Ouachita to present “The Old Man and The Old Moon” Feb. 25-March 1

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February 12, 2021 - Kristi Roshto

Ouachita Baptist University’s Department of Theatre Arts will present the play “The Old Man and The Old Moon” for its annual Muse Project beginning Thursday, Feb. 25, at 7:30 p.m. in Verser Theatre. Performances will continue Feb. 26, Feb. 28 and March 1 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee performance on Sunday, Feb. 28, at 2:30 p.m. The production is open to Ouachita faculty, staff and students with limited seating to allow for social distancing, and paid streaming tickets are available to the general public at www.obu.edu/boxoffice.

Written and produced by PigPen Theatre Co. in New York City, “The Old Man and The Old Moon” is a whimsical, folksy play that follows an old man searching for his wife as he encounters a myriad of different people, adventures and challenges. The play was selected by Ouachita Theatre Arts as this year’s Muse Project, an annual opportunity for current students to design and direct a show of their choice.

Molly Kennedy, a senior musical theatre major from Melissa, Texas, and director of the play, said she nominated this production for the Muse Project because it “is so different than anything I had seen done on the Verser stage before, and I just love the characters, the story and the message of the show.”

“The Old Man follows his wife to the ends of the earth and discovers his destiny,” Kennedy said. “It’s also a folktale about how the moon got its phases, and I hadn’t seen that in other productions.”

For Payton Mixon, a junior musical theatre major from New Caney, Texas, who plays the narrator, the message of the play is, “to go out and experience, to have an adventure with the ones you love.”

“During COVID, this play will be very impactful with fun twists and turns that will bring the audience away from the quarantine lifestyle,” Mixon said.

Faculty advisors for “The Old Man and The Old Moon” include Kelsey Looney, visiting assistant professor of theatre; Matthew Murry, visiting assistant professor of theatre; and Eric Phillips, professor of theatre arts. Julia Letcher, a sophomore musical theatre major from Plano, Texas, serves as stage manager and Sarah Franklin, a sophomore musical theatre major from Grand Cane, La., serves as assistant stage manager.

Hannah Anderson, a senior musical theatre major from Austin, Texas, serves as costume designer and musical director; Amy Jackson, a senior theatre arts and communications & media/film studies double major from Cypress, Texas, and Brynlee Beams, a freshman theatre arts major from Cabot, Ark., serve as scenic designers; and Kailee Morehart, a senior music and nursing double major from Alexander, Ark., serves as lighting designer.

In-person tickets are available to current Ouachita students, faculty and staff for purchase through the OBU Box Office and www.obu.edu/boxoffice. Paid streaming tickets will are available to the general public on the Box Office website. Current Ouachita students may receive one free ticket upon presentation of their student ID. For more information, contact the OBU Box Office at (870) 245-5555 weekdays from 1-5 p.m. or through boxoffice@obu.edu.

CAST

Carlin Campbell, a senior musical theatre major from Rose Hill, Kan., as Old Man and Guitarist
Sam Campione, a junior musical theatre major from Waxahachie, Texas, as Butcher, Rebel 2, Perry, Shark, Guitarist and understudy for Old Man
Payton Mixon, a junior musical theatre major from New Caney, Texas, as Matheson (narrator), Fine Lady and Ghost Singer
Ashlynn Lockhart, a junior musical theatre major from Holiday Island, Ark., as puppeteer and understudy for Matheson, Fine Lady and Ghost Singer
Landon Denman, a sophomore theatre arts and history double major from Fort Worth, Texas, as Llewellyn and Boatswain 1
Amy Jackson, a junior theatre arts and communications & media/film studies major from Cypress, Texas, as puppeteer, bassist and understudy for Butcher, Rebel 2, Perry and Shark tracks
Aaron Whitten, a junior computer science major from McKinney, Texas, as Mabelu, Lucy and Guitarist
Kinder Hinrichs, a freshman theatre arts major from Harrison, Ark., as Boatswain 2 and Cookie
Danielle Hall, a senior musical theatre major from Prairie Grove, Ark., as Mickey, Captain, Bartley, Shark and Percussionist
Abby Burlison, a sophomore musical theatre major from Beebe, Ark., as Fishmonger, Clerk, Rebel 1, Bartender and Solomon
Sara Kate Cole, a sophomore musical theatre major from Fort Smith, Ark., as Ben and Callahan
Bella Owen, a junior musical theatre major from Jonesboro, Ark., as Old Woman, Young Woman and Violinist
Elizabeth Dawson, a senior musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark., as puppeteer and understudy for Old Woman and Young Woman
Hannah Anderson, a senior musical theatre major from Austin, Texas, as Patron and Pianist
Elizabeth Ring, a senior musical theatre major from Cabot, Ark., as swing for Llewellyn and Mabelu tracks
Hayley Johnson, a sophomore musical theatre major from Hot Springs, Ark., as swing for Cookie and Callahan tracks
Hannah Gothard, a senior musical theatre major from Cleveland, Texas, as swing for Solomon and Bartley tracks

CREW LEADERS:

Bella Blankenship, a freshman Christian studies/Christian ministries major from Melissa, Texas, as props building crew head
LilyKay Feimster, a junior theatre arts and Christian studies/Christian theology double major from Atlanta, Texas, as house manager and lobby designer crew head
Kristi Roshto, a senior English major from Alexandria, La., as the publicity manager
Matigan Snook, a junior theatre arts major from Cedar Hill, Texas, as light operator crew head
Marion Webb, a theatre arts and education double major from Austin, Texas, as streaming crew head and lighting assistant
Grace Woodward, a freshman musical theatre major from Plano, Texas, as costume crew head

TECHNICAL CREW:

Wyatt Ashlock, a sophomore theatre arts and communications & media/film studies double major from Royse City, Texas, as sound operator
Brynlee Beams, a freshman theatre arts major from Cabot, Ark., as props building crew
Mikenzie Blase, a junior theatre arts and education double major from Texarkana, Texas, as props building crew

COSTUME CREW:

Kenzie Burks, a freshmen theatre arts and education double major from Beebe, Ark.
Dani Frick, senior theatre arts major from Benton, Ark.
Nathan Frick, a senior theatre arts major from West Monroe, La.
Faith Lymburner, a sophomore communications & media major from Rogers, Ark.

LOBBY CREW & USHERS:

Mikenzie Blase, a junior theatre arts and education double major from Texarkana, Texas
Kinder Hinrichs, a freshman theatre arts major from Harrison, Ark.
Emma Lawyer, a senior musical theatre major from Wynne, Ark.
Madeline Martin, a senior musical theatre and communications & media/strategic communications double major from Sheridan, Ark.
Ray Medina, a junior theatre arts and mass communications double major from Shreveport, La.
Kinsey Potts, a junior musical theatre major from Wylie, Texas
Kristi Roshto, a senior English major from Alexandria, La.