The University of Minnesota Duluth’s Stage 2 Theatre Company's production of [title of show], directed by Zach Churchill and Derek Schwartz, challenged the traditional conventions of theatre in a comical fashion. The opening performance took place in the Dudley Experimental Theatre at the Marshall Performing Arts Center.
The musical comedy followed a group of friends through the process of playwriting and collaboration. The performers kept the audience engaged from simple scene transition to an elaborate musical number. Leads, Cole David Mercier and Sam Hildestad, who portrayed the roles of Jeff and Hunter, light up the stage with humor, strong vocals, and passion for acting. In addition, the supporting roles, Grace Kelly Smith and Daylen Moore, left an equally compelling performance as Heidi and Susan. The small cast made for large believability of their characters and their relationships. All individuals harmonized well, with strong voices alone, as well as together.
Despite the need for pauses in the dialog for audience laughter, the highly reactive audience, placed for an atmosphere worth attending. Whether it was laughter during the number “Die, Vampire, Die” or an expression of sadness for the character of Mary (the accompanist Isabella Wurm) the audience gave the actors just as much emotion as the cast conveyed.
The simplicity of the scenery, props, and costumes established a feel as if the audience was not watching a musical, but as if the behind the scenes of the creation was being prevailed. The use of four, inequivalent chairs and everyday clothing aided the performers in a casual way that set the mood for the production.
Mags Scanlon’s lighting supplemented the structure of the show greatly. The use of colors aided the mood that fit ideally with the tone of the play. The scene where the characters were undergoing an “awkward photo shoot” brought out creativity in the lighting. The use of lighting, in addition to sound, illustrated a realistic feel, as if they were actually experience the flash of a camera on stage.
The intentions of the production of [title of show] was for comical entertainment, as well as a look into playwriting and navigating friendships with the use of collaboration. In addition, the play challenged traditional conventions of the theatre experience in acknowledging the audience, lighting crew, accompanist, and between scene transition. Overall, the opening night performance kept the audience in laughter and joy throughout the performance and well after.
October 21st marked the closing night for Stage 2 Theatre Company’s rendition of [title of show]. Even though the musical was only here for a short time, it was here for a good time. The history of [title of show] goes back to the year 2006. Two friends, Jeff Bowen (composer/lyricist) and Hunter Bell (author), decided to put their creative minds together to come up with an entry for the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Two additional actresses and a few ups and downs later, the entry was a success. The directors of the Stage 2 Theatre Company at UMD, Zach Churchill and Derek Schwartz, decided to bring this musical to the Twin Ports. The cast consisted of Cole David Mercier (Jeff), Sam Hildestad (Hunter), Grace Kelly Smith (Heidi), and Daylen Moore (Susan). Each of these actors brought something authentic to the performance, making it a night full of laughter and good times.
Smith brought her vocals to the performance. Her range was absolutely incredible. The solo she sang resonated in the black box space and left the audience members speechless. She also did a wonderful job harmonizing with the other cast members. Even though she was able to, she made sure not to overpower anyone else’s voice or the sound of the piano.
Moore was best known for her crude humor and inappropriate language. It is safe to say a majority of her lines contained at least one swear word or a dirty reference. The word choice was scripted, but Moore chose what tone of voice and facial expressions to use for her character. The crowd, which consisted of mostly college-aged students and young adults, loved her. It seemed like the audience laughed the most when Moore stumbled over her lines because her reaction to her own mistakes was priceless. The dancing that accompanied her singing was another crowd favorite. She was just an all-around humorous and enjoyable human being.
Mercier added a lot to the show with his nonverbal behaviors and body language. Just his facial expressions alone could alter the atmosphere of the theatre space. The audience knew when he was anxious, or frustrated, or mischievous just by looking at his face and body posture. When he was sitting on his chair going through old scripts, the audience knew he was deep in thought because his eyebrows were slightly furrowed and his lips were pursed. Mercier proved that there doesn’t need to be dialogue to understand what a character is thinking and feeling.
Hildestad was best known for his attitude when playing Hunter. His emotions were like Minnesota weather-hot, cold, and super unpredictable. His body movements were bold and enthusiastic. His arms and legs took an unlimited number of different positions. He even did a cartwheel! Hildestad also chose to use a variety of different tones when playing Hunter. When the musical started his tone was upbeat, but when tension started rising between the characters Hildestad switched to an unapologetic tone. He truly reflected the emotions and feelings of the character in his choice of body movements and articulation of voice.
[title of show] was put on by the Stage 2 Theatre Company to entertain the audience, which was accomplished through witty humor and relatable confrontations. Based on the audience’s reactions during and after the show, it was evident that the purpose of the play was well received and it was worth the time and money. Not many things are better than nights of endless laughter with an enthusiastic crowd of people.
“Title of the Show” was very comical! The play was contemporary style because it was relatable to younger generations, due to the profound language. The actors engaged well with the audience throughout, and made everyone laugh. Many of the jokes were unexpected. Sometimes the audience was caught off guard with the language usage from Susan (Daylen Moore), but the audience seemed to enjoy it very much.
The play wasn’t just comical. It also had some tough times with sadness and anger. The whole cast was very strong vocally throughout the entire play. It was impressive how they could all change their voices in a split second or harmonize together smoothly. They also adapted very quickly to all of the different scenes, they truly made it seem as if they were just going with what the flow.
The stage set-up and costumes were simple and casual. The simplicity represented their lives, because they didn’t have tons of things, but they were content with their lifestyles. The actors showed the audience that it is not all about having a lot of things or how nice people look or dress. This created an atmosphere in the room of laid back enjoyment.
The directors Zach Churchill and Derek Schwartz did very good job creating an original piece, that was very intriguing. They showed that anyone can do anything they put their minds to, by showing a play about a play being written. Throughout the play the audience was made to think about what is really important to them in their lives. The directors did a good job of opening the eyes of the audience about the toughness of life in the arts.
Throughout the entire play, it showed how the life of artist can be very difficult and change under certain circumstances. The play also shows, how getting to the big stage or becoming famous can change people and friendships. Hunter showed how fame can ruin friendships, by the end of the play. Hunter also represents how to fight for true friends and eventually changes his ideas for Broadway. Also, the play represents the struggles it takes to actually get to be known, and show how special it feels to have a few very big fans, rather than a ton of somewhat fans.
