LMC prepares for opening to Summer Theatre season
Pictured from left are Preston Burnop, Bryce Palyma, Cameron Burnop, Richard Gebo, Connor Burnop, Jake Florio and Jackson Burnop as they prepare for performances of "Oliver!," beginning this Friday, June 26.
Lees-McRae College prepares to open its 31st year of summer productions this week with its first production of the summer season, "Oliver!," which begins this Thursday, June 26
According to artistic director, Dr. Janet Barton Speer, as well as members of the cast, preparations for the leadoff of three productions this season have gone smoothly.
"If we've had any glitches, they've been really minor," Speer said following a rehearsal last weekend. "We brought in our technicians really early this year, and so the whole set was ready by the time we got on it, as were the props and the costumes. It's really been terrific."
LMC Summer Theatre opens with a musical adaptation of the classic Shakespeare tale Oliver Twist, centered around an orphan who runs away from an orphanage and hooks up with a group of boys trained to be pickpockets led by the Artful Dodger and masterminded by the elderly mentor/criminal Fagin.
A total of 62 performers were cast for the LMCST production, with 50 of the members hailing from Avery County, giving a local flair to the musical.
"We have a lot of local children playing roles and that had brought a lot of local interest. We have grandmothers and mothers and family members and friends involved. We hope this helps to get Avery County back into our doors again," Speer explained. "I feel like for a while they have felt that they couldn't come here, but that isn't true. We want to serve Avery, Watauga and everyone around us, and not only the residents who arrive during the summer on a part-time basis."
The actors themselves noted that preparing for the iconic musical that in film won multiple Academy and Golden Globe Awards was a positive process.
"For me, it's been really awesome diving into a unique character," said Richard Gebo, who portrays Fagin. "Learning the mannerism of the character with a Eastern European Jewish with the Internet as a primary resource has been a unique challenge. It's been really rewarding finding who this guy is and finding both his caring side for his boys and the evil side of him."
"I've not had many major difficulties, but it has been fun to portray the character and identify with the poor and hard life he had," Connor Martin, who portrays the title character, Oliver, in the production.
In preparing for his role, Gebo discovered additional inspiration as the curtain prepares to rise this week.
"I watched the movie like all of us, and Ron Moody was the absolute model for all my work in preparing for this role. I was absolutely heartbroken when I had heard he passed away last week," Gebo said. "I'm definitely going to have him on my mind while I'm performing and thinking about paying tribute to him with my work."
"I read the book and read word-for-word details of what happened. I also watched the movie which showed the facial expressions of how hard it was," Martin added.
"I watched the Broadway production and also read the book, trying to prepare myself for my first theatre production," Bryce Palmyra, who portrays The Artful Dodger, explained.
"We also sent the cast images of workhouse boys and things like that to give them some things to think about, to come up with their own backgrounds before you get here," Speer said.
Expectations for the upcoming production of "Oliver!" are high
"As far as artistic expectations, I have really high ones. The stars have sort of all aligned for this performance," Speer added. "We have the right people in the right roles, and it has felt very good from start to finish. It has been an easy process, which doesn't always occur. You would think that working with 50 children wouldn't be an easy process, but it has been. These children have been delightful."
The actors who have prepared for more than three weeks for "Oliver!" hope to see full houses each time the musical is performed, and offers reasons for why visitors should come to Hayes Auditorium to see the show.
"Those who come can see the real story of London, the good and the bad. This cast is amazingly talented and it is a great show to see firsthand," Martin said.
"Someone who comes to see "Oliver!" is coming to see one of the great pieces of literature of our time come to life with an incredible set, a talented cast and technical wizardry from some of the best people we can find," Gebo added.
"The music of this show is outstanding as well," Speer said. "Songs such as 'Consider Yourself' and 'As Long as He Needs Me' are famous pieces, and it's just a great musical."
"Oliver!" begins its run at Hayes Auditorium with a performance at 7 p.m. this Thursday, June 26, with additional 7 p.m. performances on June 27 and 30, as well as July 1 and 2. Performances will also take place at 2 p.m. on June 28 and July 3. Ticket prices range from $35 to $40 for adults and from $18 to $20 for students and children.
