Ouachita Stories

The Department of Theatre Arts in Ouachita Baptist University’s School of Performing Arts will present its spring musical, “Hello, Dolly!,” from Thursday-Sunday, April 10-13 in Jones Performing Arts Center. Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, with a 2:30 p.m. matinee on Sunday.

Based on the play “The Matchmaker” by Thornton Wilder, the story follows a brassy widow, Dolly Gallagher Levi, who provides matchmaking and other services and finds herself looking for a wife for Horace Vandergelder, a well-known half-a-millionaire.

Amaya Hardin, a senior musical theatre major from Maumelle, Ark., who plays the lead, Dolly, describes “Hello, Dolly!” as a “celebration of love, second chances and living life to the fullest.”

“I’m excited to bring Dolly’s larger-than-life personality to the stage and share her joy with the audience,” Hardin said. “It’s such a lively, heartwarming show, and I can’t wait for people to experience its energy and charm.”

“I am most excited for people to see the talent that we have in our department,” said Mac Ricks, a senior musical theatre major from Carlisle, Ark., who plays Horace Vandergelder. “There is so much opportunity for people to be showcased and show the school what we can do.”

“I'm most looking forward to when the run of the show begins, and we get to see all the work come to life,” said Kailey May, a senior musical theatre major from Dover, Ark., who plays Ernestina. “Trying on costumes already gives so much more to the show, and I’m excited to see how much more fun it becomes as we get closer to opening.”

John Forkner, assistant professor of theatre arts, serves as director. Dr. Ian Aipperspach, visiting assistant professor of music, serves as the music director. Moriah Patterson, Ouachita alumna, serves as the choreographer. Dr. Candice Aipperspach, associate professor of music, serves as costume and makeup designer. Eric Phillips, professor and chair of the Department of Theatre Arts, serves as scenic designer. Brynlee Beams, a junior theatre arts major from Cabot, Ark., is the lighting designer.

Abby Brown, a sophomore theatre arts major from Hot Springs, Ark., Erika Johnson, a junior speech and theatre arts double major from Cash, Ark., and Boulder Steelman, a sophomore theatre arts major from Camden, Ark., are stage managers.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at obu.edu/boxoffice or on weekdays from 1-5 p.m. at the Ouachita Box Office in JPAC. Ouachita students may receive one free ticket with their university ID, and Henderson State University students may purchase discounted tickets at $12 each by presenting their HSU IDs. For more information, contact the box office at (870) 245-5555.

Cast:

• Amaya Hardin, a senior musical theatre major from Maumelle, Ark., as Dolly Gallagher Levi
• Kailey May, a senior musical theatre major from Dover, Ark., as Ernestina
• Nathan Price, a senior theater education major from Pineville, La., as Ambrose Kemper
• Mac Ricks, a senior musical theatre major from Carlisle, Ark., as Horace Vandergelder
• Virginia Waterman, a junior musical theatre major from Dallas, Texas, as Ermengarde
• Brooks Harrison, a sophomore musical theatre major from Fort Smith, Ark., as Cornelius Hackl
• Tom Huston, a senior theater arts major from Sanger, Texas, as Barnaby Tucker
• Jayne Pecena, a senior theatre arts major from Rockwall, Texas, as Irene Molloy
• Genevieve Cooper, a senior musical theatre major from Frisco, Texas, as Minnie Fay
• Halle Jones, a senior musical theatre major from Fort Worth, Texas, as Mrs. Rose
• Cooper Armstrong, a sophomore musical theatre major from McGregor, Texas, as Rudolph Reisenweber
• Ryder Ashlock, a junior musical theatre major from Royse City, Texas, as Stanley

Featured ensemble:

• Gavin Anders, a freshman musical theatre major from Hot Springs, Ark.
• Chloe Cofer, a junior musical theatre major from Branson, Mo.
• Julianne Fletcher, a senior accounting major from Little Rock, Ark.
• Hadley Gilmore, a sophomore musical theatre major from Van Buren, Ark.
• Steven Hibbard, a freshman computer science major from Crossett, Ark.
• Jennie Higdon, a junior musical theatre major from Washington, Okla.
• McKenna King, a senior music and worship studies double major from Rockwall, Texas
• Kade Loomis, a freshman performance and voice double major from Magnolia, Texas
• Katie Miller, a junior musical theatre major from The Woodlands, Texas
• Graceanne Morgan, a sophomore musical theatre major from Lamar, Texas
• Brooklyn Perkins, a senior music major from Nacogdoches, Texas
• Danielle Rivera, a sophomore musical theatre major from Hot Springs, Ark.
• Madisyn Sallas, a junior musical theatre major from Austin, Ark.
• Sam Shahan, a freshman nursing major from Noel, Mo.
• Kenzie Tatum, a senior musical theatre major from Arkadelphia, Ark.
• Miriam Vermeer, a sophomore musical theatre major from Ashdown, Ark.
• Autumn Walters, a senior theatre arts major from Manila, Ark.
• Abby Wiesner, a freshman musical theatre major from O’Fallon, Mo.

Production Team:

• John Forkner, assistant professor of theatre arts – director
• Ian Aipperspach – music director
• Moriah Patterson – choreographer
• Adam Wheat, director of the Office of Career & Calling – assistant director
• Chloe Cofer and Mac Ricks – dance captains
• Erika Johnson, a junior speech and theatre arts double major from Cash, Ark. – stage manager
• Abby Brown and Boulder Steelman – assistant stage managers
• Eric Phillips, professor and chair of the department of theatre arts– scenic design
• Candice Aipperspach, associate professor – costume design
• Brynlee Beams, Ouachita alumna – lighting design
• Olivia Hibbard, JPAC technical director; production manager – sound design
• Susan Monroe, accompanist – rehearsal accompanist

• Tags:
• Academics
• Division of Music
• JPAC
• Musical Theatre
• School of Performing Arts
• Theatre Arts