Ouachita Stories

Ouachita Baptist University’s School of Fine Arts will present the Broadway musical Fiddler on the Roof, based on Sholem Aleichem stories with book by Joseph Stein, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and music by Jerry Bock. The opening performance will be on Thursday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m. in Jones Performing Arts Center. Performances will continue April 21-22 at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee Sunday, April 23, at 2:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased from the OBU Box Office for $12 each.

Fiddler on the Roof follows the life of Tevye, a Jewish dairyman, and his wife, Golde, and their attempt to maintain their Jewish and cultural traditions as outside influences encroach upon their family’s lives.

“The musical is about a community being pulled in several different directions, whether by their traditions or following their heart,” said Kayla Walker, a senior musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark., who plays Golde. “It’s a very moving story about real people and their lives.”

Set in the small Jewish village of Anatevka, Russia, in 1905 during a turbulent time of Tsarist rule, the story is told with wit and humor but remains a powerful statement about the evils of prejudice and persecution. Dr. Scott Holsclaw, professor of theatre arts and stage director for the musical, said he found this to be a compelling message for a modern audience.

“My hope is that every man, woman and child who sees this production will leave with an understanding that, universally, all cultures want the same thing: security and love for their family and community,” Holsclaw said. “Everyone desires peace that allows them to worship and live in their own communities without persecution and prejudicial judgment.”

Scotty Scott, a junior musical theatre major from Russellville, Ark., said he is excited to play the complex role of Tevye. “I’ve dreamt about playing this role for years now, and I’m so excited to perform it on the Ouachita stage,” Scott said. “The music and story blend beautifully, and the storyline remains relevant now, many years after Fiddler was first performed in 1964. For musicals that old, that’s a testament for how well written this show is.”

A classic such as this requires many moving parts fit together well and many hours from dedicated faculty staff and students.

“The spring musical is always important because it is the largest production of the year. It is a total group effort between both divisions of the School of Fine Arts, faculty, staff and students,” said David Stanley, Ouachita instructor of music and the music director for Fiddler. “It involves a ton of people and resources, and it’s great to see students bring these works to life.”

In addition to Holsclaw and Stanley, other lead production team members include: Choreographer Stacy Hawking, OBU alumna; Stage Manager Nadalie Gill, a junior theatre and mass communications major from Price, Texas, who will be assisted by Jordan Martinez, a sophomore theatre and education major from Forney, Texas, and Stephen Vaughn, a junior music major from Hot Springs, Ark.; Co-Dance Captains Hannah Fender, a senior musical theatre major from Maumelle, Ark., and Dylan Blackwood, a sophomore musical theatre major from Walnut Ridge, Ark.; and Accompanists John Alec Briggs and Susan Monroe.

Tickets may be purchased at the OBU Box Office in Jones Performing Arts Center on weekdays from 1-5 p.m. or online at www.obu.edu/boxoffice. For more information, call the box office during business hours at (870) 245-5555 or email [email protected].

 

By Sarah Davis

April 7, 2017



Cast members:

• Tevye: Scotty Scott, a junior musical theatre major from Russellville, Ark.

 

• Golde: Kayla Walker, a senior musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.

 

• Tzeitel: Esther Atkinson, a senior musical theatre major from Rogers, Ark.

 

• Hodel: Kenzie Osborn, a sophomore musical theatre major from Rockwall, Texas

 

• Chava: Hannah Hines, a senior musical theatre major from Russellville, Ark.

 

• Shprintze: Emma Pitts, a sophomore musical theatre major from Clarksville, Ark.

 

• Bielke: Daisy Paige, age 9, from Arkadelphia, Ark.

 

• Motel: Cedar Valdez, a freshman musical theatre major from Rogers, Ark.

 

• Perchik: Will Stotts, a senior musical theatre major from Jonesboro, Ark.

 

• Fyedka: Jesse Bowron, a senior theatre arts major from Grandview, Texas

 

• Lazar Wolf: Clay Mobley, a freshman music business major from Wylie, Texas

 

• Mordcha, Innkeeper: Aaden Jones, a senior musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark.

 

• Rabbi: Micah Brooks, a sophomore musical theatre major from Rockwall, Texas

 

• Mendel, Rabbi’s Son: Jacob Hemsath, a senior musical theatre major from Wylie, Texas

 

• Avram, Bookseller: Michael Peré, a senior musical theatre major from Roland, Ark.

 

• Nachum, Beggar: Tyler Lewis, a senior theatre arts major from Magnolia, Ark.

 

• Yente: Michaela Finley, a junior musical theatre major from Cedarville, Ark.

 

• Shaindel, Motel’s Mother: Bret Sanders, a senior musical theatre major from Jonesboro, Ark.

 

• Grandma Tzeitel: Carissa Walker, a freshman musical theatre major from Woodway, Texas

 

• Fruma Sarah: Jessica Elliff, a sophomore musical theatre major from Maumelle, Ark.

