The Clause

(From left to right): freshman MILES GRIMES, senior ADRIANNA LYONS, junior STEVEN RADA, freshman AMBER LaFAVE, freshman BRITTANY FREETH, freshman CHRIS SPEED, freshman ALLISON SPEIGLEMAN, and senior KEVIN SHEWEY.

As the lights come up across the stage, 42nd Street’s finest dancers are frozen in a familiar “strike-a-pose” fashion. With a sultry song, and solo piano the audience is transported in their seats back to the heightened hype of New York theater.

The atmosphere on the stage quickly changes when the choreographer enters to direct his dancers, and before you know it you’re witnessing a fast pace tap number, rarely performed on the APU theater department’s main stage.

Ah, Broadway.

Considered to be “The Musical For People Who Love Broadway Musicals,” 42nd Street tells the classic Broadway love story about a novice actress in search of success. With nothing more then a dream in her heart to do what she loves, the young and innocent chorus girl, Peggy Sawyer from Allentown, P.A. gets the chance of a lifetime to replace the leading lady in one of Julian Marsh’s next productions.

And while poster advertisements scattered around campus showcase the “tapping feet” in red pumps as a highlight of this spring’s musical, the cast’s rendition of Broadway dancing will surely not disappoint. With almost everyone clicking their heels together at some point, it’s no wonder the choreography was considered one of the most difficult challenges to master for their 29 person cast.

Choreographer for 42nd Street, Tracie Bonner began working with the cast on their dance technique in January. “Very few, probably five or six of our cast members had previous dance training [before the show], and the rest were all pretty much beginners,” Bonner said. Even director Douglas Clayton agrees that a lot of students put a lot of time into the dancing numbers.

And it shows. While I have always been impressed with the quality of APU’s musical productions, including everything from their lighting, orchestra, acting, and singing; never have I been so amazed by the pervasiveness of this cast’s work on their choreography.

“I probably worked on the dancing numbers every night,” junior theater arts major Steven Rada said. Rada, who had at least six years of previous dance training before the show, was cast for the role of Andy, the choreographer in the musical, so the pressure to be on top of his technique was immense for a production like 42nd Street.

Studying from Bonner to learn how a choreographer might direct, Rada credits her for preparation with his part. “She helped me understand how a choreographer would act, and what she would do in different situations with the cast,” Rada said.

Of course, playing the part of a theater production team for the musical’s storyline, when everyone in the cast is already an APU theater member to begin with, was a relatable aspect of the show for many people’s characters.

I think that may have been one of the most enjoyable aspects of the play. As you sit in the audience and watch the cast members try to piece together the parts for a perfect Broadway musical, you can’t help but wonder how much of their frustration, excitement, hard work, and perseverance on stage in their characters are drawn from real life.

Kevin Shewey, a senior theater arts major who plays Julian Marsh, the 42nd Street’s Broadway director, also mentioned how his preparation for the role included watching Clayton direct them.

“I watched a lot of old movies, and talked with our own directors. I was really happy with the role I was cast in, but I was really nervous too. I have been in musicals before but when they asked me to play the male lead, I was like, ‘What!?’” Shewey said.

But Shewey and Rada had nothing to worry about. They and the entire cast were fantastic. Everyone brought a unique likeability to their character; whether it was sophomore theater arts major Amanda Kruger’s dramatic Dorothy Brock, freshman cinema arts major Alex Loziol’s accent, or junior music education major Elise Gomez’s mischievous Maggie, everyone had a larger-then-life star quality.

Especially freshman theater arts major Amber LaFave, who played the musical’s small town sweetheart, in search of a dream in the big city. LaFave was able to draw from personal experience for learning her character Peggy Sawyer as well.

“When I came to APU I didn’t expect to get any main roles, but during our very first audition, when we had to write what our dream role was [to be cast in], this was mine. I kind of felt like I was thrown into it, just like my character,” LaFave said.

LaFave also had to be on top of her dance technique for numbers like “Go Into Your Dance,” “We’re In The Money,” and “Forty-Second Street,” but for a girl who has been dancing since she was three; this was just another relatable part of her character.

She and the rest of the cast truly deliver an authentic celebration to Broadway’s grand showbiz. Numbers to watch for, not already mentioned include “Shadow Waltz,” “Dames,” and “Lullaby of Broadway.”

At the end of the final dress rehearsal, Director Douglas Clayton couldn’t hold back his enthusiasm for the cast’s dedication. “They were a brilliant team, and made it all work together,” he said. “We are right where we need to be for opening night.”

So, buy your tickets now because this show is sure to sell out. Officially opening on Thursday, March 12, the musical will run for three weeks every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30pm, with the option of matinees on Saturdays at 2pm. Further information can be found through the Theater Arts Department office on West Campus.