The Matchmaker Performs Over the Air Waves from SUU
Published: March 02, 2021 | Author: Ashley H Pollock | Read Time: 2 minutes
Students of SUU’s Department of Theatre, Dance, and Arts Administration are learning to act and convey expression with their voices during this pandemic. They are continuing the art of live theatre with radio-style performances of The Matchmaker on March 13, 18, 19, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. virtually at go.suu.edu/virtualtheater. Pre-registration is encouraged at least 15 minutes before showtime. They will also air on SUU’s Thunder 91.1 on Saturday, March 13, 2021, at 7:30 p.m.
Professor Richard Bugg, director of The Matchmaker, shares, “In the great storytelling tradition of old-time radio, we are presenting this classic farce, which normally relies on a lot of visual humor. The listener’s imagination, if triggered with the right aural clues, will create even more imaginative, engaging, and hilarious visuals in the mind.”
The Matchmaker, written by Thornton Wilder, is about Dolly Levi working her matchmaking magic to get couples together. In the mayhem, she is trying to secure a match for herself with Mr. Horace Vandergelder. The complications and near run-ins make this story hilarious and a delight to experience.
Savannah Selbach, senior BFA candidate in Acting from Bakersfield, California, states, “I have learned a lot about myself as an actor while working on this show. I am a very physical actor and tend to rely on my face and body to do the work for me, so it is nice to push myself as a voice actor.”
Spencer Watson, sophomore BFA candidate in Musical Theatre Performance from Layton, Utah, says, “This particular production has shown me the persistence of the arts, even in the midst of a pandemic, and the challenge of creating remote theatrical experiences. I have really had to hone telling the story through the inflections in my voice, the delivery of my lines, and the sounds I make in between.”
Watson goes on to say, “A show like the Matchmaker is vital to allow people to decompress, lighten their load, and laugh for a minute. It’s filled with romance, messy coincidences, and witty quips, perfect for forgetting about life for a while. The show has such optimistic charm and quaint simplicity, I think listeners will find they need its light hearted message more than they know.”
Enjoy this exciting story on March 13, 18, 19, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. virtually at go.suu.edu/virtualtheater and on SUU’s Thunder 91.1 on Saturday, March 13, 2021, at 7:30 p.m. For more information about the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Arts Administration at SUU, please visit www.suu.edu/pva/ta.Tags: Theater College of Performing and Visual Arts