The Catawba College Theatre Department will present Mark Blitzstein’s musical, "The Cradle Will Rock," November 16-20 in the Florence Busby Corriher Theatre on campus. Performances will be offered each of those evenings at 7:30 p.m., along with a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday, Nov. 20th.
The show was written by Blitzstein for Bretoldt Brecht and is Brechtian in its style. A historical piece capturing America in the 1930s struggling against the Depression, it contains various social and political commentaries about unions and the struggle of the "little people" during an unstable economic era.
Blitzstein’s characters are portrayed as cartoon caricatures, a technique loyal to Brechtian style. This portrayal helps capture the essence of the social issues at the time and assists the audience in making connections to the social and political issues today. The show is also about censorship and freedom of speech, which is ironic because it was almost closed down by the government when it first opened due to the ferocity with which it attacked these issues.
Cast members include Senior Anthony Johnson of Burlington as Larry Foreman/Junior Mister; Senior Taylor Homan of Lexington, Ky., as Mr. Mister/Gent; Sophomore Jessica Moretti of Charlotte as Moll/Receptionist; Sophomore Amy Guenther of Asheville as Mrs. Mister; Junior Johnathan Menius of Kannapolis as Professor Trixie/Gus; Freshman Andy McCain of Mequon, Wis., as Editor Daily/Reporter; Sophomore Nikolas Kear of Gatlinburg, Tenn., as Sister Mister/Dick; Sophomore Robyn Shute of Durham, as Cop/Steve; Freshman Michael Lasris of Seaford, Va., as Yasha/Professor Scott; Freshman Sheldon Rogers of Waxhaw as Druggist/Reporter; Freshman Sarah Koerner of Rocky Mount as Dauber/ Ella; Freshman Brianna Smith of Austin, Texas, as Reverend Salvation/ Bugs; Sophomore Jared Wietbrock of Loganville, Ga., as Dr. Specialist; Freshman Briana Raymond of Austin, Texas, as Professor Mamie/ Sadie; Sophomore Jessica Pruett-Barnett of Georgetown, Del., as President Prexy/ Reporter; and Sophomore Tiffany Cox of Woodbridge, Va., as Clerk.
The production is directed by Professor Missy Barnes with Sophomore McKenna Dabbs of Nashville, Tenn., serving as assistant director, and Laurie Klaus of Salisbury, a Catawba adjunct faculty member, as musical director. Stage manager is Sophomore Joey Yow of High Point, with Sophomore Aly Perez of Waldorf, Md., and Freshman Leah Schrubbe of Chapel Hill as assistant stage managers. Set designer and assistant set designer are Senior Liam Macik of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Sophomore Michael Strickland of Austin, Texas, respectively. Professor Chris Zink is lighting designer, while Senior Shea Walker of Salisbury is costume designer, assisted by Sophomore Sam Brooks of Seaford, Va. Sophomore Aly Martorana of Glassboro, N.J., is responsible for makeup and hair design and Sophomore Jessica Moretti of Charlotte is in charge of publicity. Master carpenter is Senior Kelly Flick of Newport News, Va., and props master is Senior John Rummage of Rockwell. Junior Robyn Smith of Chambersburg, Pa., is in charge of scenic changes.
Tickets for "The Cradle Will Rock" are $10 for adults and $8 for non-Catawba students and senior citizens. For more information, call the box office at 704-637-4481. Group rates are available.
