Posted on Friday, March 17, 2023
It’s the 1958 Springfield High Super Senior Prom and the boy band “The Crooning Crabcakes” must be replaced last-minute as the entertainment. Here come “The Marvelous Wonderettes” to step in and save the day!
This high-octane juke box musical features four young women who are members of an award-winning Song Leader squad who tell their stories of friendship and love through song.
“It's an exciting trip down memory lane; nostalgic, charming and funny, with oldies but goodies!” said Professor of Theatre Arts Kim Barber Knoll, who directs and choreographs the show with Musical Director and Professor of Music Dr. Toni Anderson.
The first act features hits such as “Mr. Sandman,” “Stupid Cupid,” “Lollipop” and “Sincerely.” The second act takes place ten years later, 1968, at the Wonderettes high school reunion. The girls will rock the house with “Heatwave,” “You Don't Own Me,” “It's My Party,” and “Respect.”
“I love a lot of these classic songs, especially the power ballads of the ’60s,” said senior Erika Hill, who plays the role of Missy.
She said Missy is an over-achiever and leader of the group.
“Missy is a perfectionist and head of the prom decorations committee. She gets things done,” Hill said.
A Music major, Hill said the tight harmonies in the show are challenging, and the cast has worked hard to perfect every note.
Freshman Aria Mabry plays Cindy Lou. “She knows she’s the prettiest girl at Springfield High and she is fully expecting to be named Prom Queen.”
Mabry said we see a different side of her character at the high school reunion.
“A lot has happened to Cindy Lou in 10 years. She has matured and learned about love and loss, she said. “I have really enjoyed working on her character development.”
Freshman Aubrey Helton said her character Suzy is the optimistic ingenue: blonde, perky, and “going steady.”
“We see a more mature Suzy in Act Two, 1968,” she said. “Things haven’t been as rosy as she expected as a wide-eyed and hopeful high schooler.”
Freshman Isabella Rapoza said her character Betty Jean is the class clown and trickster of the group.
“She’s mischievous and daring,” she said. “She also goes through quite a change in 10 years.”
Rapoza said she and her grandfather share a love for this music.
“When I was learning these songs at rehearsal, I would remember listening to them in the car with my grandpa,” she said. “This music is very nostalgic. I think there will be a lot of audience members singing along.”
The show opens Wednesday, March 29, and runs through Friday, March 31. Curtain is at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. And new to the schedule are two shows on Friday, March 31: a matinee at 2 p.m. and the closing performance at 6 p.m.
The box office will open on Monday, March 20. Tickets can be reserved online only by emailing priceboxoffice@kongtiao11.com. Guests must include the performance date and the number of people in the party. Seating is general admission, and the house will open 20 minutes before curtain. The show is free for LC faculty, staff and students; $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12.
Associate Sports Management Professor Dr. Clay Bolton and 10 LC students were invited by Steve Taylor, the senior instructor and leader of field experiences for the University of South Carolina’s Sports and Entertainment undergraduate program, to work at The Players Championship professional golf event March 5-March 13 at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The students worked with Contemporary Services Corporation, the largest crowd management and event security firm in the country. They had the chance to observe behind the scenes work of hospitality, security, food and beverage, as well as the PGA Tour and the media. Pictured are Kendyl Anderson ’25, Kirsten Boyd ’23, Enrique Hernandez ’23, Bershard Edwards ’23, Israel Hill ’23, Camerin Lyons ’24, Breonna Glover ’23, Michael Hasse ’25, Nicholas Missert ’25 and Mena Yacoub ’23.
Check LC Connect for Virtual CE events and instructions
Saturday, March 18
West Point Lake Cleanup
10 a.m., West Point Lake
Tuesday, March 21
Academic Success: Your Campus Resources
11:15 a.m., Corn Auditorium
Wednesday, March 22
Dance Marathon Survival Guide
7:30 p.m., Corn Auditorium
Friday, March 24
Halcyon: The Raku of Rich Brown
5 p.m., Lamar Dodd Art Center
Coming to Price Theater: "The Marvelous Wonderettes"
A delightful musical romp about a high school "girl group," their personal dreams and romantic complications, "The Marvelous Wonderettes" comes to the Price Theater stage March 29, 30 and 31. Make reservations by emailing priceboxoffice@kongtiao11.com.