“Title of the Show” provides lessons on the lives of actors, making it well worth seeing!
This past Friday the 20th of October, I had the pleasure to spend a couple of hours in Dudley Experimental Theatre. This is a very interesting very unique black box theatre, I was there to see the production of the play [title of show]. A play created by Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell, produced by UMD’s own Stage 2 Theatre Company a student ran organization. This play was much different from those that I have seen before, that cast consisted of only four characters, all of whom were casted and acted well. Specifically Hunter, a character played by Sam Hildestad, the comic of the group and the scrooge at one point in the play.
Mr. Hildestad was a good Hunter, he made it seem as if him and Hunter were the same person, he brought out his inner comic to make us the audience laugh. His character was extremely believable and Mr. Hildestad made that so, although his job as an actor was tainted at certain points in the play. There were certain lines in the play he messed up, some very noticeable, others not so much, he was able to recover from these and give a great performance through the whole play. Mr. Hildested was casted into a role that is not easy to portray, but that did not seem to stop him one bit. He gave a great performance, one that had the audience laughing all night.
This play was held in a Black Box theatre, which has held other types of plays in it before, which much different setup. [title of show] here at UMD was a great play, but even better, the lighting and stage it was performed on. This play panned in and out, the scene would change as the lights would dim out and come back on, a blackout style of changing scenes. The lighting would then come back on and a new scene would start, the lighting was a large part of this play. The lighting made this play as good as it was, the blackouts were executed perfectly, the actors were able to move scenery around to and set up for the next scene very quickly. When the lights came back on they were different from the previous scene, the lights set the tone for the scene. If it was a scene of comedy or a scene with a song, the lights fit like a key to a lock.
[title of show] was a well produced, directed, and preformed play it had many aspects that require a good performance. The play was a great way to spend a couple of hours out of my night, the way the theatre was set up to the great performance of the actors, this time was not wasted. Stage 2 Theatre Company made a great choice with this play, it had aspects that made the play enjoyable for anyone, comedy that was suited for an adult audience, which worked very well the theatre erupted with laughter throughout the whole play. It had the aspects of seriousness, when the characters butted heads with their different outlooks on what their next move should be. It was a great play, it went well beyond theatre and taught great lessons of perseverance and having heart.
The UMD Stage 2 Theatre Company put on their performance of [Title of Show] in the Dudley Experimental Theatre. The show was an absolute hit with the audience that was present. The audience was feeding the actors and they were using that to deliver lines that continued to make the audience laugh throughout the entire performance.
Created by Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell, [Title of Show] is such a unique musical. It breaks so many of the traditional theatre themes such as the interaction with the audience. The interaction with the keyboard player as if she was a character was also very interesting. She is not listed as a character but she was involved and had lines in the production as if she was.
This production of [Title of Show] was directed by Zach Churchill and Derek Schwartz, while Isabella Wurm was the music director. Churchill, Schwartz, and Wurm all made the production worthwhile for both the actors and the audience. The actors achieved what they were setting out to achieve, which was to entertain the audience. Churchill, Schwartz, and Wurm all worked together very well as they were able to put on a great production of [Title of Show].
Quinn Vollmers and Colby Schwartzwalter were the choreographers for this production and it would appear that they did their job well. The actors were in sync when they were supposed to be and the dances were performed very well. During the song die vampire die, the actors performed very well together and the role of the backup dancers was put on very well. This particular part was apparent that the choreographers Vollmers and Schwartzwalter gave them good training and did their part well.
The actors also did very well and delivered their lines very well. The parts of Jeff and Hunter were played by Cole David Mercier and Sam Hildestad respectively. Both Mercier and Hildestad had lines that aren’t traditionally seen in theatre. However, they were both able to deliver their lines well and gave the audience the humor that they came for. Outside of the lines, Mercier and Hildestad sang and danced very well and were a treat to the musical theatre fans.
The other two roles which were Heidi and Susan, were filled by Grace Kelly Smith and Daylen Moore, respectively. Smith and Moore both played their roles great and appeared to be contrasting roles. It was almost as if these two becoming good friends was a side story. They were able to be contrasting characters at first, but came together more and more as the play went on. Smith and Moore did this very well and it was awesome to see this progression take place.
The set and props designers for this [Title of Show] performance were Wren Jones, Will Rafferty, and Michaela Lochen. The set was very simple as it was mainly just four chairs within a room that did not change. The fact that the set itself was kept simple contributes to the simplistic feeling of the play. Jones, Rafferty, and Lochen did a great job of finding props that worked well such as the easel and playbills that were used during the song Monkeys and Playbills.
Overall, the audience in attendance of the Dudley Experimental Theatre was treated to a great performance of [Title of Show]. Everyone from the directors to the actors did a fantastic job and put on such a great performance. [Title of Show] is such a unique production, and everyone involved in this performance made it unique in their own way.
Stage 2 Theatre Company’s production of [title of show] brought a new lightness to breaking the wall between audience and actor. The directors, Zach Churchill and Derek Schwartz, made this comedic musical into something needed to be seen. Throughout the story of two playwrights and their two closest friends in search of writing a musical, there is well timed confusion between being those writing the musical or those acting in the musical. The actors often brought in the existence of an audience member or pointed out obvious “rules for theatre” like moving the chairs over being a passing of time. The four characters played by Cole David Mercier, Sam Hildestad, Grace Kelly Smith, and Daylen Moore, were able to engage the audience through the show’s confusion and quirkiness. They were also able to create strong emotions such as sympathy for the accompanist, Mary, and the unfortunate understanding in the number “What Kind of Girl is she?” The small cast made it easy to follow each character's goal in the story and the actors made very strong choices to make those clear. All four actor’s vocal and physical ability made for a highly intriguing show and left the audience wanting more. The scenery and lighting also aided this understanding. Mags Scanlon’s colored lighting made for quick transitions and mood changes. The minimal scenery made a big impact in every detail being important.The use of four chairs were always such strong and motivated choices and moved the story along nicely. Overall, the show made the audience feel a part of it all and achieved comedic entertainment.
