“After about 30 years of directing the Homecoming musical, I am excited about one of the most fun shows I have ever gotten to work on,” Robin Miller, chair of the department of theatre, said. “(‘Crazy For You’) combines all of the wonderful things that make musical theater so enjoyable. You have big production numbers, beautiful music, a lot of comedy, and there are even emotional heartstrings that get pulled. It’s what makes musical theater work.”
According to Miller, “Crazy For You” is a splashy show that will be a delight to the Homecoming audience.
“Notice I keep using the word ‘fun,'” Miller said. “This is, simply put, a fun show.”
The plot revolves around a young, lovesick New Yorker named Bobby, who is sent to the Wild West by his banking shrew of a mother to foreclose on a small theater in Nevada. There, Bobby (played by senior Thomas Williams) meets a young woman named Polly (played by senior Renee Maynard) — the only woman in a town full of cowboys and miners. In an attempt to save the theater from foreclosure and win the heart of the only lady in town, Bobby decides to phone in some friends and put on a show that will bring the entire community to life. Along the way, “Crazy For You” is a story of mistaken identity, love at first sight and enough dancing to make “Footloose” look like a period drama.
“The Harding audience will enjoy this show,” Miller said. “I could make jokes about falling in love at first sight, and being in love, then being in love with the wrong person, and then finally getting it right — like I said, the Harding audience will enjoy this show.”
According to Miller, “Crazy For You” has more dance production numbers than any show in the history of Harding Homecoming musicals.
Sophomore Olivia Ballinger is one of three choreographers directing the musical numbers in the show. Ballinger said her official title is “jazz choreographer.” Junior Sarah Dixon and alumna Kelsey Sumrall are choreographing the tap dancing and principal dance numbers.
“This show is everything you think of when you think ‘musical,'” Ballinger said. “It has the love story, it has the action, and it definitely has the dancing.”
Ballinger said a large percentage of the cast this year consists of freshmen and said they have performed admirably alongside the more veteran performers.
“We are definitely a freshman-based show, and they are adapting very well to what we are doing and what were are throwing at them, even though I’m sure it’s very overwhelming for them,” Ballinger said.
Freshman Robbi Selvidge said it was definitely intimidating to take on a challenge like the Homecoming musical.
“I’ve been a technician all my life and have never previously danced,” Selvidge said. “But I feel like this production has brought me closer to my fellow freshmen. We’re all given the chance to grow together in the department.”
Miller said they are promoting the Homecoming musical as, “the most fun show you’ve never heard of.”
“This show has been on the bucket list for a long time, and it’s been on the bucket list for a reason,” Miller said. “It’s truly a dynamite show.”
