The fall 2024 musical theater scenes took off with a trip to Europe for a European staycation. The show featured selections from Cabaret (Kander & Ebb), Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 (Malloy), and Les Miserables (Schönberg, Boublil, and Natel). From start to finish, the scenes ran about two hours with a short intermission between the Great Comet and Les Miserables selects.
As the show began to the tune of Willkommen from Cabaret the audience was captivated. The number featured seven different students. Layn portrayed the emcee who guided everyone through the introduction of the cabaret girls. Abigail Bennett, Grace Luxon, Emma Bellew, Kaya Ferrell, Liz Railsback, and Maja Todorović leaned into their roles fully. The number was a perfect selection to kick off the show in Berlin before traveling onward. It was the perfect amount of uncomfortable that Cabaret always brings, while still being fun and entertaining to watch.
Jennifer Whitehead, associate professor of Music, who directed the production then took to the stage to introduce the next selections that would be performed. She shared that this was her 10th year directing scenes so she divulged the students' requests to perform songs from Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812. She also shared that these specific scenes showcased 17 different majors, far and beyond just music.
“I think the best part of this year’s musical theater scenes production was being able to see just how much work and effort everyone put into their performance,” shared senior Emily Clausing who played Marya in the Great Comet selects. “In past years, getting people to learn their music and memorize their lines was kind of a painful process but this year everyone came in prepped and ready to go. It was truly an incredible thing to be a part of and I could not have asked for a better season to end my college career with.”
Clausing was a standout performer during the Great Comet selections. Her character was powerful and captivating each time she stepped onto the stage. The audience could feel the love that radiated from her one second to the anger that followed in the next scene.
Todorović who portrayed Sonya, Natashas cousin, and Parker Olukalns who took on the role of Pierre had strong performances throughout the Great Comet pieces. Olukalns was strong on stage but soft in the moments when needed from him. Todorovićs’ emotions were powerful as she performed her solo, “Sonya Alone” and shared moments with Ferrell who played Natasha.
Ferrell was soft spoken, emotional, while remaining powerful as she took on Natasha who was faced with a variety of things thrown her way. From moving to Moscow, to ending her engagement because of a moment of bliss, to straining relationships, Ferrell captivated all of this each time she began to sing.
The Great Comet selections concluded with the song “The Great Comet of 1812” which featured the big lights on the stage dimming as littler lights began to flicker around like stars in the sky. The emotion of that moment was present and you could hear the audience holding their breath as the lights flickered to an end.
To wrap up the show the cast performed a selection of songs from Les Miserables, traveling to Paris to end the European staycation.
Shannon Barr portrayed Fantine, performing her powerful ballad “I Dreamed a Dream” which reflected on her characters’ past and where she was now. She took up the entire stage as she sang, the audience being able to feel each and every emotion that was intertwined with the song.
After her performance the audience meets Cosette, played by Katie Davis who is falling in love with Marcus, who Michael Nimrick portrays with power. Luxon rounds out the big three of characters as she takes on Eponine who is faced with unrequited love towards Marcus.
Luxon was incredible on the stage as she sang the famous “On My Own” which oozed the emotions that the song calls to. She maneuvered around the stage with ease and grace as she sang about the sheer heartbreak she was facing. It was impossible to not follow Luxon as she performed.
Overall, this year's musical theater scenes were powerful from start to finish. The cast was strong, exciting to watch, and confident as they performed the selections from each show. A round of applause for the entire cast and crew who put on this production.