-Photo submitted by Crystal Roberson
Mandi Mooney
Editor-in-Chief
October 21, 2005
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Juniors Robert Kitchens and Leslie Johnson star in Milligan’s
production of “Oklahoma!” -Photo submitted by Crystal Roberson |
With the swishin’ of skirts and the stompin’ of
boots, Milligan’s production of “Oklahoma!” takes to the stage Wednesday, just
in time for the arrival of alumni and their families for homecoming weekend.
“I was approached by the President shortly after
Homecoming 2004 to consider doing a musical for Homecoming 2005,” said Richard
Major, professor of theatre and show director. “Once agreed upon in early
November 2004, efforts began for the planning of this event on campus.”
“Oklahoma!” marks the return of Milligan's theatre
program to campus after over a year of absence.
“Since the Spring of 2004 we have been doing
collaborations, ‘The Pirates of Penzance,’ with ETSU departments,” Major said.
“Last year we collaborated with Jonesborough Repertory Theatre for the musical
‘Footloose’ and Shakespeare's, ‘A Midsummer Night's Dream.’ The collaborative
efforts were quite wonderful experiences, but a bit of a logistical nightmare
for all involved in the productions.”
“Oklahoma!” debuted on the stage in 1943 and is
set at the turn of the twentieth century. Like all great musicals, the heart of
the plotline is love triangles. Curly, played by junior Robert Kitchins, is in
love with “playing hard to get” Laurey, junior Leslie Johnson. Their
relationship is marred by Jud, played by Emmanuel student David Clinkscales.
“The cast is just wonderful,” said Kitchens.
“We’re in a place right now where we’re all really bonding because we’re
spending every moment of every day together, and it’s going to be great.”
Junior Ally Horner stars as the “girl that cain’t
say no” to boys, Ado Annie. Annie just can’t decide between cowboy Will Parker,
otherwise known as freshman Scott Glisson, and peddler Ali Hakim, played by Paul
Blowers of Emmanuel.
“The difference between Milligan’s performance and
the other performances I’ve been in has been the professional aspect of this,”
said transfer senior Jessica Davis who plays Gertie Cummings. “Being a theatre
major, it’s a good experience to get into the professional aspect.”
Major has filled some of the character roles with
Milligan professors. This year Dr. Karen Kelly, Dr. Richard Lura, Marvin Glover
and Dr. Gary Wallace return to the stage with newcomers such as Rosemarie
Shields who becomes everyone’s favorite “Aunt Eller.”
“There have been selected productions that it’s
nice to have older age appropriate people playing age appropriate roles,” Major
said. “The relationship that the faculty members have with the students as a
result is terrific. The social interaction - students seeing professors in a
different way, professors seeing students a different way - it’s a win-win
situation.”
“Oklahoma!” begins on Wednesday with a special
discounted performance of $5 to anyone with a Milligan ID card, with
regular-priced $12 shows running Thursday through Saturday.
“We have an excellent acting company, a terrific orchestra, a highly motivated production staff and an extremely talented artistic staff,” Major said. “Combine all of these ingredients, and we have an absolute recipe for success, a production that will certainly be remembered for a long time to come.”