[Title of show] is a musical about a few friends writing a musical about writing a musical. For a seemingly confusing concept, Stage 2 Theatre Company put on a very understandable and well done performance of [title of show] at UMD’s Dudley Experimental Theatre. Zachary Churchill and Derek Schwartz direct the performance put on by Cole David Mercier as Jeff, Sam Hildestad as Hunter, Grace Kelly Smith as Heidi, and Daylen Moore as Susan. Churchill and Schwartz incorporated a lot of comedy in the show. Many of the funny moments revolved around the characters showing that they knew they were in a play which was an unconventional choice. There was a moment where Hildestad and Mercier’s characters acknowledged the two actors names in a comical sense. It isn’t often that a character in a play ever shows that they are aware of the person playing them because that would take away from the character and make them be thought of as the person playing them and not who they are in the play, however Churchill and Schwartz had the actors do so in a way that didn’t diminish the characters’ value and it was very comical. At one point, Hildestad addressed a specific male member of the audience in a way that fit perfectly into the scene and was also very funny. Overall, the comedy of the play was one of the best aspects of the performance and kept the audience engaged. Despite the great use of comedy, the performance wasn’t all smiles and laughs. There was a point in the performance when the relationships between characters were tested and the tone became much more serious and tense. The directors and actors all did well at transitioning between comedic and serious scenes in the play. Another aspect of the transitions in the play that was well done was the use of the voicemail messages between scenes. Other than the movement of a few pieces of furniture, the set doesn’t change throughout the play, so the voicemails were a great way show a passage of time and help understand what is happening with characters who are offstage and otherwise uninvolved in the scene. All of the actors sang extremely well throughout the play. Whether it was a harmonized piece or a solo, all of the actors sang very well. Not only were their vocals incredible, the emotions that they conveyed through their songs were very strong. The pianist also did very well throughout the play, sometimes even having to act in a scene while playing.
[title of show], performed by the student lead Stage 2 theater company, opened on October 19. This musical pushed the boundaries of musical theater and showed a new, modern approach to fine art. Zach Churchill and Derek Schwartz, the play directors, did an excellent job at highlighting the fortes of the musical and shaped the production into an enjoyable spectacle. Cole David Mercier played Jeff in the musical and it seemed as if he enjoyed this role very much. He threw himself into the role with such passion that it looked like he was playing himself. This remarkable skill appeared to have awed the crowd. His charm and flamboyance seemed to fill the character of Jeff and brought him to life. Sam Hildestad played Hunter in the musical and seemed to have fit the role excellently. The character of Hunter is a sort of a dampener on the character of Jeff and Sam has the perfect features to contrast Cole. Although there were some times where Sam stumbled on words or on stage props, for example in the very beginning of the performance when he tripped over a chair, the crowd seemed to be extremely pleased with his acting. Grace Kelly Smith played Heidi in the musical and she seemed to have fully embraced her role as the character of Heidi. She looked like she really dove into her role and that she was the perfect actor for this role. Her quirkiness and “high chin persona” of an upper class young woman seemed to have captured the audience quickly. It appeared as if Grace had almost no blunders, her act seemed perfect. Daylen Moore played the role of Susan and she seemed to play the role that most of the audience related to. She seemed to do it in an excellent fashion. Her role was so convincing that at times she appeared to be playing herself. It looked as if she truly believed in everything she said. It seemed as though Daylen did not have any major hiccups during the performance and that she fully captured the attention of the audience. Overall it looked as if the whole production crew that put on [title of show] did an extraordinary job. The set seemed very realistic and durable. The actors were able to slam doors and stand on chairs. The musical composition appeared to have an extremely large impact on the production and the actors seemed to have really worked hard on their vocals, they looked as if singing was as easy or even easier than talking. The actors also had great choreographed dances that seemed to have captured the audience greatly. Even the lighting may have had a noticeable impact on where the audience looked during the show time. Stage 2, a student lead theater company, opened their latest production, Title of Show, on October 19. Their effort to produce a professional level theater production seems to have paid off because of the intimate interaction between actors, the plot, and the audience.
[Title of show] was a clever production. The actors displayed an amazing array of talents, while the set and lighting backed up their shining performance. The production was full of fun and entertaining singing and dancing. The clever writing of the show revealed the characters to be fun, joyful, and dynamic, the actors playing their happy-go-lucky roles very well. They were able to express the light heartedness of their characters, while bringing a needed depth as well.
The excellent portrayal of the characters led to the success of the production. Cole David Mercier as Jeff did an excellent job playing his role of a struggling writer. His exuberant portrayal radiated through his character, and was echoed through the production as a whole. Likewise, Sam Hidestad playing Hunter was a complementary contrast to Jeff. Sam captured his role well, and did an extraordinary job.
As for the ladies, Grace Kelly Smith as Hedi was able to wow the crowd with her jaw dropping performance of “A Way Back To Then”. Aside from her wowing voice, she fit her part perfectly, beautifully portraying her character. Daylen Moore as Susan also did an amazing job captivating the audience with her performances.
The production habitually explored the idea of breaking the 4th wall. The writers of the production were very creative in their use of breaking the 4th wall. This happened on numerous occasions with many of the actors cracking jokes directly to the audience, and even pointing some of them out. The writing of the musical is something to take note of. The writers (Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell) crafted a hilarious backbone, that the production team was able to build on and create something great.
The simple set was very dynamic, and helped with the allure of the play. The backdrop of a modern apartment, with four simple chairs continuously moved around the stage created a diverse world for the actors.
The dynamic lighting was able to assist with the setting of various places and scenes. The brief phone recordings that played throughout the scene transitions were tastefully done. The lighting and sound designers (Mags Scanion, and Simon VanVactor-Lee) did an adequate job that did not detract to the performance.
One troubling thing that could have easily been fixed, was that the character “Mary” was not mentioned at all in the playbill (although she was mentioned as an accompanist and music director). “Mary” (Isabella Wurm) was the piano player (the only music aspect beside the singers) in the production, she had at least 5 lines, and was not at all mentioned in the playbill as a character, perhaps this plays to the modern, odd nature of the production, only having her as an accompanist.
