Theatre students take on zany, 1920s-era Broadway musical

By Matt Ward – Sun Advocate Editor

Carbon High Theatre students are traveling back to 1922 come Nov. 14.
As many as 50 students will perform in the opening of “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” an award-winning Broadway musical set in 1920s New York City.
The play tells the story of a small-town girl, Millie Dillmount, who travels to the Big Apple to marry for money instead of love. Millie soon begins to delight in the flapper lifestyle, but problems arise when she checks into a hotel owned by the leader of a Chinese white slavery ring.
Scenes filled with jazz, dancing flappers and intrigue combine to mark an ambitious show for the local actors and actresses.
Elley Cowdell, who plays Millie, said she is excited about the role and already sees similarities between herself and the lead character.
“I’m super excited to play this,” she said. “I also feel like kind of similar to Millie. Just because we are both excited about life and the adventure that life is.”
Auditioning in August, students selected for leading roles are already rehearsing four days a week, first on stage and then at Linda’s School of Dance during the evening, mastering the moves needed to pull off a successful production.
The play runs from Nov. 14-17 and again on Nov. 19 at the Carbon High School Auditorium, 750 E. 400 N. in Price.
The creative team at Carbon High, Steve Pay, the theatre’s director, Linda Johnstun, the choreographer and Rebecca Taylor, the music director, chose the play and are working with students to produce the show.
One actress, Mikayla Taggart, will play the role of Mrs. Meers, a Chinese character. Taggart said she is preparing for the part by watching online videos of professional performances of the play.
“I’ve been watching videos of other people’s performances of this musical and trying to learn how they talk,” she said.
Summer Atherley, who will play the character Miss Dorothy, said she sees a lot of herself in the role.
“We are both very excitable, kind of fun-loving,” she said.
Trinalee Hatch will play Muzzy Van Hossmere, a famous jazz singer.
“I’m world renowned. It’s going to be difficult playing a character that exudes confidence. I have not yet done that, so it will be an adventure,” the actress said.
Stephan Ewan, who plays Jimmy, said his part is a bit more complex than what he’s used to playing.
“It’s going to be really confusing because Jimmy’s character is kind of a mix of hopeful, kind of angry, less murder-y Casanova, that likes to go on dates with several people but has this really weird shift between being this hunk to being something else,” he said.
Leonard Livingston will be joining his brother Jack on stage. Each will play the roles of Chinese-speaking (and singing) characters Bun Foo and Ching Ho respectively.
“I’m kind of winging it,” said Leonard, about his foreign-language speaking role.
Patrick Paulk, who will play the Trevor Graydon III character, said he’s intrigued by the music in the play.
“This role interested me for one reason. It was the song called ‘The Speed Test,’ sheerly for the fact it is the fastest song I have ever heard on Broadway,” he said.
Paulk has been singing baritone in the choir since he was a freshman. In fact, most of the cast also performs in choir at the high school.
Ryker Childs is sitting mostly on the sideline as an understudy to Jimmy, though the Thursday performance is all him. He said the theatre doesn’t normally train understudies. But Pay “said he saw something in me and he wants it to grow,” the actor said.
Carbon High students are on a winning streak when it comes to producing successful performances.
Last fall’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” was a hit with audiences, for example.
Tickets for “Thoroughly Modern Millie” can be purchased in advance online at http://carbonhighschooltheatrearts.seatyourself.biz, or at the school, or on the night of the performances at the door.
Prices are $5 for adults and $3 for children. A family pass is available for $20 for families of six to 10 people.
The curtain rises at 7 p.m. For more information, follow Carbon High Theatre on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/carbonhighschooltheatrearts.