Ensemble, Doralee and Hart perform Cowgirls Revenge from 9 to 5. ANGELINA PEREZ/THEQUADRANGLE
By Angelina Perez, Web Editor
The most anticipated spring semester musical, 9 to 5, occurred this past weekend and did not disappoint with the choreography and vocals to show Manhattan College the talent radiating on campus.
The Quadrangle had the privilege of seeing the cast perform during their opening night on Friday the 21st, where the audience could feel the emotions filling up Smith Auditorium.
Olivia Bailey is a freshman sound studies and communication major who obtained the role as one of 9 to 5’s leading ladies, Judy Bernly.
“I knew I wanted Judy as soon as we knew what the show was going to be,” Bailey explained. “I spent the whole entire month practicing and when I got the cast list I screamed. It was kind of embarrassing but also amazing that I would be playing the character I had wanted.”
While the character Judy was not usually the kind of persona Bailey usually played, she was still very excited.
“I usually play female leads who are confident and mean from the start, which Judy is not in the beginning but she eventually does grow into this strong independent woman,” explained Bailey.
Jenna Lenoard, a senior childhood education major, said she was able to take her final bow this weekend by going out with a production she will never forget and playing a role she can keep close to her heart.
“It is amazing to play Doralee alongside Gina and Olivia as Violet and Judy. [Doralee] was the role that Dolly Parton played in the original movie and it is so incredibly fun to be able to connect to her character in so many ways,” Leonard told the Quad. “She’s this woman who has gone through a lot of struggle, but she always keeps this positive mentality that shows this attitude that makes her want to keep pushing. I think it’s just incredibly fun to play her and do an accent as well.”
Leonard is not the only senior saying goodbye to the stage as John O’Connor, a senior management major specializing in talent management, is leaving behind a legacy not just with the Manhattan College Dancers, where you can mostly find him but with his Player’s family as well.
“So, in the cast, I play Tinsworthy and an ensemble member while also being the player’s dance captain.” O’Connor explained. “As dance captain, my main responsibility is to sustain the choreographer and help choreograph during the dance rehearsals to ensure everyone’s on the same page.”
O’Connor stresses the importance of feeling comfortable on stage when performing alongside others, especially when stunts and choreography are involved.
“Because Tinsworthy only comes out in the last scene, I am before that a dancing office assistant, tumbling around the stage, spinning and lifting.” O’Connor said. “There is a lot of dancing in 9 to 5 and because of that I have to make sure everything goes smoothly and that everyone feels confident because that’s the biggest thing. Of course, it doesn’t have to be a super hard routine, but as long as everyone feels their best, it’s gonna look its best?”
O’Connor walked The Quadrangle through the transition from dancing on the stage to a game day where he performs regularly.
“In the office scenes, we have to really tell a story with our dancing. It could be you’re doing something really hard one second, and then you’re just walking. Whereas during Game Day dances, it’s nonstop two minutes of flipping, smiling and shaking your butt,” explained O’Conner. “But on stage you get to help the story progress, especially like the dream sequence like when the girls are like stone. I went from playing a cowboy to an animal which just shows there’s so much happening at the same time no one ever notices.”
Brina Boyum is a sophomore philosophy and sociology double major who went from backstage to front stage all because of her roommate convincing her to audition on a whim.
“I took on two roles in this production. On stage, I play Kathy who is this secretary at the office and is described as the office gossip and the leader of the secretaries’ posse,” said Boyum. “But normally I do wardrobe, which helped me a lot with being able to quickly change by myself while also helping map out everybody else’s quick changes. I think quick changes are one of the coolest parts of theater because it’s so unexpected. One moment a person’s wearing one outfit, and then you blink for one second and they have another one on.”
As students take their bows on the last few weeks of school, MC’s players encourage them to keep an eye out for an announcement for the fall play.
