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Thursday, Feb. 17, 2005
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'Musical Cabaret' graces the NRT stage
By Sophia Gonzalez
Collegian Staff Writer
Against a backdrop of splattered paint, nine singers stand in line singing a cappella, "Walk on with hope in your heart and you'll never walk alone," in a momentarily empty Forum Building classroom.
Wearing what will be T-shirts for the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, "Never Walk Alone" offers a tribute to all THON participants.
No Refund Theatre (NRT) is set to perform A Musical Cabaret at 8 p.m. tomorrow and Saturday at 111 Forum.
NRT, a completely student-run theatre group, will perform a collection of 20 hopeful and uplifting songs from Broadway musicals and movies. Songs span anywhere from Kiss Me, Kate to Rent to Once Upon a Mattress and Aladdin.
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PHOTO: Nina Reznik/Collegian
From left to right: Kasey Soska (senior-sociology), Warren Smith (sophomore-architecture), Kel Ekins (sophomore-engineering) and Rob Hubber (senior-english) rehearse with the show’s music director Craig Schwartz (sophomore-music composition and meteorology) warm up for a musical number.
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"The whole thing is just funny because they're so uncomfortable with this girl chasing them, it's just like third grade," Peters said.
"It's just really loud and all over the place. I feel like I need to take aerobics to prepare for all this running around," added Peters.
In a difficult barbershop quartet performance, NRT will sing "Lida Rose" to its THON child, Claire.
"Claire has really gotten into theatre now because of her interaction with us and seeing how much we enjoy performing. And that's why we're bringing her up onstage," Warren Smith (sophomore-architecture) said.
"You Are My Home" from The Scarlet Pimpernel focuses on the relationship between two friends who have withstood obstacles only to find that their lives are the better because of their friendship, Allison Castellano (sophomore-comparative literature and theatre) said.
"Anyone who's been paired at random by Penn State housing and not liked that person [at first], but throughout the course of the year you realize how you've changed [can relate]," said Castellano.
Huber said A Musical Cabaret has been easier to direct because the show requires more individual instruction than the use of props, or costumes.
"I try to have a light hand and let them do what they want. In groups, I try to keep them in tune with one another, but any embellishments is mostly them," Huber said.
The work of musical director Craig Schwartz (sophomore-music composition and meteorology) has been to help the singers become comfortable with notes, pitch, rhythm and other subtleties that might go unnoticed.
With the words "enunciate" written in blue highlighter stretched across lined paper, Schwartz encourages the singers to pronounce their words and to avoid a "vocal breakdown."
"Singing in the shower is one thing and singing in front of an audience is another. It's been a long time since I've done this, so it's a crash course, but it's nice," said Castellano.
In the background, a singer laughs in mid-performance of "A Whole New World."
"If nothing else, we just want to entertain people for THON weekend," Smith said.
PHOTO: Nina Reznik
The cast of NRT warms up before a rehearsal. The show is a collection of 20 hopeful and uplifting songs performed by the group.
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