Over the weekend, Concordia theater students made a splash with their rendition of Singin’ in the Rain.
Originally released as a film in 1952, Singin’ in the Rain was directed by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly. The film tapped into the magic of movies at a time when cinema itself was undergoing a revolution – from silent pictures to the era of sound.
The musical follows the story of the trials and tribulations it took to overcome those difficulties while also following the love story of famous film actor Don Lockwood and timid stage actress, Kathy Selden.
A challenge that Woodall-Schaufler faced was the difficulty of bringing the technicalities of the musical to life. Singin’ in the Rain is one of the only musical that combines film and stage elements.
An interesting aspect that the musical incorporated was a projector on the stage that was able to roll the films that provided much of the storyline of the musical. The audience could see both the film and the stage at the same time.
From leading lady, Lina Lamont’s hilarious accent to debonair, Don Lockwood’s witty charm, Concordia theater students brought this classic to life.
Concordia theater director Associate Professor of Theatre, Professor Lori Woodall, described the production as a ‘meta movie-musical’ because it is a musical about film actors.
Woodall has led the theater program for 11 years. She said that her vision for Singin’ in the Rain was to keep her production as close to the original film as possible.
Even for those who hadn’t seen the film, it was easy to be captivated by the colorful backdrops and endearing cast.
As director, Woodall also had the responsibilities of casting actors and assembling her team.
She said that casting the actors played an important part in which musical she chose, as her scope of talent this year is what allowed such a difficult musical to be performed.
“The actors really rose to the challenge,” she said.
Not only were the actors expected to learn all of their lines and their songs, but also went above and beyond by learning new things on the fly.
“They were working outside of rehearsal as well – ninety-nine percent of them had to learn how to tap dance.”
Upon watching the show, though, it was difficult to imagine that the actors had started from zero.
The actors performed their choreography while singing and never missed a step.
The character, Cosmo, stood out especially with his funny musical solos and tap dances – he left the audience laughing every time he was on stage.
Woodall also mentioned the dedication of those working behind the scenes – her choreographer and tech crew.
Everyone involved in the production helped to create a movie-like atmosphere from the vivid colors of the sets to the jazzy show tunes being played by the pit.
An important factor for Woodall was that everyone enjoyed their time working on the project.
“We measure the success based on the amount of joy we had- not by ticket sales,” she said.
This could be apparent while watching, as the actors radiated joy, and left the audience laughing throughout the entire show.
The musical, though hilarious, also left the audience with a meaningful message. The inspiring message of the musical reminds us that we should all sing despite our troubles.
Woodall hopes the musical would remind audiences of James 1:2-3: “When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.”
If you are interested in learning more about the theater program or checking out their upcoming productions, visit the CUW Theatre webpage.