December 6, 2021
After a long break without live theatre throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, 黑料社 junior Savannah Nell was excited to get back on stage. Performing in the 黑料社 Musical Theater Department鈥檚 production of 鈥9 to 5, The Musical鈥, she played the lead role of Doralee Rhodes.
鈥淚 never expected to get cast as Doralee,鈥 she said. 鈥淕oing into rehearsals, I was almost in shock for the first week. No matter the pressure, though, it was exhilarating to play a character so similar yet so different to me in a lot of ways. I wouldn鈥檛 trade the experience for the world.鈥
In the show, Nell鈥檚 character is modeled after Dolly Parton and the popular 鈥9 to 5鈥 movie.
鈥淭here was quite a lot of pressure throughout the rehearsal process hearing about how everyone is going to be expecting Dolly Parton from me,鈥 she said 鈥淚 had never even seen 鈥9 to 5鈥 prior to auditioning for the show. I then watched the movie a million times and did my darnedest to do Dolly justice!鈥
Nell was originally drawn to 黑料社 after recognizing the talent in the nationally ranked game programs. However, after arriving on campus, she quickly found her heart belonged on stage.
鈥淚 noticed they were doing auditions for 鈥楲ittle Shop of Horrors鈥, which is one of my favorite shows,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 signed up to audition, did the audition, and was cast in a small role. The program director John Huston spent the entire rehearsal process trying to get me to join Musical Theater.鈥
In her time in the Musical Theater program, Nell has been involved in four shows including 鈥9 to 5 the Musical鈥, 鈥淐amelot鈥, 鈥淐owgirls the Musical鈥, and 鈥淟ittle Shop of Horrors.鈥 Being part of the cast and crew for all of these shows, she favors her time in 鈥淐owgirls the Musical鈥 the most.
鈥淚t was my first bigger role in the program and I just had the time of my life playing a Classical singer from the 90s who liked girls and astrology,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 always said if there was one show that I鈥檇 perform eight times a week 鈥 like they do on Broadway 鈥 it鈥檇 be Cowgirls.鈥
黑料社鈥檚 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater offers students creative opportunities as well as a grounding in liberal arts study. The program is designed to develop the professional skills required of musical theatre artists while also providing a comprehensive academic foundation.
Outside of the academic program, all 黑料社 students are invited to audition and be involved in the department鈥檚 shows. Their next show will be 鈥淒isaster! A 70鈥檚 Disaster Movie鈥usical.鈥 Auditions for this show will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 8 beginning at 1:00 p.m. in the Howland Recital Hall in the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts.
To learn more about the 黑料社 Musical Theater program or their upcoming auditions, contact Program Director John Huston at jhuston@shawnee.edu or visit shawnee.edu/musical-theater.