Forget "South Pacific" and "Oklahoma." When it came to picking a spring musical at UND, theater students balked at doing a traditional musical. "My Generation," the show they're doing instead, isn't a musical at all, said director and theater instructor Emily Cherry.
Featuring songs by today's headlining entertainers -- Lady Gaga, LMFAO, Adele and more -- it's really more of a pop concert than a musical, said Cherry, assistant professor in the UND Department of Theatre Arts.
The idea for "My Generation," which opens at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at UND Burtness Theatre and runs through Saturday, came from the students themselves.
"They wanted to do something for the UND students," Cherry said. "They didn't want to do another Rogers and Hammerstein show. They wanted to do something for their generation."
As long as they were at it, they decided to add technology to their show, something that defines their generation as much as do entertainers such as Gavin DeGraw or fun. (fun., with a lower-case "f" and a period at the end, is the name of the band that scored the megahit "We Are Young.")
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Twitter and Facebook
So at the same time they're singing and dancing, UND's actors and singers will be on Twitter and Facebook, sending messages and posting photos and video of their performance. And they want the audience to do the same.
"My Generation" is inviting audience members to bring their smart phones, electronic tablets and other devices and keep them on during the performance, so they can live Tweet and message the actors and actresses and the world at large. Wireless Internet access will be provided.
Everyone is invited to "like" the show on Faceook at UNDMyGen and become part of the production before it gets to the stage.
However, said Cherry, if all that technology is not "your generation," don't worry, just come and enjoy the singing and dancing.
This is the first time a show at UND has gone "techy," and at a rehearsal last week, the cast of young singers and dancers were working their way through all the ways they're going to be using their gadgets. That includes five big screens backing them up that will bring another dimension to their show, with videos and more.
"My Generation" certainly has felt the influence of the hit TV show "Glee," whose young stars interpret some of pop music's greatest songs. One of the early numbers in the show is a very funny and entertaining version of LMFAO's "I'm Sexy and I Know It" by male members of the cast in which shirts are coming off.
About the show
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The show's cast features Jacqueline DeGraff, Brian Dempcy, Patrick Kloeckner, Daniella Lima, Philip Muehe, Jackie O'Neil, Casey Paradies, Rachel Perry, Tyler Rood, Abby Schoenborn, Casey Smith, Kjerstine Alyce Trooien, Emily Wirkus and Jordan Wolfe.
The production team includes Cherry as director; Anne Christopherson, musical director; Ali Angelone, choreographer; Brad Reissig, scenice and lighting designer; Daphne Pankratz, costume designer; Loren Liepold, technical director and sound design; Chelsie Pollert, stage manager; Matt Dempsey, Emily Hogenson and Nick McConnell, assistant stage managers; Willian Pankratz, video design. Bob Cary, Anne Christopherson, Kristian Eylands, Bradley Larson and Danny Moffit will provide music for the show.
Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The show includes some adult language.
Tickets will be $20 for adults and $10 for students. For reservations, call (701) 777-2587.
Reach Tobin at (701) 780-1134; (800) 477-6572, ext. 134; or send e-mail to ptobin@gfherald.com .
