Alpha Psi Omega, the theatre department’s fraternity and honor society, puts on a show once each semester, and this week on Dec. 8and 9 they are running the show “See Rock City & Other Destinations,” book and lyrics by Adam Mathias and music by Brad Alexander.
Director Barrett Guyton, a senior majoring in theatre and health care management, chose the musical in September and the cast has been working on it for the past four and a half weeks.
“This is APO’s first musical, so it made the cast push themselves as actors,” Guyton said. “It’s a show that people our age would connect to and the book is one of the most beautiful plays I’ve ever read.”
The rights to the musical were just recently released, and it won the Drama Desk Award for Most Outstanding Book. The show ran on Broadway last year, and Guyton said the newness of the play makes it really exciting for APO to do one of its first productions.
The musical is composed of short stories that relate to form one unified story about people who are questioning where to go in their lives, and the other people they come in contact with make an impact on that thought.
Adam Vanek, a sophomore majoring in musical theatre, plays Jess, a young guy who is travelling around the country after his parents have died.
“I’m travelling to find out who I am and what I’m supposed to be doing with my life, like the other characters, who encounter people who help them try to find out what they’re looking for,” Vanek said.
Brittany Steelhammer, a freshman majoring in musical theatre, plays one of three sisters who cast their father’s ashes in a resting spot. The play resonates with her because it also has elements of comedy.
“It’s about how other people touch your lives, and it’s also super funny… super hilarious,” Steelhammer said.
Miranda Rivas, a sophomore majoring in dance and musical theatre, joined the cast a couple weeks ago when the originally cast actor had to go on voice rest, and she plays a sister to Steelhammer’s character. Instead of feeling daunted by the short notice, Rivas embraced the role.
“This is an awesome opportunity,” Rivas said. “The music is upbeat and fun…it’s about the cast taking a journey, within the scenes and as a whole.”
The cast practiced a cappella for three weeks and now have pianist Daniel DeShazo playing the music. Everyone in the cast sings.
Katie Hooper, APO costume designer for the show, has watched the cast interact and she is excited about it.
“I love the chemistry that the actors have with each other as their characters,” said Hooper, a freshman majoring in apparel design and theatre.
“All the scenes are cohesive even though they take place in completely different parts of the country.”
Corey Rives, a sophomore majoring in advertising and musical theatre, also enjoys the acting and mood of the cast.
“The play allows for everyone to put a lot of themselves into the character,” Rives said. “I think it adds an element of realism to the play.”
Rives plays Rick, a kid from prep school who skips class with his friend to go to Coney Island, and they realize they care about each other as more than friends. They have to ask the question, where do we go from here?
The actors play roles that may or may not fit their identity, such as Will Travis, whose character is an old man in a wheelchair.
“It feels like you don’t have control,” Travis said. “But being in the wheelchair helps me to empathize with my character.”
“See Rock City & Other Destinations” will run in the Allen Bales Theater Thursday and Friday night. Performances start at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $5.
If You Go
What: See Rocky City & Other Destinations
Where: Allen Bales Theater
When: Tonight and Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $5
