TITANIC musical sets sail at WSU

Wright State University Theatre is hosting TITANIC, a Tony Award winning musical score, in the Festival Playhouse now until May 31.

The show, directed by W. Stuart McDowell, chair and artistic director of the Department of Theatre, Dance and Motion Pictures, tells the true story of the Titanic, which is significantly different from the movie. This is McDowell’s 15th year at WSU and the 15th play he’s directed here.

TITANIC consists of 44 songs in two separate acts all performed by a live orchestra, which is directed by Rick Church, a WSU faculty associate musical director, accompanist and voice instructor.

Although most people know the Titanic sank during its voyage on April 15, 1912, the WSU production touches on another side of the story.

“I didn’t want to make the play a musical about a boat,” said McDowell. “I wanted to make the focus the people,” he said.

The design team has been working on the production for over a year now. The 43 cast members (35 on stage and 8 pit singers) were cast at the end of winter quarter. As McDowell explained, he assigned the cast two tasks over spring break.

He said that one was to learn their lines and the other was to research the characters and make a presentation during spring quarter’s first rehearsal

Much to McDowell’s approval, every cast member did this and delivered a three-to-five minute presentation.

Tickets for TITANIC are $19 for adults and $17 for students and seniors. For tickets and theatre information call the WSU Theatre Box Office at (937) 775-2500.

Performances:

Wednesday, May 20 at 7 p.m.

May 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 and 30

at 8 p.m.

May 23, 24, 30 and 31 at 3 p.m.

Musical Review

Kelly Porter, features writer, attended the musical TITANIC on opening night, Thursday May 14. The following is her review of the show.

The musical TITANIC, put on by an array of talented WSU students, was different from any show I’ve seen before. The director, W. Stuart McDowell, was just as pleased with opening night as I was.

“Audience responses were unlike any I have ever seen,” said McDowell.

A huge replica of Titanic takes up the left side of the stage, but still allows enough room for the actors and actresses to show their dancing talents. The lifeboat in the second act is the one major aspect that was restaged from the original production of TITANIC.

The WSU student actors range from freshman to seniors, but all show a talent one in the same. Jerome Doerger, a senior musical theatre major, delivers a strong performance as Captain Smith.

This musical doesn’t stop short when showing the different types of people present on the Titanic. The third-class passengers can be found trying to dance on the first-class deck while the first-class passengers live out their role as the ones who think they lead the perfect lives.

The truth is, once the iceberg strikes, all passengers are on the same boat fighting to save their lives.

Jason Collins, a freshman musical theatre major, plays Bruce Ismay in his first production at the Festival Playhouse. Ismay is the first-class passenger who continually urges the captain to increase the speed of the massive ship. Captain Smith obeys, despite the ice warnings, resulting in the terrible tragedy.

I was surprised at the differences in the plot from the movie TITANIC, but it was interesting to hear the true story. Although the show is long, much like the motion picture, there are some notable differences that help to keep the attention of audience members.

When talented acting students, a remarkable set, a heartfelt story line and intriguing musical performances combine in our own Festival Playhouse, this is surely a show the community does not want to miss.

Rating: 4 stars