Dr. Stuart McDowell, professor and artistic director, Department of Theatre, Dance and Motion Pictures directed “Fiddler on the Roof” this past November which nearly completely sold out. He says the rest of the season follows similar themes and will be thrilling.
“We’re doing very well in box office. Because we’re living in an age of refugees and people being forced out of countries and immigrants which is the final image in fiddler on the roof. ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ is about people who are dispossessed from their land by economic hardship. There’s also a slight theme that weaves through the musical in ‘Drood’ in terms of foreign people performing,” McDowell said.
While casting “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” last spring, McDowell sent the cast to learn their lines and music as well as to explore their own backgrounds. “All of us in this country more than likely are immigrants coming into a new land and so one girl actually went to Israel and is exploring her Jewish heritage. We thought it was important in these two productions to focus on and give greater depth to this important story line that I think is very relevant today,” he said.
“The Mystery of Edwin Drood” is a “whodunnit” in which the audience gets to vote for who they think committed the crime. The cast will then act out the designated scene.
“It will be different every night so the audience can come back a second time and they’ll be seeing a different ending. This was a big success on Broadway in New York when it opened in the 1980s it won the tony award for best musical. The orchestra will be visible on stage and the cast will be in the audience a lot,” McDowell shared. “We’ll announce next years season on opening night.”
Why should students check out the shows put on by the WSU theater department?
“It’s one of the most meaningful and accessible with ways for students at wright state in all of the other majors to be exposed to what is considered nationally the finest undergraduate theater dance and motion pictures programs in the country. There’s a reason why Tom Hanks came and gave his name to the motion picture program. Our students are winning all sorts of awards and our alumni are doing amazing things,” McDowell said, noting that the production designer for the film Black Panther is a WSU alum.
This season, students can still catch a huge dance concert, The Grapes of Wrath opening Feb. 1, The Mystery of Edwin Drood opening March 15, and at the Herbst Theatre, The Memory of Water will run April 20-22.
Students can see these shows for free if they usher.
“These things always sell out. You sign up in advance on the sign up sheet at the box office and they’ll direct you as to where to go and you select the performance you want to see and arrive about an hour beforehand. The house manager tells you what you have to do (take tickets or direct people to seats etc.). Once the show begins you actually have a seat to sit in and it’s free -- that’s hard to beat,” McDowell said.
With any questions you can call the box office at 937-775-2500.
