RAYMOND – 遵循ing the success of last year’s revival of musical theatre, the Fine Arts Department will again produce a spring musical that combines the talents of theatre, 跳舞, 乐队, choir and music industry into one cohesive performance.
The musical “Dogfight” will run April 16-April 19 with four evening performances at Brooks Theatre on the 雷蒙德 Campus. Director of Theatre Alison 工作人员ord and Marc Rivet, in his second year as Piano and Music Industry Instructor, will once again team up on the production. Among students in the cast are those in 工作人员ord’s Lendon Players theatre group and others in Fine Arts programs who auditioned.
Last spring’s show “The Spitfire Grill” “was the most successful theatrical production at 希德” in at least 25 years, 斯坦福德说.
“The current goal is to do a regular play each fall, and a musical each spring. 为此目的, we offered a new class in fall 2023 to help introduce interested students to the world of musical theatre called Musical Theatre Workshop,”她说。. “There were close to 20 students in that class! The plan is to offer that class every fall to help students prepare for the musical in the spring.”
Like with “The Spitfire Grill,” “Dogfight” is utilizing live musicians backstage under Rivet’s direction. It will include six musicians total, with the drummer and guitar player being 希德 music students. 兰德勒命, 哈蒂斯堡的, 参加了合唱团, 摇滚乐队, and 爵士乐组合; he was also the guitarist for “The Spitfire Grill” last spring. Dylan Stanley, of 雷蒙德, is the drummer. He is involved in marching 乐队, 摇滚乐队, 爵士乐队, 爵士乐组合, 钢带, percussion ensemble and choir.
“ ‘The Spitfire Grill’ offered a certain intimacy due to its small cast size and orchestration. We are very excited to be putting on a larger production with a larger cast and orchestra,铆钉说. “Although ‘Dogfight’ has some incredibly heartbreaking slow songs like ‘Pretty Funny,’ this show is filled with high-energy numbers like ‘Some Kinda Time’ and ‘Hey Good Lookin’ ’ that invoke the blues and rock influence of the 1960s.”
Based on the Warner Bros. film with screenplay by Bob Comfort, “Dogfight” is a hauntingly beautiful musical showing the journey of “a young soldier [who] learns the power of compassion when he plays a cruel joke on an unsuspecting girl,” according to the Music Theatre International website mtishows.com. The show is set in November 1963 and features three young Marines who “set out for one final boys’ night of debauchery, partying and maybe a little trouble” before being deployed to Vietnam.
The show features music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Pasek and Paul wrote the music for musicals such as “Dear Evan Hansen,” “The Greatest Showman” and “La La Land.”
The student cast and crew
Gavin Standish of 维克斯堡 is playing the male lead, U.S Marine, Private First Class, EDDIE BIRDLACE.
Alayna McDonald of 雷蒙德 is playing the female lead, diner waitress, ROSE FENNY.
Vance Woodall of Brandon 正在玩U.S. Marine, Private First Class, BERNSTEIN.
Amari乔丹 珍珠正在扮演美国.S. Marine, Private First Class, BOLAND.
泰勒•哈里斯 of Pearl is playing MARCY, a brash, crass, nearly toothless prostitute.
麦克Talley of Florence is playing not too bright, U.S. 海军陆战队员，二等兵，指挥官.
Reno Kane of New Orleans is playing rather cocky U.S. Marine, Private First Class, STEVENS.
Bryceton托马斯 克林顿正在扮演美国的角色.S. Marine, Private First Class, GIBBS.
Camryn哈里斯 of Byram is playing Rose’s mother, MAMA.
Alli亨利 of Madison is playing several roles, two of which include Native American party guest, RUTH TWO BEARS and CHIPPY, 疲惫的妓女.
詹姆逊威廉姆斯 of Brandon is also playing several roles which include civilian PETE, a U.S. Marine SERGEANT, a WAITER & BIG TONY the tattoo artist.
Adayah木 of 杰克逊 is playing several roles in the ENSEMBLE.
劳埃德的命运 of Lena is playing several roles in the ENSEMBLE.
惠特尼生意 of Flowood is the STAGE MANAGER.
佩奇生意 of Flowood is the LIGHTBOARD OPERATOR
托马斯·迦勒 of 杰克逊 is the SOUND ENGINEER.