On September 7th the first auditions for the Victorian style collaboration were underway. The theater department has yielded good results for their first official audition but still has some road blocks ahead of them.
According to Director Diana Cushway, the first Audition for the collaboration was “great”.
“[We auditioned] nice enthusiastic people and got a lot done” remembers Cushway, “We have some very talented actors, dancers and even a few eager beginners”
However, despite getting a lot done on the first audition, one of the main problems Cushway and the theater has faced since the very beginning of the collaboration project was the lack of male participants.
The play itself, among other things, focuses heavily on the dance style of the Victorian Era which incorporates dancing that can only be done between a man and a woman to keep true with the style of the time.
This is why Cushway encourages any males on campus to not hesitate auditioning as the right balance of both men and woman is essential to the production.
Diana Cushway stressed that anyone is welcome to audition. This includes experienced actors and/or beginners. Case in point: the seventeen people who ultimately auditioned were selected. “I took them all” stated Cushway.
Despite the first audition having a good turnout, only one male was selected, the irony being that he wasn’t even there to audition to begin with
“One guy was just accompanying his girlfriend” said Cushway, “but after we put a period costume on him for fun he decided to join us!”
“People are still welcome” said Cushway who has stated that the projected date for a full cast of students should be September 28.
September 14 was the Victorian collaboration’s first meeting where they proceeded with introductions. Students were required to sign papers and later, officially started warm-ups.
Students were instructed on the progress of the collaboration and how things were expected to turn out, as well as direction of proper stage protocol.
The outside choreographer, Steve Kennedy explained early Victorian history and began teaching students on proper Victorian dance.