Overall the uplifting nature of the story, expressed through the talented cast, bolstered by creative designers created a brilliant show that left a lasting impression.
This comedy may have had a short cast list, but what it lacked in numbers on stage, it made up for with gut busting comedy. The University of Minnesota Duluth’s Stage 2 put on [title of show], and sold out on its last night. The directors, Zach Churchill and Derek Schwartz put on quite the show, and it was enjoyable to watch, and it was even harder to look away.
The set for this production was simple, yet functional. With the need for many seating arrangements, it was a really neat idea to have four different chairs that allowed for easy movement. Especially when the movements of the furniture was done by the cast, for the vast majority of the show. Wren Jones, Will Rafferty, and Michaela Lochen created a set that worked really well for this production.
The accompanist was Isabella Wurm, and she even had her own character, Mary. Wurm allowed for moments in the play to be comedically sad. She had lines that may have been a short in length, but ended up being quite heavy. Wurm had the audience laughing with a sad heart. She was great in the musical and it was always interesting to see when she would deliver another sad line that would remind the audience that she was still there.
Cole David Mercier played Jeff, who was one of the two guys writing this musical. Mercier sang along with his fellow cast members and had some very comedic scenes that had the audience intrigued early on.
The role of Hunter was filled by Sam Hildestad. Hildestad had the audience’s attention the moment he came on stage. He not only had some of the most hilariously absurd lines in the show, but the way he delivered them was unremarkable. The audience couldn’t get enough.
Grace Kelly Smith did an incredible job as Heidi. Her voice was beautiful, and she was able to project her voice in a way that still allowed her fellow cast members to be heard. Smith’s vocal range was beautiful, and very impressive.
The character Susan, who was played by Daylen Moore, was not afraid to speak her mind. Moore presented herself in a way that allowed the audience to fully see her character. She showcased her boldness wonderfully and her confidence really showed while she was in the spotlight.
Overall, [title of show] was very funny and the audience couldn’t look away for a second. Every cast member showcased wonderful vocals and they all harmonized beautifully together. The interaction between the audience and the cast was entertaining in itself. There were parts of the show where the actors really struggled to keep themselves calm and composed because their connections with the audience were so strong. This student run organization was very impressive and seeing what they produce in the future will be on the agenda for sure.
[Title of Show], produced by the University of Minnesota Stage 2 company is a comedic play about the struggles of playwrights and actors during the playwriting process. Set in the small Dudley theater, the audience feels closer to the play and the actors than usual. Student directors Zach Churchill and Derek Schwartz put on a play that had audiences laughing and loving every moment.
This comedy follows a group of four friends who sing and dance their way through their play production process. Jeff and Hunter, aspiring playwrights, bring together sassy Susan and level-headed Heidi to act out their new play. As the four friends face writer’s block, creative dilemmas and artistic disagreements, they must learn how to work together and compromise to put on the play. Daylen Moore, Grace Kelly Smith, Sam Hildestad, and Cole David Mercier were a delight to see together. They worked wonderfully together and you could tell that they really gave it their all throughout the production. Their vocal performance was near flawless and they truly brought the play to life. Choreographers Quinn Vollmers and Cobly Schwatzwalter put together an amazing dance performance that helped move the play along. The dances weren’t distracting yet they added a new element to the play.
The show was set in an apartment that the Wren Jones, Will Rafferty, and Michaela Lochen designed. While a simple concept, it really felt like a lived in apartment. Near the back of the set was a smaller room that was lit so it seemed as if the apartment continued out past the living room. This really brought depth to the set and helped the audience feel as if they were really sitting in an apartment watching the play unfold.
In the end, [Title of Show] was a huge success. This comedic musical was pulled together by a fantastic cast and had an equally wonderful set. The strong vocal performance of all the actors was truly something amazing to hear. The actors were able to put together a solid show that had the audience laughing throughout the entire play.
UMD’s Stage 2 Theatre Company’s [title of show] presented an array of technical skills and well- crafted harmonies, with a cast of four actors that thrived off the abundance of an eager audience’s reaction. Although the characters of Hunter and Susan, played by Sam Hildestad and Daylen Moore, contributed well to the comical aspects of the production, there was not a lack of seriousness, as demonstrated by the character Jeff played by Cole David Mercier, and in the song “Die, Vampire, Die” which alluded to the negative thoughts minds may inhibit.
The production that was directed by Zach Churchill and Derek Schwartz displayed the work of lighting designer Mags Scanion, who created an array of lights that not only helped establish dramatic effects, but also influenced the mood and tone of the show. The lighting effects added many beneficial features to the production, such as changing the color or intensity of the lights to alter between moods, and making the lights flash like a camera during scenes such as “Awkward Photoshoot”.
While all four actors delivered precise and clear lines, the vocal ranges demonstrated in the songs silenced the audience and gave many goosebumps. The elaborate harmonies demonstrated were all spot on, and interestingly as well as uniquely, the actors switched back and forth between who was singing the high or low harmonies, so that all vocal ranges had the opportunity to be displayed. However, the vocal range of Heidi, played by Grace Kelly Smith, soared above the rest. Contrarily to traditional theatre, the accompanist Isabelle Wurm was not only in full view of the audience, but also was integrated into the production, interacting with the actors onstage and delivering lines of her own.
Although traditionally it is unconventional to break the wall between the actors and the audience, the concept of creating a play within a play provided the perfect opportunity for this, such as when the character of Hunter flirted with audience member and Stage 2 actor Ryan Richardson who was not featured in the play.
The set pieces were contemporary and sparse, adding more emphasis on the actors and the lines or movements being executed. The actors moved their own set, sometimes in the middle of a scene, or strategically so that the audience attention was drawn to one side of the stage, so another actor could make an unnoticed entrance.
Altogether, although the production held elements of variation from traditional theatre, it was a well- presented, comical, and enjoyable performance by some of the actors of the Stage 2 Theatre.
[title of show]
ReplyDeleteAliy Heitman
October 20, 2017
The University of Minnesota Duluth’s Stage 2 Theatre Company's production of [title of show], directed by Zach Churchill and Derek Schwartz, challenged the traditional conventions of theatre in a comical fashion. The opening performance took place in the Dudley Experimental Theatre at the Marshall Performing Arts Center.
