RUMORS was performed April 11th-14th, and was a success. Many Piedmont families and the community showed up to the comedic show. The cast and crew did a spectacular job in highlighting this production. The set’s features made it feel like the audience was in someone’s house. The cast worked hard to portray their characters and bring the jokes to life. The audience was filled with laughter and left with the question of what happened between Charlie and Mira.
However, as the curtain closed for RUMORS, the Mainstage Season was announced later. For next year, Piedmont University Theatre will perform The Laramie Project, 9 to 5: The Musical, and Steel Magnolias. A different theatre professor will direct each production.
Bill Gabelhausen will be directing The Laramie Project, which has been on his bucket list. “I am most excited about the message of this production. It is easy to slap a bumper sticker on your car that says, “No Hate In My State”, but it is a completely different animal to approach that hate head on in an attempt to change it,” Gabelhausen said.
Kathy Blandin will be directing 9 to 5: The Musical, which will not be her first time directing it, but she is thrilled to revisit the production. In the Mainstage, there is a 22-line set fly system. “We are going to design a set for this show which takes maximum advantage of our fly system by using as much flown scenery as possible.” Blandin said. Blandin will also collaborate with Bill Gabelhausen as choreographer and Benji Stegner as music director for 9 to 5: The Musical.
Finally, the Southern Tale of Steel Magnolias will also be performed next year and directed by John Spiegel. When asked what he was most excited about directing Steel Magnolias, Spiegel said, “I enjoy watching the connections built within the cast. The friendships represented by the characters often become the actors’ relationships off stage.” This is a fantastic selection for next year’s Mainstage Season, so watch for more information.
