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This season’s online sampling from snc.edu/magazine begins with some of the behind-the-scenes fly-on-the-wall reporting that underpins our new cover story.

Holding the Stage With a Host of Compelling Stories

Zac Dickhut ’19 as Gomez: I’m not going to mess up my lyrics this time.
Vocal director Elle Dannecker ’19: But I appreciate that you came back from it.
Dickhut: I was not going to let that thing sink!

Join us as we peep behind the scenes at the months of prep work, weeks of 10- to 12-hour rehearsal days and sheer creative joy of producing a full-length musical with your college mates. Ladies and gentlemen: We bring you your student-led, student-directed, 25th anniversary production of Knight Theatre’s “The Addams Family.”

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The audition
The checklist is short: two solos and a monologue. That’s all the aspiring actors need to bring to their auditions. Sing portions of two solos and recite an excerpt of a monologue – all while being judged by your peers.

John Dicks ’20, Knight Theatre producer, uses a warm voice to welcome each student into the choir room and to explain how the audition – and its aftermath: casting decisions – will run. Other members of the production team (artistic director Annicka Rabida ’21, vocal director Elle Dannecker ’19, pit director Erin Hanke ’19, stage manager Kathryn Verheyden ’21) wait with open laptops and reassuring smiles. Michael Rosewall (Music) sits at the ready at the piano, poised to accompany the soloists.

Two solos and a monologue. Not enough to display a full repertoire, but enough to measure the range in talent and the potential among hopeful cast members.

One student, entering the choir room and shooting quick glances to take in the faces that watch her, begins her first solo, “Morning Person” from “Shrek: The Musical,” with a shaky voice, hardly audible over the accompanist. Encouraging smiles from the production team help embolden her, giving her confidence for her next solo.

In the next audition, the singer’s voice fills the room. Kiera Matthews ’19 shows off her stage presence, adding some subtle dance moves while singing “Bring on the Men” from “Jekyll & Hyde.” Her choice of material, which includes a monologue from the perspective of a woman who has become bored with a man’s romantic advances, triggers immediate connections to a character in the minds of the production team: “She’s like a living Addams family member. … And she only wears black!”

Two solos and a monologue – and the production team has found their Morticia.

Dance auditions
Cast auditions include dance practice. Aspiring actors are tasked with learning and performing a dance routine on the spot. Choreographers Jordan Schuman ’21 and Taylor Donoval ’20, along with the rest of the production team, are looking for actors’ abilities to learn new choreography.

“Please make sure you hydrate during this,” Donoval says. “I do not want you to pass out. It’s not that intense, but you could pass out.”

Rehearsals
Work for Knight Theatre cast members starts weeks before rehearsals begin in earnest. The group meets for its first read-through ... Read on

And there’s more …

In 42 seasons 
Connie Tilley Day – a retirement so huge it gets its own name! Join in the laughter, hugs and tears as we celebrate the legendary coach.

In the gallery
New work by Brian Pirman (Art) can be seen in his Godshalx Gallery show, “Experimental Digital Patterns,” through March 29 – and, in our online gallery.

In at the deep end
National coach Jack Fabian joined the Green Knights as they prepared for their first season, working with individual swimmers on their form.

In China
Frank Kasell ’06 quit his job and spent three months researching a book on Chinese street food. Then he came home and wrote “Chinese Street Food: a Field Guide for the Adventurous Diner.” Our excerpt feeds the souls of armchair travelers. Sample an excerpt

March 8, 2019