The musical comedy followed a group of friends through the process of playwriting and collaboration. The performers kept the audience engaged from simple scene transition to an elaborate musical number. Leads, Cole David Mercier and Sam Hildestad, who portrayed the roles of Jeff and Hunter, light up the stage with humor, strong vocals, and passion for acting. In addition, the supporting roles, Grace Kelly Smith and Daylen Moore, left an equally compelling performance as Heidi and Susan. The small cast made for large believability of their characters and their relationships. All individuals harmonized well, with strong voices alone, as well as together.
Despite the need for pauses in the dialog for audience laughter, the highly reactive audience, placed for an atmosphere worth attending. Whether it was laughter during the number “Die, Vampire, Die” or an expression of sadness for the character of Mary (the accompanist Isabella Wurm) the audience gave the actors just as much emotion as the cast conveyed.
The simplicity of the scenery, props, and costumes established a feel as if the audience was not watching a musical, but as if the behind the scenes of the creation was being prevailed. The use of four, inequivalent chairs and everyday clothing aided the performers in a casual way that set the mood for the production.
Mags Scanlon’s lighting supplemented the structure of the show greatly. The use of colors aided the mood that fit ideally with the tone of the play. The scene where the characters were undergoing an “awkward photo shoot” brought out creativity in the lighting. The use of lighting, in addition to sound, illustrated a realistic feel, as if they were actually experience the flash of a camera on stage.
The intentions of the production of [title of show] was for comical entertainment, as well as a look into playwriting and navigating friendships with the use of collaboration. In addition, the play challenged traditional conventions of the theatre experience in acknowledging the audience, lighting crew, accompanist, and between scene transition. Overall, the opening night performance kept the audience in laughter and joy throughout the performance and well after.
October 21st marked the closing night for Stage 2 Theatre Company’s rendition of [title of show]. Even though the musical was only here for a short time, it was here for a good time. The history of [title of show] goes back to the year 2006. Two friends, Jeff Bowen (composer/lyricist) and Hunter Bell (author), decided to put their creative minds together to come up with an entry for the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Two additional actresses and a few ups and downs later, the entry was a success. The directors of the Stage 2 Theatre Company at UMD, Zach Churchill and Derek Schwartz, decided to bring this musical to the Twin Ports. The cast consisted of Cole David Mercier (Jeff), Sam Hildestad (Hunter), Grace Kelly Smith (Heidi), and Daylen Moore (Susan). Each of these actors brought something authentic to the performance, making it a night full of laughter and good times.
ReplyDeleteSmith brought her vocals to the performance. Her range was absolutely incredible. The solo she sang resonated in the black box space and left the audience members speechless. She also did a wonderful job harmonizing with the other cast members. Even though she was able to, she made sure not to overpower anyone else’s voice or the sound of the piano.
Moore was best known for her crude humor and inappropriate language. It is safe to say a majority of her lines contained at least one swear word or a dirty reference. The word choice was scripted, but Moore chose what tone of voice and facial expressions to use for her character. The crowd, which consisted of mostly college-aged students and young adults, loved her. It seemed like the audience laughed the most when Moore stumbled over her lines because her reaction to her own mistakes was priceless. The dancing that accompanied her singing was another crowd favorite. She was just an all-around humorous and enjoyable human being.
Mercier added a lot to the show with his nonverbal behaviors and body language. Just his facial expressions alone could alter the atmosphere of the theatre space. The audience knew when he was anxious, or frustrated, or mischievous just by looking at his face and body posture. When he was sitting on his chair going through old scripts, the audience knew he was deep in thought because his eyebrows were slightly furrowed and his lips were pursed. Mercier proved that there doesn’t need to be dialogue to understand what a character is thinking and feeling.
Hildestad was best known for his attitude when playing Hunter. His emotions were like Minnesota weather-hot, cold, and super unpredictable. His body movements were bold and enthusiastic. His arms and legs took an unlimited number of different positions. He even did a cartwheel! Hildestad also chose to use a variety of different tones when playing Hunter. When the musical started his tone was upbeat, but when tension started rising between the characters Hildestad switched to an unapologetic tone. He truly reflected the emotions and feelings of the character in his choice of body movements and articulation of voice.
[title of show] was put on by the Stage 2 Theatre Company to entertain the audience, which was accomplished through witty humor and relatable confrontations. Based on the audience’s reactions during and after the show, it was evident that the purpose of the play was well received and it was worth the time and money. Not many things are better than nights of endless laughter with an enthusiastic crowd of people.
“Title of the Show” was very comical! The play was contemporary style because it was relatable to younger generations, due to the profound language. The actors engaged well with the audience throughout, and made everyone laugh. Many of the jokes were unexpected. Sometimes the audience was caught off guard with the language usage from Susan (Daylen Moore), but the audience seemed to enjoy it very much.
ReplyDeleteThe play wasn’t just comical. It also had some tough times with sadness and anger. The whole cast was very strong vocally throughout the entire play. It was impressive how they could all change their voices in a split second or harmonize together smoothly. They also adapted very quickly to all of the different scenes, they truly made it seem as if they were just going with what the flow.
The stage set-up and costumes were simple and casual. The simplicity represented their lives, because they didn’t have tons of things, but they were content with their lifestyles. The actors showed the audience that it is not all about having a lot of things or how nice people look or dress. This created an atmosphere in the room of laid back enjoyment.
The directors Zach Churchill and Derek Schwartz did very good job creating an original piece, that was very intriguing. They showed that anyone can do anything they put their minds to, by showing a play about a play being written. Throughout the play the audience was made to think about what is really important to them in their lives. The directors did a good job of opening the eyes of the audience about the toughness of life in the arts.
Throughout the entire play, it showed how the life of artist can be very difficult and change under certain circumstances. The play also shows, how getting to the big stage or becoming famous can change people and friendships. Hunter showed how fame can ruin friendships, by the end of the play. Hunter also represents how to fight for true friends and eventually changes his ideas for Broadway. Also, the play represents the struggles it takes to actually get to be known, and show how special it feels to have a few very big fans, rather than a ton of somewhat fans.
“Title of the Show” provides lessons on the lives of actors, making it well worth seeing!
