51����

Since the 51���� Theatre Department’s performances of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in Muskingum Park, both faculty and students have been on a wild ride — namely, rehearsing for “Ride the Cyclone,” beginning its run on the main stage Friday, Nov. 14.

The 2009 musical, written by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell, is being directed by McCoy Associate Professor of Theatre Andy Felt. The musical was chosen for the 2025-26 season after two students submitted a comprehensive proposal demonstrating how the production would fit well with the season’s other shows.

“It’s already what I would call a ‘high-concept’ show — it’s both supernatural and a musical. In such shows, it can be really dangerous to put an even bigger concept on top of it,” Felt said. “In addition, a popular recording of the off-Broadway production is available on YouTube, so it felt like the design team was fighting against just ‘copying’ what they did. We worked hard to set up a world for the show that was specific to our space and our actors, so we could reflect our own individual artistry.”

Felt has not undertaken the direction of the show alone. Alongside Music Director Peter Sour, he has had student support from Assistant Director Zeir Carpenter ’26 and Choreographer Lee Hankinson ’27. Carpenter, who is preparing their capstone project based on their involvement, noted their positive experience with the show.

“My work has mainly been blocking my assigned sections of the script, as well as giving feedback on acting choices and other blocking based on what I’ve seen. It’s been challenging, but in a good way,” Carpenter said. “The hardest part has been adjusting to thrust staging — having audience members on three sides of the stage rather than one is difficult because I’ve never done a show staged like that.”

Hankinson also noted the challenges of thrust staging, recounting how she had to re-choreograph three numbers after finding out how the stage was set.

“All of my choreography has to be angled so each side of the audience can see it,” she said. “It was an easy fix, but still difficult to get used to at first. It’s been a great learning experience, though. I definitely won’t take it for granted.”

“Ride the Cyclone” follows six teenagers from a Canadian chamber choir after their lives are cut short in a freak accident aboard a roller coaster. As they awake in limbo, a sentient mechanical fortune teller invites each to tell their life story to win a prize like no other: the chance to return to life. Although rated R due to its adult subject matter and strong language, the production provides a hilarious yet moving look at what makes a life well-lived.

Showings of “Ride the Cyclone” will take place at the Hermann Fine Arts Center’s Friederich Theater at 8 p.m. on Nov. 14, 15, 20, 21, and 22. The average runtime of the musical is about one hour and 40 minutes, including a ten-minute intermission. 

Beginning one hour before the show, 51���� students and faculty can receive a free ticket at the door by presenting their IDs. Tickets for all other attendees can be purchased ahead of time at .

To learn more about the remainder of the Theatre Department’s 2025-26 season, contact department chair Casiha Felt at cas.felt@marietta.edu, or visit marietta.edu/theatre-season.