Ouachita Stories

The Ouachita Baptist University Department of Theatre Arts will present “The Secret Garden, the Spring Version,” an adaptation of Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman’s original Broadway musical, in Verser Theatre on campus Sept. 28-Oct. 2.

The show will be a shortened version of the full length 1991 musical based on the 1911 children’s novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. The show tells the story of orphan Mary Lennox and her journey to renewal after finding a locked garden.

“This show is definitely a crowd pleaser,” said Dr. Scott Holsclaw, chair of Ouachita’s Division of Applied Arts and director of the show. “‘The Secret Garden’ is a children’s book and should be familiar to a large number of adults as well as children.

“This is a repeat show that we did in the early 2000s,” Dr. Holsclaw said. “We are excited to revisit this show and possibly bring back some of the original cast and crew to help us celebrate.”

This year, Ouachita’s Department of Theatre Arts is reviving several productions in celebration of the 50^th anniversary of Verser Theatre.

The lead cast includes: Rachel Webber, a junior musical theatre major from Longview, Texas, as Mary Lennox; Scotty Scott, a junior musical theatre major from Russellville, Ark., as Archibald Craven; Hannah Hill, a sophomore musical theatre major from Alexander, Ark., as Martha; and Cody Walls, a senior musical theatre major from Van Buren, Ark., as Dickon.

Performances will be held Sept. 28, 29 and 30, as well as Oct. 2, at 7 p.m. with a 2:30 p.m. matinee on Sunday, Oct. 1. Tickets are $10 each and may be purchased at www.obu.edu/boxoffice or at the Jones Performing Arts Center box office weekdays from 1-5 p.m. For more information, call the box office at (870) 245-5555 during business hours.

 

By Addy Goodman

September 14, 2017



Additional cast members include:

• Carson Lewis, age 11, from Arkadelphia, Ark., as Colin Craven


• Kenzie Osborn, a junior musical theatre major from Rockwall, Texas, as Rose Lennox


• Logan Dooley, a freshman musical theatre major from Allen, Texas, as Albert Lennox


• Hannah Saunders, a junior musical theatre major from Saint Paul, Ark., as Lily Craven


• Will Stotts, a senior musical theatre major from Jonesboro, Ark., as Neville Craven


• Lizzie Griffin, a senior musical theatre major from Pittsburg, Texas, as Mrs. Medlock


• Alex Marrin, a freshman musical theatre major from Greenwood, Ark., as Ben Weatherstaff


• Emily Johnson, a junior musical theatre major from Benton, Ark., as Mrs. Winthrop


• Paige Price, a freshman musical theatre major from Plano, Texas, as the nurse


• Michael Pere, a senior musical theatre major from Roland, Ark., as an officer


• Ryan Lynch, a freshman musical theatre major from Bryant, Ark., as an officer


• Phillip Robinson, a junior musical theatre major from Lewisville, Texas, as an officer


• Matthew Burns, a sophomore musical theatre major from Benton, Ark., as a spirit


• Elizabeth Dawson, a freshman musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark., as a spirit


• Melodie DuBose, a freshman musical theatre major from Minden, La., as a spirit


• Nathan Frick, a freshman musical theatre major from Arkadelphia, Ark., as a spirit


• Bonnie Gentry, a sophomore musical theatre major from Arlington, Texas, as a spirit


• Abby Shourd, a sophomore musical theatre major from Conway, Ark., as a spirit


• Bailey Swanson, a freshman musical theatre major from Greenville, Texas, as a spirit

 

Crew members include:

Makeup Crew – Hannah Anderson, a freshman musical theatre major from Austin, Texas; Bawo Asagba, a freshman musical theatre major from Murphy, Texas; Melodie DuBose; Ashton Spence, a sophomore theatre arts major from Marion, Ark.

Costume Crew – Abi Anderson, a freshman theatre arts major from Mesquite, Texas; Anna Crane, a sophomore musical theatre major from Pearcy, Ark.; Michaela Finley, a sophomore musical theatre major from Cedarville, Ark.; Kristi Roshto, a freshman musical theatre major from Alexander, La.

Props Crew – Matthew Burns; Brooklyn Jennings, a freshman theatre arts major from Greenville, Texas; Bradley Moseley, a freshman theatre arts major from Fate, Texas; Lauren Terry, a junior musical theatre major from Evansville, Ind.

Shifting Crew – Bawo Asagba; Andrew Martin, a senior theatre arts major from Hot Springs Village, Ark.

Publicity Crew – Dylan Blackwood, a sophomore musical theatre major from Walnut Ridge, Ark.; Rahlea Zinck, a freshman theatre arts major from Little Rock, Ark.

Lobby Crew – Bawo Asagba; Olivia Witcher, a junior theatre arts major from Little Rock, Ark.; Rahlea Zinck