 

• Sasha: Tyler Mann, a junior kinesiology major from Little Rock, Ark.

 

• Yussell: Zack Myers, a junior musical theatre major from Greenwood, Ark.

 

• Russian Soloist: Cody Walls, a junior musical theatre major from Van Buren, Ark.

 

• Fiddler: Jeffery Wood, a freshman Christian studies major from Valley Mills, Texas

Ensemble:

• Dylan Blackwood, a sophomore musical theatre major from Walnut Ridge, Ark.

 

• Hannah Fender, a senior musical theatre major from Maumelle, Ark.

 

• Tanner Fritsche, a senior music education major from Booneville, Ark.

 

• Graham Garrison, a freshman musical theatre major from Rowlett, Texas

 

• Bonnie Gentry, a freshman musical theatre major from Arlington, Texas

 

• Aaron George, a freshman business administration major from Rogers, Ark.

 

• Lizzie Griffin, a junior musical theatre major from Pittsburg, Texas

 

• Hannah Hill, a freshman musical theatre major from Alexander, Ark.

 

• Mackenzie Holtzclaw, a junior musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.

 

• David Hudson, a sophomore theatre arts major from Little Rock, Ark.

 

• Lauren Hutcheson, a senior musical theatre major from Bossier City, La.

 

• Emily Johnson, a sophomore musical theatre major from Benton, Ark.

 

• Tyler Mann, a junior kinesiology major from Little Rock, Ark.

 

• Andrew Martin, a senior theatre arts major from Hot Springs Village, Ark.

 

• Raleigh Peterson, a freshman musical theatre major from Branson, Mo.

 

• Drake Puryear, a senior biology major from Jonesboro, Ark.

 

• Philip Robinson, a sophomore musical theatre major from Lewisville, Texas

 

• Autumn Romines, a freshman musical theatre major from Cabot, Ark.

 

• Hannah Saunders, a junior musical theatre major from St. Paul, Ark.

 

• Lauren Terry, a junior musical theatre major from Evansville, Ind.

 

• Colton Tillery, a senior accounting major from Lonsdale, Ark.

 

• Anna Joie Valdez, a senior musical theatre major from Terrell, Texas

 

• Sharayah Wallace, a freshman musical theatre major from Bryant, Ark.

 

• Rachel Webber, a junior musical theatre major from Longview, Texas

 

 

Production Teams

 

Costumes

Designer: Christina Johnson, visiting assistant professor of theatre arts

Assistant designer: Anna Joie Valdez

Crew Head: Anna Darr, a junior musical theatre major from Alexander, Ark.

Crew Members: Bonnie Gentry, Jacob Hemsath, Mackenzie Holtzclaw, Zachary Myers, Kenzie Osborn, Rachel Webber and Kayla Walker

 

Makeup/Hair

Crew Head: Olivia Witcher, a junior theatre arts major from Little Rock, Ark.

Crew Members: Jessica Elliff, Lizzy Griffin, Lauren Hutchinson, Raleigh Peterson, Autumn Romines, Bret Sanders, Dallas Sleeman and Carissa Walker

 

Props

Crew Head: Kacy Spears, a senior mass communications and theatre arts major from El Dorado, Ark.

Assistant Crew Head: Anna Crane, a freshman musical theatre major from Pearcy, Ark.

Crew Members: Dylan Blackwood; Matthew Burns, a sophomore musical theatre major from Benton, Ark.; Michaela Finley; David Hudson; Hannah Saunders; and Cody Walls

 

Scenery

Designer: Eric Phillips, Ouachita professor of theatre arts

Crew Head: Marshall Pope, theatre shop technical director

Crew Members: Micah Brooks, Jesse Bowron, Graham Garrison, Tyler Mann, Michael Peré, Philip Robinson, Emily Simons and Cedar Valdez

 

Lights

Designer: Eric Phillips

Spot Light Operator: Nicki Ng, a senior church media and production arts major from Plano, Texas

Crew Members: Aaden Jones, Tyler Lewis, Andrew Martin, Scotty Scott, Will Stotts and Lauren Terry

 

Sound

Designer and Crew Head: Stephen Vaughn

Board Operator: Riley Madlock, a senior mass communications major from Hope, Ark.

Crew Members: Chris Baggett, a senior theatre arts major from Maumelle, Ark; and Meagan Woodard, a sophomore mass communications major from Alvarado, Texas

 

Publicity

Poster and Program Design: Adam Wheat, fine arts administrator

 

Front of House

House Manager: Allison Austin, a senior musical theatre major from Mena, Ark.

Crew Members: Esther Atkinson, Hannah Hill, Hannah Hines, Emily Johnson, Emma Pitts and Sharayah Wallace

 

JPAC

Crew Head: Steve Myers, JPAC technical director

Crew Members: Jacob Cottrell, a freshman Christian missions major from Whitehouse, Texas; and Sara Neumann, a sophomore elementary education major from Valley Mills, Texas