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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (September 17, 2003) —The Sub 7 theatre of Milligan College will come to life next week with the sights and sounds of its fall performance, “Cole.”
“Cole” is a musical revue celebrating the life and works of Broadway composer Cole Porter. The show is a high energy blend of song, dance and comedy, with witty biographical narration. The cast features performers from Milligan as well as the community.
“Our production has a talented cast of singers, dancers, and actors, as well as one of the best jazz bands around,” said director Jennifer Schmidt. She promises the show has “something for everyone.”
The main cast features Milligan students Cara Estep, Stephanie Lyons, April Martin, Melissa Mills, Caitlin Smith, Sara Wallingford and Donnie Wallingford. Bluff City, Tenn., residents Gary Smith, Travis Thompson and Russell Thompson are also featured in the show. The supporting cast includes Milligan students Russ Roberts, Josh Ramos, Zach Leonard, Isaac Schade and Karyn Smithson.
Cole features tunes from the 1920s and 30s. Rick Simerly, Milligan College professor and performer, will play trombone and direct the orchestra. The five piece orchestra features several local musicians with Robert Jeeter on piano, Fred Goodwin on bass, Kelly Scollin playing trumpet and Eddie Dalton on percussion.
Schmidt was asked by Dick Major, Milligan theater director who is on sabbatical this academic year, to head up the fall theater production at Milligan College. Schmidt, who is a 1981 Milligan alumna, has been a part of theater and directing since her involvement in “Camelot” as a student on the Milligan stage. She is excited to be working with the students and with Porter’s music.
“He has been one of my favorite composers,” said Schmidt, who has been active for a number of years in the local group Sophisticates. Sophisticates perform tunes from the era of Porter.
The production runs in SUB 7 coffee house in the McMahan Student Center on Milligan’s campus, September 25-27, with performances beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students. All tickets are general seating and are on sale at the Milligan College Bookstore. For ticket information please call 461-8733.