Thanks to Guest Reviewer T.E. Klunzinger
This is not really a show, but a presentation about the creation of a show – a kind of documentary, if you will. And although it’s online, it costs a little money.
To refresh, MSU’s ImaGen program has been going for 7 to 9 years (depending on you how count) and until now has had this form: the creators of a new musical are invited to submit their work in October/November of a given year. One show is selected and during the ensuing months a paid core creative team (such as director, music director, lead performers) is gathered by the creators. Then in early September of the following year, that team arrives on the MSU campus to teach master classes and conduct an intensive two-week workshop with perhaps 20 current MSU theatre students, and then the finished product is presented as a staged concert reading with three performances in the Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre.
This year, of course, it’s very different and this presentation provides insight into the development process for a new musical, albeit one which just now falls short of achieving an actual stage.
If you know anything about Greek mythology, you know that much of it is about bad things happening to various gods and demigods, with presumed lessons for the common folk. Given that, “Medusa” is a particular downer, in that she’s raped by Poseidon and when she tries to bring him to account, she’s said to have snakes in her hair … which she then does.
This is not, therefore, a fun show, although co-creators Wes Braver and Rachel Dean obviously thought it’s worth pursuing. Their score has a dark energy which pulses through the many complex rhythms and jazz-infused performance style – there are no flights of lyricism here.
In Zoom style, we get to see some familiar MSU performers in standout solos, such as Darah Donaher, Marshall Ross and Claire Wilcher, along with the lead Equity players and the many other MSU performers in their little boxes., and everything being skillfully put together by a considerable list of editors.
But really, the value of this presentation comes in being able to be part of the rehearsal process – albeit via Zoom, classes included – which makes it clear that while the ImaGen program certainly helps give notice to new works, its lasting contribution is of immersing theatre students in the exciting process of making new theatre happen.
MEDUSA will be presented only one more time (perhaps because of Equity constraints) this Sunday, November 8 at 2:00 pm. The program lasts one hour and tickets can be purchased (for $16.59 each) through http://WhartonCenter.com.
Post-Show Discussion
We invite you to join us Sunday, November 8, immediately following the documentary for a discussion of the production with Dan Smith, Assistant Professor of Theatre Studies and Dramaturgy. This discussion will take place on Zoom, a different platform than you will use to access the documentary. You can join us either online or by phone using the information below:
Medusa Post-Show Discussion
Sunday, November 8, after the documentary
https://msu.zoom.us/j/91363206184
Meeting ID: 913 6320 6184
Passcode: Medusa
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+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
Meeting ID: 913 6320 6184
Find your local number: https://msu.zoom.us/u/acxIDodus5