Written by Caleb Rummel
The lights will warm up, the sound system will turn on, and the set pieces on the Benson stage will frame those who have once again brought us a Homecoming musical. This year’s musical, “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” will give us a look back to a time of flapper dresses, bobbed hair and speakeasies that defined an era.The musical follows Millie Dilmount as she comes to New York City from Salina, Kan., in hopes of living the big life. She checks in to Hotel Pricilla, a home for girls like Millie, and begins her journey with her new roommate, Miss Dorothy.The character of Millie is portrayed by Elizabeth Harrell, a Harding graduate student, who said she is excited to return to the Benson stage. She described her return to the Benson stage as “wonderful” and said she is very excited to share this less-known show, especially compared to those of the past few years, with the public.”I think that this show is going to show [people] that even though they didn’t know it coming into it, they will thoroughly enjoy it, and it will make them want to go see more shows that they’re unfamiliar with,” Harrell said.Other principal actors include Sam Barker as Trevor Graydon, Cassie Bennett as Miss Flannery, Alycia Haynes as Muzzie Van Hossmere, Amanda Lane as Miss Dorothy Brown and Nate White as Jimmy Van Hossmere.Every production presents its challenges and producer Cindee Stockstill said this one is no different. She said one of the biggest challenges came with the Chinese dialect of two of the actors.Blake Hunter and Josh Little portray Ching Ho and Bun Foo, respectively, two Chinese men working for the Hotel Pricilla owner Mrs. Meers, portrayed by Mary McBride. Hunter and Little speak only Chinese throughout the show but are both native English speakers and have no background in the Chinese language.”Learning Chinese is probably one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done,” Hunter said. “It’s everything opposite of English. All the accents are on different syllables, and the intonation is new, but it’s all really fun.”According to Stockstill, the selection process for a musical considers education and entertainment.”We try to pick a show that will stretch our theater majors and our music majors and allow them an opportunity to experience a genre that they have not experienced before,” Stockstill said. “We want it to be audience-friendly, and in our community and with our belief system it’s important that we do something that’s family-oriented and has a good message.”Shows are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the Benson box office from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Friday and from 7 p.m. until showtime both nights.
