Fall production
Generations
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Central Wyoming College CWC Theater Department dances through the century as it presents an original show that takes a nostalgic and historic look at the past 100 years through choreography.
The premiere performances of "Generations" are scheduled for October 3, 4, 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m., and the matinee is set for Oct. 5 at 2:30 p.m. in the Robert A. Peck Arts Center Theatre. Thirty actors, mostly CWC students, perform 17 dances that represent each decade of the past century.
Theater director Mike Myers has written a script that intertwines dialog to the original movements created by group of cross-generational choreographers who include CWC adjunct dance instructor Jonathan Rummel, former professional dancer Amy Swenson, CWC student Sami Sanders and Chloe Skaggs, a Riverton High School senior.
Before writing the script for the show, Myers selected music from each decade and asked his choreographers to craft signature dances to represent each decade. Myers said the audience will see dances, such as the Charleston from the 1920s, the twist and mashed potato from the ‘60s as well as hip hop/break dancing and stomp from recent times. Imagery, music, costumes and hair styles from each decade completes the 100-year-old story.
Myers script gives interesting facts about each decade and talks about how people lived and how much things cost. He has placed heavy emphasis on life-changing events, such as the two World Wars.
"They say that people who lived at the turn of the century through WWI and WWII saw more changes that ever occurred in the history of the world in one generation," Myers said.
Rummel, who has a dance studio in Lander, is choreographing a majority of the show, but the guests are each creating three of their own.
Scene designer Chontelle Gray has also assumed responsibilities for costuming, and at last count, she was constructing 153 for this show alone. Hair stylist Rob Pennock "will be going crazy back stage" altering the looks of each actor in the ensemble.
Myers decided to include a dance show into this year's season after the success of "Everyman," the 500-year-old play that he transformed into a hip, modern dance production last fall. The students really enjoyed doing the show and many auditioned to be in the upcoming production because of the dance element, Myers said.
He emphasizes the entire CWC season is family friendly though a recent Arts Center publication marked them as PG-13. If you're an older person, there will be elements of nostalgia, Myers said. Younger audience members will get an entertaining history lesson.
Individual ticket prices for the show is $8 for adults and $6 for children and seniors, but Myers encourages patrons to consider purchasing season tickets, which gives advanced seat selections, recognition in the programs and discount prices. The cost of a single season ticket is $25 for adults and $20 for youth and seniors 60 and over.