Theater and Dance announces its full itinerary for upcoming shows

The beginning of October means it’s the time of the semester when Troy’s Theatre and Dance department begins to take the stage. After having August and September to prepare, the next two months will see the program putting on four shows: “Twelfth Night” by William Shakespeare on Oct. 10-12 and 16-18, “Page to Stage” on Nov. 7-8, “Ride the Cyclone” on Nov. 13-16 and “Clara’s Nutcracker” on Nov. 20-21 and Dec. 2. 

The showing of “Twelfth Night” begins in just over one week and is an adaptation of the William Shakespeare play by the theatre department. A preview of that production will be in the next edition of The Tropolitan. 

The piece “Clara’s Nutcracker” is a reimagined version of the classical ballet “The Nutcracker” which takes place in 1945 post-war America instead of the original choreography for the Imperial Russian Ballet in 1892. The name comes from the character whose eyes the piece is seen through, a 16-year-old girl named Clara. 

“Clara's Nutcracker showcases the many talents of students on this campus,” said Dominique Angel, the production’s co-director. “It will transport you to a different time and place and bring the holiday spirit to all at Troy University.” 

Even though “Clara’s Nutcracker” isn’t being shown until late November, Angel said they’ve made great progress in their preparation for the show so far. 

“This production is quite extensive, requiring sets, projections, original choreography, original costume designs, and a cast of fifty students from the Theatre and Dance Department,” Angel said. “We have been rehearsing since August, at this point most of our second act has been choreographed, we are proud of our students and the dedication and hard work that they are putting into this production.” 

One of the dancers in the show said it has taken a lot of time and effort to make all of the progress they’ve made so far but the hard work has been worth it. 

“It is a lot a lot of work but as long as I stay focused and continue to think about the greater reward of being able to perform and spend time with those involved it is easy to stay motivated,” said Charlee Kirkland, a junior dance major from Clanton, Alabama. “I find the artform beautiful and love the dedication and commitment that it takes to be successful in it.” 

To one of the production’s choreographers, having students in attendance is about more than just showing off the product of their hard work or gaining support for the program. It’s about spreading the dancer’s passion for their craft with the rest of the student body. 

“Students should attend all theatre and dance productions this semester so they can experience a truly beautiful artform,” said Libby Wiley, a junior dance major from Tifton, Georgia. “I feel like our generation lacks a love for the arts and by putting on these shows we can share our love for the art with them.”