Muskingum University student actors will be presenting “Anne of Green Gables” at Thompson Theatre on campus.
The cast of “Anne of Green Gables” has been rehearsing since Sept. 14. The show is entering “technical week,” where the technical designers for light, costume, and sound will be adding their work to the production.
Junior Ava Hayslip attends the next to last dress rehearsal. Hayslip has acted each year she has been at Muskingum.
“I do feel like it is starting to come together, and I am excited for the tech people to come in and make it really feel like I am getting into character,” said Muskingum Junior Ava Hayslip, who will be acting as Marilla.
“Anne of Green Gables” is one of the bigger shows Muskingum University has done since the beginning of the pandemic.
Sydney Campbell—senior student who will be acting as Anne—said it is challenging to keep the energy of a 12 year-old and to always be on stage.
“Her [Anne] emotions are so big, she is always learning and exploring, and her imagination never stops. She feels all of her feelings all the way through and expresses them so loudly into the world. As an actor, it is such a gift to be forced to verbalize and physically feel these feelings so largely. That is what we are training to do,” said Campbell.
Senior Sydney Campell is a theatre and digital media design student at Muskingum. She has acted in many other performances outside of her collegiate career.
Campbell said starting to see the world differently now because of her role as Anne.
“I hope everyone can walk away from this show seeing the beauty of the world all around them, and can appreciate the work and beauty that theatre can provide for this world, too,” said Campbell.
Theatre student workers for the have been working on designing the set since the third week of classes.
Two theatre major students at Muskingum are working on this production of “Anne of Green Gables” for their senior seminar capstone project.
Christina Tyree-Branham—master electrician and senior theatre major—is light designing the production.
“This is my third and last real design project here at Muskingum. It is the most big and complex that I have designed. It will be a good show to end on,” said Tyree-Branham.
Kacie Huston—scenic charge artist and senior theatre and english major—will be stage managing her fifth production.
“I feel like I have grown a lot as a stage manager and my seminar is proving that I have learned a lot,” said Huston.
Although this is Huston’s last stage-managing position at Muskingum, she hopes to do it as a career.
Christina Tyree-Branham and Kacie Huston. Both Tyree-Branham and Huston have been involved in Muskie Theatre for all four years of their college careers.
Dr. Diane Rao is the show director and Professor Cassie King is the technical director. Senior David McDonald is the sound designer, junior Aliyah Guthrie is the costume designer, senior Augusta Kinzel will be doing hair and makeup, and sophomores Jeanne Stevens and Harley Smith are the assistant stage managers.
Muskingum’s Production of “Anne of Green Gables” will open on Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. and run through Oct. 30.
Tickets are free to students with a Muskingum ID or are $5.
Tickets can be reserved online.
