Reynolds College Blog

Tent Theatre opens 2025 season with “Serenade”

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Missouri State University’s Tent Theatre opens the 2025 season with its production of “Serenade: Summer Nights of Swing and Song.”

Performances are June 12-14 and 18-21 at the John Goodman Amphitheatre. All show times are 8 p.m.

Professor Sarah Wiggin from the Department of Theatre and Dance is the show’s director.

Ticket information

Individual, group and season tickets are now on sale. They can be purchased by mail, calling the box office at 417-836-7678 or 1-888-476-7849 or online at MissouriStateTix.com.

On show days, Tent Theatre patrons can pick up their tickets at the will-call kiosk next to the Amphitheatre between 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Food and drink concessions will be available, and patrons will have access to restrooms in Hill Hall, just north of Craig Hall.

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“Las Vegas flair” brings timeless tunes to life

Multiple vocalists, backed by Missouri State’s “Serenade” Jazz Orchestra, will bring to life classic tunes immortalized by Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Dean Martin and Ella Fitzgerald, along with contemporary hits from Natalie Cole, Michael Bublé, Harry Connick Jr. and others.

“I am loving working with the ‘Serenade’ jazz orchestra,” Wiggin said. “They are really elevating the performance of the jazz concert, and the vocalists are very enthusiastic about collaborating with them. It’s magical.”

Conducted and directed by Dr. Jason Hausback of the Department of Music, the jazz orchestra includes Missouri State students, alumni and guest artists. Heather Luellen of the theatre and dance department is the show’s music coordinator.

[Read more…] about Tent Theatre opens 2025 season with “Serenade”

Department of Theatre and Dance presents “Blue Stockings” April 3-6

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Missouri State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance continues the 2024-2025 season with its production of “Blue Stockings.”

Professor Sarah Wiggin directs the turn-of-the-century period piece, written by Jessica Swale.

Show times are 7:30 p.m. April 3-5 and April 6 at 2:30 p.m.

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

All performances will be held in Coger Theatre Craig Hall.

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Play explores historical moments

Set in 1896 England at Cambridge University’s Girton College, “Blue Stockings” is the story of four female students. Cambridge was a pioneer in offering university-level education to women.

In 1896, though, while women could be educated, they could not earn a degree. The play’s young heroines hope to change that.

Consequently, “Blue Stockings” explores a powerful moment in the history of women’s education. As the woman suffrage movement takes place in the background, the women struggle to gain acceptance among their male peers while confronting their own insecurities.

“The play emphasizes the value of education and encourages audiences to think critically about societal structures and injustices,” Wiggin said. “It challenges audiences to reflect on the progress made in women’s rights while acknowledging the work that still needs to be done.”

Tackles themes with humor

With humor and authenticity, the play addresses themes such as equality, education and fighting for one’s beliefs. “I hope the audience will be pleasantly surprised by the comedy in a play tackling such serious subject matter,” Wiggin said.

Meanwhile, although the stage setting is minimalist, “the costumes are period (1896) and should be quite stunning,” she added. “The cast is doing excellent work, and I am very excited to see all the elements come together.”

Reflecting shared dreams

Wiggin believes audiences will find the themes in “Blue Stockings” to be relevant and universal.

“Despite being set in the past, the play raises issues that resonate with contemporary struggles for gender equality and access to education,” she said.

“I expect the audience will see that the kinds of dreams the characters have are shared by them: love, education, a place to belong.”

MSU Theatre and Dance collaborates with Springfield Symphony Orchestra in “Carousel”

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Missouri State University’s Department of Theatre and Dance joins the Springfield Symphony Orchestra to present “Carousel” 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16, 2024, at the Juanita K. Hammons Hall for the Performing Arts.

As part of the Symphony’s “Lullaby of Broadway” program, the performance features a concert version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic and stars Josh Young, associate professor and coordinator of musical theatre at Missouri State.

The production includes a 55-member ensemble backed by a 60-plus piece symphony.

Springfield Symphony Maestro Kyle Pickett will conduct the entire event.

Tickets are available through the Hammons Hall box office and online at www.missouristatetix.com.

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Collaboration leads to “Carousel”

When Young joined MSU’s theatre and dance faculty in 2023, one of his first actions was to have lunch with Pickett to discuss collaboration opportunities.

“Kyle and I discussed several possibilities, including an evening of Rodgers and Hammerstein music,” Young said.

Originally, the plan was to give a performance featuring Young and his wife, Emily Padgett-Young. Both are Broadway veterans, and Young was nominated for a Tony® Award in 2012.

“However, ‘Carousel’ has always been one of my favorite musical scores,” Young said. “With the immense talent we have here at MSU, I thought, ‘Why just do a two-person evening of songs when we could create something even more special?’”

“The idea of bringing the full richness of ‘Carousel’ to life with our students, in collaboration with the Springfield Symphony, felt like the perfect way to elevate the experience for both the performers and the audience,” he added.

Since then, working with Pickett and the technical staff at Hammons Hall has been a delight, Young said. “Their professionalism and flexibility have made the collaboration seamless.”

Man singing in front of Steinway piano
Josh Young performs for the Missouri State Foundation Board of Trustees on Oct. 18, 2024, in the C. Minor Recital Hall. Photo credit: Jesse Scheve/Missouri State University.

[Read more…] about MSU Theatre and Dance collaborates with Springfield Symphony Orchestra in “Carousel”

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

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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.

Food server promotional graphic for "Mystic Pizza"

“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”

Fall 2023 theatre season opens with “Shakespeare in Love”

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The theatre and dance department at Missouri State University begins the 2023-24 theatre season on Sept. 28 at 8 p.m. with “Shakespeare in Love.”

The department is buzzing with excitement and preparation in a new venue.

“This is our first show of our season and the first academic show in the John Goodman Amphitheatre,” Theatre and Dance Managing Director Mark Templeton said. [Read more…] about Fall 2023 theatre season opens with “Shakespeare in Love”