By Emily Felty ’18, Staff Writer
Students at Lebanon Valley College not only have the opportunity to participate in the upcoming musical “Kiss Me, Kate,” but also the opportunity to produce it.
Cast members are rehearsing now under the direction of sophomore Tyler Miller, an English Communications major with a concentration in theater and a minor in business administration.
As a member of the Wig and Buckle Theater Company, this is Miller’s first time directing. She was elected to this position by fellow members in the spring.
“Directing is what I want to do with my life,” Miller said. “I’ve always been good at looking at people’s performances and finding different ways to improve them. Really, when you’re a director, I’m learning that it is entirely your vision. To me, that’s so cool.”
For Miller, the hardest part about directing was learning that she is in charge of everything. Fortunately, there is a lot of help from other production staff members: Emily Nieman, vocal director; Michael Halcovage, pit director; and Grace Bailey, stage manager.
The Wig and Buckle Theater Company puts on an entirely student-run production, with the assistance of a few alumni and Dr. Kevin Pry, an Associate Professor of English and the Executive Director of the Wig and Buckle Theater Company.
“My general role with Wig and Buckle is to be a liaison between the company and the college, but also to be the faculty supervisor of the actual production process,” Pry said. “Most of the time I supervise the production staff, and that means helping the directors and the actors.”
Pry also does background research to assist the actors, directors and designers.
“The thing I like most about my job is helping facilitate these very, very talented people,” Pry said. “They have the passion, they have the talent and they have the knowledge. My job is to give these kids the right kind of structure and the chance to really go to town.”
The musical “Kiss Me, Kate,” written by Bella and Samuel Spewack and scored by Cole Porter, takes place in the 1940s.
“This typical, funny, classic musical is about this company putting on a musical version of Shakespeare’s ‘Taming of the Shrew,’” Miller said. “It’s kind of a show within a show.”
The two main leads are a divorced couple, Fred Graham, played by Sean Reynolds, and Lilli Vanessi, played by Rachel Hogan. Though Lilli is engaged to General Harrison Howell (Alec Hamilton), Lilli and Fred still harbor feelings for one another. The two main supporting characters, Bill Calhoun (Jacob Kanavins) and Lois Lane (Victoria Hackman), are nightclub performers trying to make a big break on the stage.
Romantic conflicts, gambling, a run-in with gangsters, and witty songs promise an entertaining time in the theater.
Performance dates for the musical are October 28, 29 and 30 and November 4, 5 and 6 in Leedy Theater. Friday and Saturday shows start at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinee performances begin at 2 p.m.
For those interested in taking part in a musical or play, come to a Wig and Buckle meeting on Mondays at 4 p.m in Leedy Theater.
“The great thing about us, since this isn’t a huge theater school, is that we have so many students from different majors,” Miller said. “You can get involved with as little or as much as you want. Wig and Buckle is a really awesome group on campus.”
For more information on the play, click HERE.
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