Men’s Lacrosse
After setting a program record in last week’s 30-8 victory against Centenary, LaGrange delivered a 15-5 win against Carroll on Saturday, March 11, in Nashville, Tennessee. Sophomore Andrew Brown drove home a game-high four scores and sophomore Ryan Comeau delivered three goals, an assist and five groundballs to lead LaGrange. On the team’s second day in Nashville, LaGrange took a 26-11 loss against Capital.
Freshman Luke Young earned his second USA South Rookie of the Week honor. On the year, he has produced 17 goals and seven assists for 24 points and 12 groundballs.
Softball
The Panthers’ doubleheader against Meredith resulted in a 9-1 win and 10-3 loss on Saturday, March 11. In the first game, Junior Lindsey Swearngin would finish with three RBIs while senior Maggie White went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, a walk and a run. On Wednesday, the team delivered a 15-0 win and 6-4 win against Andrew College.
Baseball
LaGrange started its three-game series in Millington, Tennessee, with a 11-0 loss against Centenary on Friday, March 10. The loss fueled the team to dominate Westfield State 20-3 and Chicago 7-1 on Saturday, March 11, and Sunday, March 12. During the Westfield game, Senior Rhett Mixon cranked three doubles as part of a perfect 5-for-5 day that saw him score four times and drive in four, while senior Joe Ruth was 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles, three runs, three RBIs and two walks. At the Chicago game, freshman Jackson McElvy led the way for LC as he went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, a pair of runs and a steal. Junior Ethan Fry threw a seven-inning complete game shutout that saw him ring up an impressive 13 strikeouts while allowing just one hit to two walks. On Tuesday, the team delivered an 8-2 victory at Oglethorpe. Junior Jared Aldridge would lead the way for LaGrange as he went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a triple, two RBIs and a run scored, while sophomore Jorge Fragoso finished 2-for-3 with two doubles, a walk, RBI and three runs.
Senior Rhett Mixon, junior Ethan Fry and freshman Jackson McElvy were named Player of the Week, Pitcher of the Week and Rookie of the Week. It is the second time this season that the Panthers have swept the Collegiate Conference of the South awards, doing so on February 27 when senior Joe Ruth earned Player of the Week, junior Dalton Brooks claimed Pitcher of the Week and McElvy was Rookie of the Week.
Men’s Tennis
The Panthers took an 8-1 loss against Belhaven on Saturday, March 11. Freshman Nic Bodin would pick up the Panther's lone point on the day as he took the first set 6-3 before dropping the second 6-1. The current Collegiate Conference of the South (CCS) Freshman of the Week would then take the match with a commanding 6-2 decision to close out the 8-1 decision.
Women’s Tennis
LaGrange suffered a 7-2 loss against Belhaven on Saturday, March 11. The Panthers would pick up a point with the forfeit at No. 3 doubles only to see senior Hannah Miller and junior Journey Oden drop an 8-1 decision at No. 1 and junior Leila Moss and senior Karson Troth fall 8-3 at the No. 2 spot.
(Please note that schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Please check www.lagrangepanthers.com to confirm.)
Friday, March 17 – Golf at Jekyll Island Collegiate Invitational (Round 1), Jekyll Island, Georgia
Saturday, March 18 – Golf at Jekyll Island Collegiate Invitational (Round 2), Jekyll Island, Georgia
Saturday, March 18 – Softball at Covenant, noon and 2 p.m., Lookout Mountain, Georgia
Saturday, March 18 – Men’s Lacrosse (Home) vs. Southern Virginia, 1 p.m., Callaway Stadium
Saturday, March 18 – Women’s Tennis at Huntingdon, 2 p.m., Montgomery, Alabama
Saturday, March 18 – Baseball at Berea, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., Berea, Kentucky
Saturday, March 18 – Men’s Tennis at Huntingdon, 3 p.m., Montgomery, Alabama
Sunday, March 19 – Golf at Jekyll Island Collegiate Invitational (Final Round), Jekyll Island, Georgia
Sunday, March 19 – Baseball at Berea, noon, Berea, Kentucky
Wednesday, March 22 – Baseball (Home) vs. Birmingham-Southern, 7 p.m., Cleaveland Field in Williamson Stadium
Thursday, March 23 – Women’s Tennis at Mississippi University for Women, 1 p.m., Columbus, Mississippi
Thursday, March 23 – Men’s Tennis at Mississippi University for Women, 1 p.m., Columbus, Mississippi
Category: Community, Arts and Culture, Events
Keywords: Theatre, Art, Music
