogra-
jTgfier director spent many
Sours choosing the right
wicoductlon for this v ear's
S;Qpmecoming musical.
;;"We narrowed it down
jltn several musicals and
Iwft;n the whole depart-
wjnjnt decided on Singin' in
lithe Rain" Fernandez said.
l"$Q wanted to challenge
tttie students but we also
jS-Onted to plav to their
strengths "
;A11 theatre students
;"vyere required to audi-
;!Hon for the musical said
'ifesica Patterson senior
Innisical theatre major
IOym Winchester Va
;The auditioning pro-
!lss started with a sitv-
i;C;Cond monologue and
Ine or two song perfor-
mances from each stu-
jtdent then all students
jlaUcnd a night of dances.
I;-;Then there were call
!;Backs.
I; 'During callbacks about
Ifjpur students are called
33ck to audition for part
Isignated by the direc-
Ifij. This is when student
I'ijotors begin to interact
2wlth each other while
m
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BRIAN SCHMIDT CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Cast members of this year's Homecoming musical Singin' in the Rain a famous 1952 film-turned-musical
performed two scenes during the Chapel Wednesday
performing scenes from
the script singing songs
for their desired char-
acter and showing what
they remember from the
dances learned at first
auditions Patterson said.
The cast was chosen and
notified before the se-
mester ended.
The directors strongly
suggested that students
especially lead actors take
tap lessons during the
summer. Patterson who
plavs Kathv Seldon said
her lack of tap experience
was an obstacle for her in
this particular role
Jason kenned) senior
outsical theatre major
from Abilene who plavs
lead role Don Lockwood
spent his summer prepar
ing ior his part and took
summer classes at New
ork Universitv in a pro
gram tailed Cap 2 1
'It was an intensive
workshop were we worked
on ballet &u and tap
dancing There were also
classes in song perfor
Here
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Stay on track with The Depot.
Phone: 325-674-2300 Toll-Free: 888-588-6083 E-mail: thedepotacu.edu
mance auditioning busi-
ness sight reading and
others" Kennedy said.
Kennedy a three- ear
tap veteran wasn't as
worried as other students
about the difficult dance
numbers.
"I wouldn't consider
myself an expert but the
steps weren't overwhelm-
ing; they were challenging
but fun" he said.
For Elonda Hipkins
52-ear-old applied stud-
ies in musical theatre
major the hardest part
is keeping up with all the
vounger students
"I've taken tap before so
I can do the steps but it's
hard keeping the pace of
the kids Luckil) hanging
out with them keeps me
oung" HipkJns said
Swearingcn said she
was nervous about the
chosen musical because
of dance experience in
the department.
"Since 95 percent of
our students are not ac-
tive tap dancers we knew
PnSPS i EHffii
are some of
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that the huge tap num-
bers would be a barrier
for us to overcome" she
said. "Also with Kenned
having to perform a tap
number with an on stage
rainstorm there is a lot of
technical work involved "
Tap workshops were of-
fered before auditions and
Swearingcn offered classes
for those that staged in
Abilene during the summer
Actors relurnid to Abilene
on Aug 24 and rehearsed
Mondav through Friday
from 7 p in to 1 1 p m and
Saturday 0 p m to 5 p m to
work on dance and vocals
"1 did choreography
for Singin' in the Rain
professionally before
coming to ACU so I was
nervous about the switch
from professional ac-
tors to students but I'm
so proud of all the work
they've done' Swearin-
gcn said "One month ago
these students couldn't
tap and now they know
multiple dance numbers
and their lines "
the things you
Registrar:
To help actors learn the
difficult dance numbers
Swearingen's friend Justin
Boccltto former professor
at Julliard School present-
ed a weekend dance work-
shop for the actors.
However it's not ust
the professors or student
actors working hard
Behind the scenes stu-
dents like Amanda Helland
senior theatre design major
from San Diego Calif  and
her 15 person crew have
been working since July to
prepare for the fall musi-
cal. The crew is responsible
for arriving early every eve-
ning to set up the stage for
rehearsals Tasks include
setting up projections am-
plifiers call lights sound
and set cues
While the crew is re-
sponsible for setting up
the stage they didn't
have to build it said Gary
Varncr technical director
and writing and scenic
designer for the Theatre
Department Because of
complications caused by
the on stage rainstorm
SINGIN' IN THE RAIN SUMMARY SHOWTIMES.
Hollywood In the 1 920s Is the setting for this zany light hearted romantic
comedy about the early days of sound film Hilarious situations snappy
dialogue and a hit parade score of Hollywood standards make S ng n ' in
the Rain the perfect entertainment for any fan of the golden age of movie
musicals (from the ACU Theatre Department Web site)
Friday 8pm Abilene Civic Center
Saturday 8pm Abilene Civic Center
Sunday 2pm Abilene Civic Center
PAST HOMECOMING MUSICALS.
2000 The Secret Garden
Directed by Adam Hester
2001 Oliver!
Directed by Steven Pounders
2002 Jekyll and Hyde
Directed by Adam Hester
can do at The
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MHBRt Hlial
the department opted to
rent a stage from Gateway
because its model had a
built in rain track.
Before the stage eould
be set up student workers
and Varncr had to make
sure all the stage joints
were sealed and there
would be no water leaks
This was a great op
portunity for the students
said Varncr because they
got to see how different
stages were built the dif-
ferent aspects that go into
different designs and Gate-
way sent down their own
technical director to help
put the set together
Through the school's
shows students get a
chance to work in the pro
fession they've chosen to
work in Varner said
Whether they're acting
on stage or designing the
set behind it they 're mak-
ing connections and gain-
ing realistic insight into
the lives they've chosen
E-mtl HibfM it opIMsHtacii Ktu
2003 Guys and Dolls
Directed by Adam Hester
2004 Krss Me Kate
Directed by Enc Hanell
2005 Seussical
Directed by Adam Hester
Depol
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