Sheila Zapata
Staff Writer
After the outstanding reviews that came out of last season’s theatre productions, the Florida Southern community can’t wait to see what the talented performers of our Theatre and Dance department have in store for us. In the next couple of months, audiences will be able to enjoy some familiar and classic productions for the start of the new semester.
In addition, we welcome a new member of staff to the theatre department and what his plans are for Bob Hall & David Richmond’s “The Passion of Dracula.”
Legally Blonde
Similar to its movie adaptation, “Legally Blonde the Musical,” follows the journey of Elle Woods, a fashionable sorority girl, who applies to Harvard Law School in an attempt to win back her ex-boyfriend but instead ends up discovering her strengths and capabilities as a lawyer. With themes such as self-discovery, empowerment and self-acceptance, this show will leave the audience wanting to go back for more.
Boeing Boeing
As our first play of the school year, “Boeing Boeing,” directed by FSC Alumnus Lawrence Lesher, follows Bernard Lawrance, a Parisian architect, who juggles relationships with three flight attendants coming for three different airlines. The story gets interesting when the three women come to Paris to see him, which leads to a series of comedic misunderstandings and situations as Bernard tries to keep the relationship a secret from the women.
With its witty dialogue and ludicrous elements, “Boeing Boeing” will have audiences fighting back laughter.
The Passion of Dracula
FSC’s second play, “The Passion of Dracula,” takes the essence of Bram Stoker’s classic tale while giving viewers a layer of comedy and romance. Set in 1911 England, our main character Dr. Seward presides over a mental hospital next to a quiet village as the arrival of Count Dracula brings chaos to the village.
This play is known for its blend of horror, comedy and romance causing audience members to be filled with thrilling and entertaining experiences. The director for this play is Chrispoher Arthur, a temporary faculty member taking the place of Natasha Lee Martin until the Spring semester.
New Director Christopher Arthur
Professor Christopher Arthur started his theatre journey at Ball State University as a performance major and later on found a love for costuming which became the foundation of his career. The size of the theatre department and the location here in Lakeland played a part as to why Arthur came to FSC but the biggest thing that really attracted him to the department were the students.
“Once I met the students, I was like this is it the students are excited. From the students I’ve met and worked with they want to learn.” The students in the department remind Arthur of when he was a student himself in college with the amount of involvement and the fact that it feels like a family.
Even though Arthur’s background covers performing and costuming, he also has a hand in directing. When the department asked if he would like to take on “The Passion of Dracula,” he accepted as he finds horror films and tales fascinating. As for the process of the show, Arthur wants to take a more open minded route to the play.
“When we talk about casting, typically Dracula is casted as a presenting male. I am open to the character being genderfluid/nonbinary,” Arthur states.
He believes that particularly with the character Dracula themselves, it’s more of a power and control dynamic and this type of casting would add a new level to that dynamic.
There are aspects of sexuality in the play but it’s seen more as charisma and what draws a person to have power. The main takeaway he wants to give for the our student actors is to teach them about how to present themselves with power and confidence; Arthur wants the actors to realize what power is, wat it can do, and how to showcase it on the stage.
For the audience, Arthur realizes that the they comes to the theatre for different reasons and one being certain expectations of certain shows. Dracula is expected to be scary and tell the traditionally story but rather it explores the dynamic of power.
“I’m really truly trying to embrace this idea of power and what it means to give, take and have power and what means do you go to to get that and if it’s healthy or unhealthy,” said Arthur.
