Department of Theatre and Dance Archives - Page 3 of 6

Emeritus professor Bob Westenberg lands role in Neil Diamond musical

October 15, 2024 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Retirement has been good for Bob Westenberg, emeritus professor from Missouri State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance.

Not only is he now living near his children and grandchildren in Colorado, he’s also landed the job of a lifetime.

Westenberg is currently on a national tour, playing famed singer Neil Diamond in “A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical.”

The show launched Sept. 21 and will continue through August 2025.

Scheduled appearances include the Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri, Oct. 29-Nov. 10.

Get tickets to St. Louis performance

Audition leads to offer

Westenberg said he learned about the role through an old acquaintance from his New York days.

Bob Westenberg.

“Jim Carnahan of Carnahan Casting…reached out about two years ago and asked if I was interested [and] available to audition for the Broadway show,” he explained.

Westenberg then compiled and sent an audition tape with the help of Heather Luellen, Music Director and Accompanist in the theatre and dance department, and MSU theatre and dance alumna Olivia Schmitt, who read the scene with him.

He got a callback to New York, but had to wait to learn more about his future.

“Last November, they called again to have me go to New York for a session with the music director, Sonny Paladino, and also to see the show,” Westenberg said. “This audition was to replace Mark Jacoby in the role on Broadway, as they thought he was leaving when his contract ended at the end of December.”

But Jacoby decided to stay with the show, so Westenberg was offered the national tour.

Theatre and Dance opens 2024-25 season with “Eurydice”

September 6, 2024 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Celebrating “Connection,” Missouri State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance opens its 2024-25 season Sept. 19 with a modern take on the classic Greek myth, “Eurydice.”

“Theatre and Dance connect us with a world of ideas and emotions,” said Mark Templeton, Managing Director. “They broaden our perspective and deepen our understanding of ourselves and others.”

Show times are 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19-21 and 23 and 2:30 p.m. Sept. 22.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students/seniors. Special advance rates are available for students with an MSU ID.

All performances are in the Craig Hall Balcony Theatre.

Purchase tickets for “Eurydice”

Tent veteran Adora Lorae Snead celebrates final student performance with “Mystic Pizza”

June 28, 2024 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Tent Theatre will wrap up its 62nd season with the musical “Mystic Pizza.”

Adapted from the 1988 romantic comedy film, the “Mystic Pizza” musical is a coming-of-age story of three young women set to a soundtrack of hits from the 1980s and 1990s.

The story is especially poignant for student actor Adora Lorae Snead, who will continue her own life adventures as a newly minted acting professional after the Tent season closes.

Showtimes are 8 p.m. July 5-6 and 8-13.

“Mystic Pizza” is directed by Professor Sarah Wiggin of MSU’s Department of Theatre and Dance.

New adventures ahead, but one more Tent in store

Snead, who graduated in Spring 2024 with a BFA in Musical Theatre, will head to New York City this August to pursue a career in the performing arts while also working as a grant writer.

“I hope to help organizations that provide equity, diversity and access to arts education in communities across the nation,” Snead said.

But for now, her focus is on Tent and helping to create an amazing experience for the “Mystic Pizza” audiences.

Snead described “Mystic Pizza” as a story of sisterhood, friendship and community.

“It’s also full of your favorite ’80s pop/rock numbers,” she added. “The cast is stellar, the story is fun, and it’s truly a feel-good musical for all to enjoy.”

Creating “fun stories” builds professional portfolio

Snead describes herself as “lucky” to have worked most summers with Tent in some capacity since she began her college life at MSU.

“I couldn’t be more proud or grateful to get to share a part in creating these fun stories,” she said.

In addition to her dual roles as intimacy captain and ensemble cast in “Mystic Pizza,” some of Snead’s other stints as a Tent Theatre performer include “Beehive: the 60s Musical,” “Xanadu” and “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.”

“As an intimacy captain, my job is to take the choreography provided to the actors by our director and make sure it stays consistent, safe and comfortable for them throughout the run,” Snead explained. “Think dance captain, but with intimacy choreography rather than dance choreography.”

While all her ensemble roles have complimented her musical theatre career goals, identifying a favorite role is a challenge, Snead admitted.

“Choosing a favorite role is really tricky because each show is attached to a special part of my life and growth as an actor,” Snead said. “Not to mention that all of these shows are set in the 1960s-1980s, which means the music rocks!” [Read more…] about Tent veteran Adora Lorae Snead celebrates final student performance with “Mystic Pizza”

Pulitzer Prize winning play “Crimes of the Heart” comes to Tent Theatre

June 11, 2024 by Lynn M. Lansdown

“Crimes of the Heart,” Beth Henley’s 1981 Pulitzer Prize winning play about three sisters and an interfering cousin living in a fictional Mississippi town, will be performed for the first time at Tent Theatre June 21-22 and 24-29, 2024.

All performances are at 8 p.m. Missouri State University alum Addie Barnhart is the director.

Family, southern gothic style

“Crimes of the Heart” is a dark comedy that follows the Magrath sisters, each of whom remains traumatized by their mother’s suicide years earlier.

To heal and move on, the three must grapple with the past. At times this is made difficult by their self-righteous cousin, Chick, who seems to enjoy reminding the sisters of their mistakes and failings.

MSU alum—and Tent Theatre veteran—Tess Harper played Chick in the 1986 film version of the play. Harper was nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Supporting Actress for her performance.

The movie also starred Diane Keaton, Jessica Lange and Sissy Spacek.

Adding a little bit of Ozarks to the role

Harper knows “Crimes of the Heart” very well, having not only played Chick in the film version but also playing “Lenny” in a stage production during a teaching project at the University of Georgia.

To play Chick authentically, Harper pulled from her own experience growing up in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, a small Ozarks community located about 30 minutes south of West Plains, Missouri.

She especially relied on memories of her mother for the role.

“I pulled a little bit from my mother, mostly her ability to talk really fast in a Georgia accent,” Harper laughed.

But she also adopted her mother’s know-it-all attitude toward just about everyone she knew, especially her family, to capture Chick’s sharp, self-righteous edge.

“Chick has a sugary aggression,” Harper said, a quality that reveals itself in the character’s constant complaints about how her cousins’ behaviors are ruining her social-climbing ambitions.

For Harper, who has often been selected for quieter, reflective roles, playing such a loud personality like Chick was a nice change.

“I enjoyed playing Chick so much,” she said.

“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” opens 62nd season of Tent Theatre

June 6, 2024 by Lynn M. Lansdown

Missouri State University’s Tent Theatre tradition opens its 62nd season June 6 with “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.”

Performances are 8 p.m. June 6-8 and June 10-15 at the John Goodman Amphitheatre.

Tickets can be purchased at the box office, by phone or mail and online.

Telling the story of a musical legend

Directed by Lysa Fox, “Beautiful” recounts the journey of legendary songwriter Carole King from struggling musician to stardom.

The musical features more than two dozen of King’s hits from the 1960s and 1970s, including songs from her groundbreaking album, “Tapestry.”

“I don’t think people really understand what a force Carole King really is,” Fox said. “She had a huge career before she became a household name when she released the ‘Tapestry’ album. That’s what this musical is about—how she started and her relationship, personally and artistically, with Gerry Goffin.”

Showcasing MSU talent

Tent Theatre has always presented the opportunity to showcase the best of MSU’s theatrical, dance and musical talent, and “Beautiful” rises to the occasion.

“The investment of this team and cast for this show has been overwhelming and truly amazing,” Fox said. [Read more…] about “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” opens 62nd season of Tent Theatre

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