Tuesday, October 6, 2015
TheAppalachianOnline.com
Students from the Appalachian Musical Theatre rehearse for their upcoming play ‘Chicago’ in a dance studio at the Varsity Gym on campus. Monique Rivera
‘Chicago’ production will electrify by Jordan Parkhurst Intern A&E Reporter
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n Oct. 10 and Oct. 11 the Appalachian Musical Theatre Club will perform the Tony, Grammy and Oscar winning musical “Chicago” in the Blue Ridge Ballroom of the Plemmons Student Union. The production, directed and choreographed by Ray Miller, is fueled by excitement and an eagerness to learn. The cast boasts a wide variety of experience levels and majors, stage manager Bridget Mundy said. “We have two kids from pre-law, two are biology majors and one is a math major. The fact that musical theater and this show have brought these people together, who would otherwise not hang out, makes the show worth coming to see,” she said. Mundy spoke about the tangible sense of enthusiasm among the unique and dynamic cast and crew.
“This cast is so passionate and you can see it in every rehearsal,” she said. “They’re so talented, and everyone wants to be together and work so hard. Some of them have never done theater before and are so willing to learn,” she said. Emily Robinson is a junior theatre education major who serves as assistant stage manager alongside Mundy. Robinson frequently acts in campus productions, and agrees that the eagerness and talent of the cast makes this production exceptional. “My favorite part of the process was working with the cast. A lot of them are freshmen, which is a really great thing,” she said. “And just getting to know each and every one of them and seeing their talents – which are amazing – has really been an honor. It’s a wellknown show, and I think we do it justice.” This passion Mundy and Robinson speak of is observable in every cast member, including transfer student
and math major, Elizabeth Galbraith. For Galbraith, this high-energy, prohibition-set satire will mark her first theatrical production while in college. She is thrilled to return to her passion at Appalachian State after an involuntary break from the theater world, she said. “I did a lot of musical theater in high school,” she said. “And then, at the school I transferred from, if you weren’t a major, you couldn’t be in any of the productions. So when I transferred here, I was like ‘Yes! I can be in all this stuff.’” Galbraith spoke about her experience as the powerful and iconic matron of the Cook County Jail, "Mama." “I love all the big dance numbers when we’re all on the stage together. Pretty much any of the group numbers are my favorite,” Galbraith said. “And I’m
SEE CHICAGO PAGE 5
Silenced Voices poetry slam Krista Gilbert
AISEC Appalachian hosted a poetry performance at Crossroads Coffee House yesterday evening focused on topics relating to women’s issues on a national and international level, including child marriage, rape culture and sexual assault. Participants read original poems and the poetry of women they admire. AISEC provides students across campus with the opportunity to travel internationally while developing leadership skills. The organization is run completely for students and by students.
LIP SYNC see PAGE 7