Roaring 20s come alive in 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'
The fun and frivolity of the Roaring 20s will come alive at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Nov. 11-13 and 16-19 as the Department of Theatre and Dance stages the musical, “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”
Called a “light and fun musical” by its director, Assistant Professor and Music Theatre Coordinator Tim Howard, “Thoroughly Modern Millie” was recently staged on Broadway and won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Based on the 1967 film of the same name, the show features “lots of dancing, gorgeous costumes and jazz music that the audience will eat up,” Howard said.
The production will be performed in the Jenkins Theatre at the Noel Fine Arts Center, 1800 Portage St., at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 11 and 12, and Wednesday through Saturday, Nov. 16-19. A 2 p.m. matinee will be held Sunday, Nov. 13. Admission is $17 for adults, $16 for senior citizens and $12 for students. Tickets are available at the Information and Tickets Office in the Dreyfus University Center, online or by calling 715-346-4100 or 800-838-3378. The show is appropriate for all ages.
“Thoroughly Modern Millie” tells the story of a small town Kansas girl, Millie Dillmount (played by Allegra Berglund, Fargo, N.D.), who comes to New York City in 1922 to find a rich husband. She sets her sights on her boss, Trevor Graydon (Justun Hart, Oshkosh), but instead finds herself falling for the flapper lifestyle and the carefree Jimmy Smith (John Ford-Dunker, Fargo, N.D.). She also has to rescue her new friend, Dorothy Brown (Courtney Groves, Coon Rapids, Minn.), from the clutches of their landlady, Mrs. Meers (Hanna Gaffney, Oconomowoc).
“The musical was written in the genre of comic pastiche, which is a mix of dark comedy, the frivolous 20s and a love story,” said Howard. With 35 cast members, it’s one of the largest productions that the department has done for a while, he added. New York City is a character on its own, he said, with the cityscape always in the background of the action.
The music is high energy, up-tempo and accessible, Howard says, and includes the songs “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and “Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life.” With the entire cast involved in the numerous dance numbers choreographed by Dance Assistant Professor Jeannie Hill, students are enjoying getting inside the “more is more” world of the 1920s, he added.
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