Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s Department of Theatre Arts presents “Wiley and the Hairy Man” by Suzan Zeder Sept. 23-25 and 27-28 at 7 p.m. and Sept 26 at 2:30 p.m. The show will be directed by Daniel Inouye, OBU assistant professor of theatre arts and will offer additional performances for area schools. A youth theatre workshop will also be offered in conjunction with the show Sept. 25 from 1-4 p.m.

“We always start our season with a children's show for a number of reasons,” Inouye said, “primarily to provide an opportunity for area school children to experience a theatre production.”

Set deep within the mysterious Tombigbee Swamp, “Wiley and the Hairy Man” tells the story of a young fatherless boy, his mother, his faithful dog and the Hairy Man who haunts Wiley's days and dreams. Through rhythm and rhyme, a swamp Chorus creates the mystery and magic of the swamp as Wiley learns to rely on his own resources and conquer the Hairy Man and his own fear.

“‘Wiley and the Hairy Man’ is the ultimate good verses evil story,” said Jacob Watson, a senior musical theatre major from Wynne, Ark., who is playing The Hairy Man. “It’s unlike most children shows in that there is a chorus that brings the magic of the characters to life. Adults and college students will enjoy this story too. The staging and the set may be one of the coolest things seen on the stage at Ouachita.”

“It also provides our OBU theatre students with an opportunity to act in a different style of production,” Inouye added. “One of our goals for our season of plays is to provide a balance in the type of work students are performing on the stage.”

To further involve local children in the production, a youth theatre workshop will be held Saturday, Sept. 25. The cost is $25 per person, and the workshop is open to students ages pre-K through 12th grade. In addition to theatre instruction and practice from 1-4 p.m. with Ouachita students and faculty, participants will receive one free ticket to the performance date of their choice, be provided with a snack and get a peek at the backstage areas in the theatre.

“We always strive to find opportunities to encourage the appreciation of the arts in young students,” Inouye noted, “and the children's show is a great opportunity in that endeavor.”

In addition to Watson, the cast of “Wiley and the Hairy Man” includes Lauren Linton, a freshman musical theatre major from Millington, Tenn., as Wiley; Cortnee Stewart, a senior theatre major from Ward, Ark., as Mammy; and Bethany Swiontek, a sophomore musical theatre major from Colorado Springs, Colo., as the dog.

Chorus members include Kayla Esmond, a freshman musical theatre major from Burleson, Texas; Gemma Guiomard, a freshman musical theatre and studio art double major from Desoto, Texas; Amanda Hopkins, a freshman musical theatre major from Grand Prairie, Texas; Alison Johnson, a sophomore musical theatre major from Shreveport, La.; Rudy Jones, a junior theatre and mass communications double major from Smackover, Ark.; Nicole Mattson, a freshman musical theatre major from Rowlett, Texas; Cody Myers, a freshman musical theatre and psychology double major from Van Buren, Ark.; Moriah Patterson, a junior musical theatre and theatre education double major from Sheridan, Ark.; Justin Ratliff, a sophomore musical theatre major from Whitehouse, Texas; Rebekah Root, a freshman musical theatre major from Duncanville, Texas; Jacob Sturgeon, a freshman music education major from Pine Bluff, Ark.; Mary Lacy Thomson, a freshman musical theatre major from Plano, Texas; and Heather White, a sophomore musical theatre major from Houston, Texas.

In addition to Inouye, the production crew includes Eric Phillips, chair of OBU’s department of theatre arts, as technical director; Mary Handiboe, associate professor of theatre arts as costume and make-up advisor; Steven Miller, a senior theatre arts major from Arlington, Texas, as stage manager/crew stage manager and scene crew; Michelle Lackey, a sophomore musical theatre major from Decatur, Texas, as assistant stage manager; and Doug Brady, a senior musical theatre major from Saginaw, Texas, as the sound designer.

Costume crew includes Ashley Partridge, a senior musical theatre major from Baton Rouge, La., as costume designer; Amanda Murray, a sophomore musical theatre major from Racine, Wis., as crew head and scene build crew; Kelly Boggus, a junior Christian studies major from Harrison, Ark.; DeCarl Jones, a freshman vocal performance major from Rowlett, Texas; Lindsey Lederer, a freshman musical theatre major from Carrollton, Texas; Jordan Miller, a freshman musical theatre major from Rockwall, Texas; Angela Morgan, a freshman musical theatre major from Bryant, Ark.; Houston Murray, a freshman musical theatre major from Hot Springs, Ark.; and Talia Prince, a freshman musical theatre major from Garland, Texas.

Hair and make-up crew includes Lauren Casteel, a senior musical theatre major from Garland, Texas, as hair and make-up designer; Gabriela Baltzley, a freshman musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark., as crew head; and Sam Spradling, a senior theatre arts major from Italy, Texas (also on scene crew).

Properties and set crew members are Shay Michael, a junior musical theatre major from Grapevine, Texas, as properties co-crew head; Alyssa Thomas, a sophomore musical theatre major from Malvern, Ark., as properties co-crew head; Brooke Ault, a junior musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark., as props and set construction; Katy Cox, a freshman theatre arts major from Conway, Ark., as props and set construction; and Michael Connell, a freshman, art/graphic design major from Little Rock, Ark., as props and set shift crew.

Workshop crew includes Molly Brown, a senior musical theatre major from Rowlett, Texas, as co-crew head and Cortnie DeVore, a senior musical theatre major from Beebe, Ark., as co-crew head.

Build and light crew include Jillian Kaniss, a freshman psychology major from Texarkana, Texas, as light board operator; Justin Ratliff, a freshman musical theatre major from Whitehouse, Texas, as scene construction; Garrett Whitehead, a freshman theatre arts major from Cleburne, Texas, as scene construction; C.J. Bernard, a freshman theatre major from Sherwood, Ark.; Sarah Davis, a freshman theatre major from Bedford, Texas; Tyler Herron, a freshman church media and production arts major from Rosston, Ark.; and Jody Lee, a senior theatre and music double major from Arlington, Texas.

Front of house crew includes Lynley Vire, a senior musical theatre major from Searcy, Ark., as crew head; Brooke Brackett, a freshman musical theatre major from Springdale, Ark.; Timothy Drennan, a freshman musical theatre major from Paron, Ark.; Bekah Hall, a freshman musical theatre major from Port Elizabeth, South Africa; and Neil Wacaster, a junior, business/marketing major from Hot Springs, Ark.

Box office crew includes Katie Willhite, a senior theatre arts and Christian studies double major from Rowlett, Texas, as box office coordinator; Hannah Beth Midkiff, a sophomore theatre arts major from Grandview, Texas; Cessany Ford, a senior theatre arts major from Paragould, Ark.; and Callie Chancey, a sophomore musical theatre major from Branson, Mo.

Publicity crew includes Kathryn Kellogg, a junior musical theatre major from Sherwood, Ark. as crew head; Carolyn Baker, a freshman musical theatre major from Garland, Texas; Alyssa Eskelsen, a sophomore musical theatre major from­­­ Bryan, Texas; Kelley Lester, a sophomore theatre and speech double major from Bismark, Ark.; and Ben Perry, a freshman, musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.

Tickets are $6 each and may be purchased at the Jones Performing Arts Center Box Office weekdays from 2-5 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.obu.edu/finearts. Ouachita students receive one free ticket with their student ID. For more information, call 870-245-5563 during box office business hours.

By Kathryn Kellog and Meg Gosser