[title of show]
ReplyDeleteJoey Edwards
October 20, 2017
This past Friday the 20th of October, I had the pleasure to spend a couple of hours in Dudley Experimental Theatre. This is a very interesting very unique black box theatre, I was there to see the production of the play [title of show]. A play created by Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell, produced by UMD’s own Stage 2 Theatre Company a student ran organization. This play was much different from those that I have seen before, that cast consisted of only four characters, all of whom were casted and acted well. Specifically Hunter, a character played by Sam Hildestad, the comic of the group and the scrooge at one point in the play.
Mr. Hildestad was a good Hunter, he made it seem as if him and Hunter were the same person, he brought out his inner comic to make us the audience laugh. His character was extremely believable and Mr. Hildestad made that so, although his job as an actor was tainted at certain points in the play. There were certain lines in the play he messed up, some very noticeable, others not so much, he was able to recover from these and give a great performance through the whole play. Mr. Hildested was casted into a role that is not easy to portray, but that did not seem to stop him one bit. He gave a great performance, one that had the audience laughing all night.
This play was held in a Black Box theatre, which has held other types of plays in it before, which much different setup. [title of show] here at UMD was a great play, but even better, the lighting and stage it was performed on. This play panned in and out, the scene would change as the lights would dim out and come back on, a blackout style of changing scenes. The lighting would then come back on and a new scene would start, the lighting was a large part of this play. The lighting made this play as good as it was, the blackouts were executed perfectly, the actors were able to move scenery around to and set up for the next scene very quickly. When the lights came back on they were different from the previous scene, the lights set the tone for the scene. If it was a scene of comedy or a scene with a song, the lights fit like a key to a lock.
[title of show] was a well produced, directed, and preformed play it had many aspects that require a good performance. The play was a great way to spend a couple of hours out of my night, the way the theatre was set up to the great performance of the actors, this time was not wasted. Stage 2 Theatre Company made a great choice with this play, it had aspects that made the play enjoyable for anyone, comedy that was suited for an adult audience, which worked very well the theatre erupted with laughter throughout the whole play. It had the aspects of seriousness, when the characters butted heads with their different outlooks on what their next move should be. It was a great play, it went well beyond theatre and taught great lessons of perseverance and having heart.
Jason Fairbanks
ReplyDelete[Title of Show]
October 30, 2017
The UMD Stage 2 Theatre Company put on their performance of [Title of Show] in the Dudley Experimental Theatre. The show was an absolute hit with the audience that was present. The audience was feeding the actors and they were using that to deliver lines that continued to make the audience laugh throughout the entire performance.
Created by Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell, [Title of Show] is such a unique musical. It breaks so many of the traditional theatre themes such as the interaction with the audience. The interaction with the keyboard player as if she was a character was also very interesting. She is not listed as a character but she was involved and had lines in the production as if she was.
This production of [Title of Show] was directed by Zach Churchill and Derek Schwartz, while Isabella Wurm was the music director. Churchill, Schwartz, and Wurm all made the production worthwhile for both the actors and the audience. The actors achieved what they were setting out to achieve, which was to entertain the audience. Churchill, Schwartz, and Wurm all worked together very well as they were able to put on a great production of [Title of Show].
Quinn Vollmers and Colby Schwartzwalter were the choreographers for this production and it would appear that they did their job well. The actors were in sync when they were supposed to be and the dances were performed very well. During the song die vampire die, the actors performed very well together and the role of the backup dancers was put on very well. This particular part was apparent that the choreographers Vollmers and Schwartzwalter gave them good training and did their part well.
The actors also did very well and delivered their lines very well. The parts of Jeff and Hunter were played by Cole David Mercier and Sam Hildestad respectively. Both Mercier and Hildestad had lines that aren’t traditionally seen in theatre. However, they were both able to deliver their lines well and gave the audience the humor that they came for. Outside of the lines, Mercier and Hildestad sang and danced very well and were a treat to the musical theatre fans.
The other two roles which were Heidi and Susan, were filled by Grace Kelly Smith and Daylen Moore, respectively. Smith and Moore both played their roles great and appeared to be contrasting roles. It was almost as if these two becoming good friends was a side story. They were able to be contrasting characters at first, but came together more and more as the play went on. Smith and Moore did this very well and it was awesome to see this progression take place.
The set and props designers for this [Title of Show] performance were Wren Jones, Will Rafferty, and Michaela Lochen. The set was very simple as it was mainly just four chairs within a room that did not change. The fact that the set itself was kept simple contributes to the simplistic feeling of the play. Jones, Rafferty, and Lochen did a great job of finding props that worked well such as the easel and playbills that were used during the song Monkeys and Playbills.
Overall, the audience in attendance of the Dudley Experimental Theatre was treated to a great performance of [Title of Show]. Everyone from the directors to the actors did a fantastic job and put on such a great performance. [Title of Show] is such a unique production, and everyone involved in this performance made it unique in their own way.
[title of show]
ReplyDeleteShawna Spiry
October 26th, 2017
Stage 2 Theatre Company’s production of [title of show] brought a new lightness to breaking the wall between audience and actor. The directors, Zach Churchill and Derek Schwartz, made this comedic musical into something needed to be seen.
Throughout the story of two playwrights and their two closest friends in search of writing a musical, there is well timed confusion between being those writing the musical or those acting in the musical. The actors often brought in the existence of an audience member or pointed out obvious “rules for theatre” like moving the chairs over being a passing of time. The four characters played by Cole David Mercier, Sam Hildestad, Grace Kelly Smith, and Daylen Moore, were able to engage the audience through the show’s confusion and quirkiness. They were also able to create strong emotions such as sympathy for the accompanist, Mary, and the unfortunate understanding in the number “What Kind of Girl is she?” The small cast made it easy to follow each character's goal in the story and the actors made very strong choices to make those clear. All four actor’s vocal and physical ability made for a highly intriguing show and left the audience wanting more.
The scenery and lighting also aided this understanding. Mags Scanlon’s colored lighting made for quick transitions and mood changes. The minimal scenery made a big impact in every detail being important.The use of four chairs were always such strong and motivated choices and moved the story along nicely.
