Premiering on Thursday, October 8, the first show of the academic year at the Little Theatre on the campus of Central Methodist University will be Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, directed by CMU alumnus Steven Minning ’75. Shows will be staged from October 8 through 11.
Since graduating from Central, Minning has gathered insight and experience through 40 years of working in professional theatres, nationally and internationally, including Broadway, Regional Theatres, and Cirque du Soleil. The opportunity to expose CMU student performers and crew to that industry insight was a major factor in the decision by Dr. Mark Kelty, professor of theatre, to invite Minning to guest direct this year’s first play.
“I think it's an important educational experience and an opportunity for professional growth for our students to work with guest directors, which we arrange for them every year. Each director brings their own individual style and system to the process,” said Kelty. “Steven brings all of his professional experience and an in-depth rehearsal process to every aspect of the production. Our students are benefiting from Steven's insight into character development and the intricate detail work that he does in all areas of the production.”
Minning – who directed another Sondheim musical, Company, as his senior project under the mentorship of Dr. Joe Geist in 1975 – says he is grateful to Central for welcoming him back and to the theatre for “bringing [him] home.”
“The campus is more beautiful than ever, and the opportunities for students, both in and beyond the classroom, have grown tremendously. But what matters most to me is that Central still feels like home,” he said. “This is where I began discovering who I could become. Returning now to share what I’ve learned and help another generation find their own voices is a deeply personal gift.”
Minning says his directing of the two Sondheim works makes for “extraordinary bookends to a life in theatre” and that being able to share his return with a mentor like Geist makes the experience “all the more meaningful.”
Based on the book by Hugh Wheeler and written by Sondheim as a musical, A Little Night Music explores the tangled web of affairs centered around actress Desirée Armfeldt and the men who love her: Fredrik Egerman and the Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm. When she performs in Fredrik's town, their passion rekindles, striking a flurry of jealousy between Desirée; Fredrik; Fredrik's wife, Anne; the Count; and the Count's wife, Charlotte. They all go to the country for a weekend of romantic entanglements and surprises in 1900 Sweden.
The Little Theatre production stars Liz Boyd as Desirée, Owen Flores as Fredrik, Davis Conway as Count Malcolm, Memphis Eckert as Anne, and Cecilia Rancatore as Charlotte. Justyn Daigle plays Henrik Egerman, Catelyn Weise plays Fredrika Armfeldt, and Harmony Andrews plays Madame Armfeldt. Other members of the cast include Emeline DeLapp as Petra, Jackson Krause as Mr. Lundquist, Colleen Allen as Mrs. Nordstrom, Elizabeth Berry as Mrs. Anderssen, Tyler Hershey as Mr. Erlanson, Presley Weingart as Mrs. Segstrom, and Juan Prada as Frid. The cast will be rounded out by Prof. Breilly Roy as Malla, Meckenzie Jones as Countess Elodie, Rachel Fisher as Marquis Vivienne, Walker Lapinski as Page in the local theatre, and Tegan Graves as Bertrand.
Along with Minning as the director, the production will feature Dr. Jonathan Ray as the music director, Prof. Zachary Kierstead as rehearsal accompanist, Prof. Lonna Wilke as the scenic/lighting director, Terri Rohlfing as the costume designer, Arielle Prince as the assistant director and choreographer, Roy as the assistant stage manager, Elizabeth Palmieri as the intimacy coordinator, and Poppy Garner as the assistant technical director. Vivian Gravitz serves as the costume design assistant, Emma McLaughlin is the sound engineer/sound board operator, Alaina Watson is the light board operator, Wyatt Forrester is the property master, and Wyatt Mitchell will operate the spot light. In addition to her role in the cast, Andrews is in charge of marketing, while the running crew includes Taylor Crandall and Taylor Martin. Gravitz and Samantha McCulloch are on the costume crew, and several members of the cast and crew will also serve as scene shop assistants.
The orchestra for the performances will include Kierstead on piano, Evan Wilde and Sarah Great on violin, Dr. Catherine Sandstedt on viola, Natalie Parker on cello, and Ted Spayde on brass. Gessie Bruce, Aubrey Cutler, Kylie Dickinson, and Brandon Prince will join in the reeds section.
Evening shows on Thursday through Saturday will begin at 7 p.m., while the Sunday matinee will begin at 1:30 p.m. For CMU main stage productions, tickets are $15 for general admission, $10 for CMU faculty and staff, and $5 for seniors and non-CMU students. CMU students are admitted for free with ID. Reservations are accepted the week of each performance. Check with the box office at 660-248-6281 for details.