Theater department’s spring agenda

Brandon Cabrera auditions for the “The Wizard of Oz” musical on February 4 in the Smith-MacFarland Theater. Photo Credit / Brook Wadle
Brandon Cabrera auditions for the “The Wizard of Oz”  musical on February 4 in the Smith-MacFarland Theater.                                                                                                                              Photo Credit / Brook Wadle
Brandon Cabrera auditions for the “The Wizard of Oz” musical on February 4 in the Smith-MacFarland Theater. Photo Credit / Brook Wadle

BY DANIELLE ERTLE

SC Staff Writer

The ESU Theater Department has a lot in store for the spring semester.

This winter season, the play “Spike Heels,” directed by department chair Stephanie French, will be performed by ESU students March 4 through 8 at 8 PM, and March 9 at 2 PM.

This play has many different emotions and issues that the characters portray, which will connect to the ESU student body.

The audience will see two different intersecting love triangles that are affected by class, power, and cultural context.

In the spring, the production of “The Wizard of Oz” will be performed with Margaret Joyce Ball from April 24 to 25 at 7:30 PM, April 26 at 2 PM and 7:30 PM, and April 27 at 2 PM.

This old time classic will be a musical production that encourages the audience to sing along to songs from the original MGM film that starred Judy Garland.

This marks the 75 year anniversary of the film “The Wizard of Oz.”

Both of these productions will take a lot of time and energy to do in the next few months.

Before rehearsals begin in five weeks for “Spike Heels,” the directors do research on the plays, script analysis, and figure out how to put the script together.

This is followed by at least a week’s worth of auditions.

As for the amount of work that is going to be involved with these two show productions, this year at least 15-20 hours per week will go into making these shows a success—in the forms of production meetings, costumes, lighting, and sound.

Even three full Saturdays will be committed to these two shows.

However, the hard work ESU students and staff puts into these shows most certainly pays off.

“We wouldn’t work as hard if it wasn’t rewarding for us,” said Stephanie French.

There is never a dull moment as everyone works together to make a production a success.

Between past productions and the ones being presented this winter and spring, Dr. French wants to capture ESU students’ attention by making them laugh or cry.

With so much work to do in the next few months, ESU’s creative side will come alive on the stage for everyone to see.

Dr. French says that being creative makes you feel alive.

Email Danielle at:

dertle@live.esu.edu