Overall, the show made the audience feel a part of it all and achieved comedic entertainment.
[title of show]
ReplyDeleteNate Larson
October 20, 2017
[Title of show] is a musical about a few friends writing a musical about writing a musical. For a seemingly confusing concept, Stage 2 Theatre Company put on a very understandable and well done performance of [title of show] at UMD’s Dudley Experimental Theatre. Zachary Churchill and Derek Schwartz direct the performance put on by Cole David Mercier as Jeff, Sam Hildestad as Hunter, Grace Kelly Smith as Heidi, and Daylen Moore as Susan.
Churchill and Schwartz incorporated a lot of comedy in the show. Many of the funny moments revolved around the characters showing that they knew they were in a play which was an unconventional choice. There was a moment where Hildestad and Mercier’s characters acknowledged the two actors names in a comical sense. It isn’t often that a character in a play ever shows that they are aware of the person playing them because that would take away from the character and make them be thought of as the person playing them and not who they are in the play, however Churchill and Schwartz had the actors do so in a way that didn’t diminish the characters’ value and it was very comical. At one point, Hildestad addressed a specific male member of the audience in a way that fit perfectly into the scene and was also very funny. Overall, the comedy of the play was one of the best aspects of the performance and kept the audience engaged.
Despite the great use of comedy, the performance wasn’t all smiles and laughs. There was a point in the performance when the relationships between characters were tested and the tone became much more serious and tense. The directors and actors all did well at transitioning between comedic and serious scenes in the play. Another aspect of the transitions in the play that was well done was the use of the voicemail messages between scenes. Other than the movement of a few pieces of furniture, the set doesn’t change throughout the play, so the voicemails were a great way show a passage of time and help understand what is happening with characters who are offstage and otherwise uninvolved in the scene.
All of the actors sang extremely well throughout the play. Whether it was a harmonized piece or a solo, all of the actors sang very well. Not only were their vocals incredible, the emotions that they conveyed through their songs were very strong. The pianist also did very well throughout the play, sometimes even having to act in a scene while playing.
[title of show]
ReplyDeletePawel Waszczuk
October 19, 2017
[title of show], performed by the student lead Stage 2 theater company, opened on October 19. This musical pushed the boundaries of musical theater and showed a new, modern approach to fine art. Zach Churchill and Derek Schwartz, the play directors, did an excellent job at highlighting the fortes of the musical and shaped the production into an enjoyable spectacle.
Cole David Mercier played Jeff in the musical and it seemed as if he enjoyed this role very much. He threw himself into the role with such passion that it looked like he was playing himself. This remarkable skill appeared to have awed the crowd. His charm and flamboyance seemed to fill the character of Jeff and brought him to life.
Sam Hildestad played Hunter in the musical and seemed to have fit the role excellently. The character of Hunter is a sort of a dampener on the character of Jeff and Sam has the perfect features to contrast Cole. Although there were some times where Sam stumbled on words or on stage props, for example in the very beginning of the performance when he tripped over a chair, the crowd seemed to be extremely pleased with his acting.
Grace Kelly Smith played Heidi in the musical and she seemed to have fully embraced her role as the character of Heidi. She looked like she really dove into her role and that she was the perfect actor for this role. Her quirkiness and “high chin persona” of an upper class young woman seemed to have captured the audience quickly. It appeared as if Grace had almost no blunders, her act seemed perfect.
Daylen Moore played the role of Susan and she seemed to play the role that most of the audience related to. She seemed to do it in an excellent fashion. Her role was so convincing that at times she appeared to be playing herself. It looked as if she truly believed in everything she said. It seemed as though Daylen did not have any major hiccups during the performance and that she fully captured the attention of the audience.
Overall it looked as if the whole production crew that put on [title of show] did an extraordinary job. The set seemed very realistic and durable. The actors were able to slam doors and stand on chairs. The musical composition appeared to have an extremely large impact on the production and the actors seemed to have really worked hard on their vocals, they looked as if singing was as easy or even easier than talking. The actors also had great choreographed dances that seemed to have captured the audience greatly. Even the lighting may have had a noticeable impact on where the audience looked during the show time. Stage 2, a student lead theater company, opened their latest production, Title of Show, on October 19. Their effort to produce a professional level theater production seems to have paid off because of the intimate interaction between actors, the plot, and the audience.
[Title of show] was a clever production. The actors displayed an amazing array of talents, while the set and lighting backed up their shining performance. The production was full of fun and entertaining singing and dancing. The clever writing of the show revealed the characters to be fun, joyful, and dynamic, the actors playing their happy-go-lucky roles very well. They were able to express the light heartedness of their characters, while bringing a needed depth as well.
ReplyDeleteThe excellent portrayal of the characters led to the success of the production. Cole David Mercier as Jeff did an excellent job playing his role of a struggling writer. His exuberant portrayal radiated through his character, and was echoed through the production as a whole. Likewise, Sam Hidestad playing Hunter was a complementary contrast to Jeff. Sam captured his role well, and did an extraordinary job.
As for the ladies, Grace Kelly Smith as Hedi was able to wow the crowd with her jaw dropping performance of “A Way Back To Then”. Aside from her wowing voice, she fit her part perfectly, beautifully portraying her character. Daylen Moore as Susan also did an amazing job captivating the audience with her performances.
The production habitually explored the idea of breaking the 4th wall. The writers of the production were very creative in their use of breaking the 4th wall. This happened on numerous occasions with many of the actors cracking jokes directly to the audience, and even pointing some of them out. The writing of the musical is something to take note of. The writers (Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell) crafted a hilarious backbone, that the production team was able to build on and create something great.
The simple set was very dynamic, and helped with the allure of the play. The backdrop of a modern apartment, with four simple chairs continuously moved around the stage created a diverse world for the actors.
The dynamic lighting was able to assist with the setting of various places and scenes. The brief phone recordings that played throughout the scene transitions were tastefully done. The lighting and sound designers (Mags Scanion, and Simon VanVactor-Lee) did an adequate job that did not detract to the performance.
One troubling thing that could have easily been fixed, was that the character “Mary” was not mentioned at all in the playbill (although she was mentioned as an accompanist and music director). “Mary” (Isabella Wurm) was the piano player (the only music aspect beside the singers) in the production, she had at least 5 lines, and was not at all mentioned in the playbill as a character, perhaps this plays to the modern, odd nature of the production, only having her as an accompanist.
Overall the uplifting nature of the story, expressed through the talented cast, bolstered by creative designers created a brilliant show that left a lasting impression.
[title of show]
ReplyDeleteKourtney Dobmeier
This comedy may have had a short cast list, but what it lacked in numbers on stage, it made up for with gut busting comedy. The University of Minnesota Duluth’s Stage 2 put on [title of show], and sold out on its last night. The directors, Zach Churchill and Derek Schwartz put on quite the show, and it was enjoyable to watch, and it was even harder to look away.
The set for this production was simple, yet functional. With the need for many seating arrangements, it was a really neat idea to have four different chairs that allowed for easy movement. Especially when the movements of the furniture was done by the cast, for the vast majority of the show. Wren Jones, Will Rafferty, and Michaela Lochen created a set that worked really well for this production.
The accompanist was Isabella Wurm, and she even had her own character, Mary. Wurm allowed for moments in the play to be comedically sad. She had lines that may have been a short in length, but ended up being quite heavy. Wurm had the audience laughing with a sad heart. She was great in the musical and it was always interesting to see when she would deliver another sad line that would remind the audience that she was still there.
Cole David Mercier played Jeff, who was one of the two guys writing this musical. Mercier sang along with his fellow cast members and had some very comedic scenes that had the audience intrigued early on.
The role of Hunter was filled by Sam Hildestad. Hildestad had the audience’s attention the moment he came on stage. He not only had some of the most hilariously absurd lines in the show, but the way he delivered them was unremarkable. The audience couldn’t get enough.
Grace Kelly Smith did an incredible job as Heidi. Her voice was beautiful, and she was able to project her voice in a way that still allowed her fellow cast members to be heard. Smith’s vocal range was beautiful, and very impressive.
The character Susan, who was played by Daylen Moore, was not afraid to speak her mind. Moore presented herself in a way that allowed the audience to fully see her character. She showcased her boldness wonderfully and her confidence really showed while she was in the spotlight.
Overall, [title of show] was very funny and the audience couldn’t look away for a second. Every cast member showcased wonderful vocals and they all harmonized beautifully together. The interaction between the audience and the cast was entertaining in itself. There were parts of the show where the actors really struggled to keep themselves calm and composed because their connections with the audience were so strong. This student run organization was very impressive and seeing what they produce in the future will be on the agenda for sure.
[Title of Show], produced by the University of Minnesota Stage 2 company is a comedic play about the struggles of playwrights and actors during the playwriting process. Set in the small Dudley theater, the audience feels closer to the play and the actors than usual. Student directors Zach Churchill and Derek Schwartz put on a play that had audiences laughing and loving every moment.
ReplyDeleteThis comedy follows a group of four friends who sing and dance their way through their play production process. Jeff and Hunter, aspiring playwrights, bring together sassy Susan and level-headed Heidi to act out their new play. As the four friends face writer’s block, creative dilemmas and artistic disagreements, they must learn how to work together and compromise to put on the play. Daylen Moore, Grace Kelly Smith, Sam Hildestad, and Cole David Mercier were a delight to see together. They worked wonderfully together and you could tell that they really gave it their all throughout the production. Their vocal performance was near flawless and they truly brought the play to life. Choreographers Quinn Vollmers and Cobly Schwatzwalter put together an amazing dance performance that helped move the play along. The dances weren’t distracting yet they added a new element to the play.
The show was set in an apartment that the Wren Jones, Will Rafferty, and Michaela Lochen designed. While a simple concept, it really felt like a lived in apartment. Near the back of the set was a smaller room that was lit so it seemed as if the apartment continued out past the living room. This really brought depth to the set and helped the audience feel as if they were really sitting in an apartment watching the play unfold.
In the end, [Title of Show] was a huge success. This comedic musical was pulled together by a fantastic cast and had an equally wonderful set. The strong vocal performance of all the actors was truly something amazing to hear. The actors were able to put together a solid show that had the audience laughing throughout the entire play.
UMD’s Stage 2 Theatre Company’s [title of show] presented an array of technical skills and well- crafted harmonies, with a cast of four actors that thrived off the abundance of an eager audience’s reaction. Although the characters of Hunter and Susan, played by Sam Hildestad and Daylen Moore, contributed well to the comical aspects of the production, there was not a lack of seriousness, as demonstrated by the character Jeff played by Cole David Mercier, and in the song “Die, Vampire, Die” which alluded to the negative thoughts minds may inhibit.
ReplyDeleteThe production that was directed by Zach Churchill and Derek Schwartz displayed the work of lighting designer Mags Scanion, who created an array of lights that not only helped establish dramatic effects, but also influenced the mood and tone of the show. The lighting effects added many beneficial features to the production, such as changing the color or intensity of the lights to alter between moods, and making the lights flash like a camera during scenes such as “Awkward Photoshoot”.
While all four actors delivered precise and clear lines, the vocal ranges demonstrated in the songs silenced the audience and gave many goosebumps. The elaborate harmonies demonstrated were all spot on, and interestingly as well as uniquely, the actors switched back and forth between who was singing the high or low harmonies, so that all vocal ranges had the opportunity to be displayed. However, the vocal range of Heidi, played by Grace Kelly Smith, soared above the rest. Contrarily to traditional theatre, the accompanist Isabelle Wurm was not only in full view of the audience, but also was integrated into the production, interacting with the actors onstage and delivering lines of her own.
Although traditionally it is unconventional to break the wall between the actors and the audience, the concept of creating a play within a play provided the perfect opportunity for this, such as when the character of Hunter flirted with audience member and Stage 2 actor Ryan Richardson who was not featured in the play.
The set pieces were contemporary and sparse, adding more emphasis on the actors and the lines or movements being executed. The actors moved their own set, sometimes in the middle of a scene, or strategically so that the audience attention was drawn to one side of the stage, so another actor could make an unnoticed entrance.
Altogether, although the production held elements of variation from traditional theatre, it was a well- presented, comical, and enjoyable performance by some of the actors of the Stage 2 Theatre.