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Photos by Tyler Rosenthal.
ARKADELPHIA, Ark.—Ouachita Baptist University’s Department of Theatre Arts will present the full-length fall theatre production Machinal Oct. 25-30 in Ouachita’s Verser Theatre. Performances will be held at 7:30 each evening, with the exception of a Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 each and are available for purchase at www.obu.edu/boxoffice.
“Machinal concerns the mental life of Helen, a young woman who is proposed to by her boss,” said Ouachita alumna Shelby-Allison Hibbs, guest director of the show. “She is not attracted to him and does not love him, but the pressures of society and the people around her entice her to believe that this is the best shot she has. This choice sets off a domino effect of episodes in the youngwoman’s life, and she feels completely trapped by her life.”
Helen, the main character, is simply referred to as “Young Woman” throughout the play. “None of the other characters have personal names,” Hibbs added. “They are referred to as ‘Husband,’ ‘Second Man,’ ‘Telephone Operator’ and so on. The reason behind that is to show how the industrial age dehumanized people into social and occupational roles.”
The opportunity for Hibbs to direct this show came about last spring. Mary Handiboe, associate professor of theatre arts, “is on sabbatical this semester, so a guest director spot opened up for the fall and Ouachita flew me in for the auditions in late August,” Hibbs said.
Since graduating from Ouachita in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in theatre arts, Hibbs has earned a master’s degree in directing from Baylor University. While at Baylor, she taught two acting classes and was a nominee for the Outstanding Graduate Student Instructor Award. She was also a recipient of the Research and Professional Development Support and the Judy Locy Wright/Bill and Pat Cook Graduate Theatre Scholarship.
After earning her master’s degree, Hibbs moved to New York City where she directs and produces various productions. She also travels regionally to produce and direct. After Machinal wraps, she will return to New York where she will be developing new projects.
Sarah Davis, junior Christian studies and theatre arts double major from Bedford, Texas, plays the lead role of YoungWoman. “I fell in love with Machinal because it’s something so different in the fact that there is nobody on the main character’s side,” Davis said. “Nobody is rooting for her, except hopefully the audience.
“I absolutely relate to her and I think that every woman who comes out to see the show will find some way they can relate to her,” Davis added.
Kaylee Nebe, a sophomore musical theatre major from Mesquite, Texas, serves as stage manager and is assisted by Ben Stidham, a sophomore musical theatre major from Dallas, Texas. Eric Phillips, professor of theatre arts, serves as the scene designer as well as the lighting designer.
The lead cast includes Davis and Timothy Drennan, junior musical theatre major from Paron, Ark.
The ensemble includes: Gabi Baltzley, a junior musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark.; Walter Dodd II, a freshman theatre arts major from Little Rock, Ark.; Gemma Guiomard, a senior musicaltheatre major from DeSoto, Texas; Lola McClendon, a senior musical theatre major from Springdale, Ark.; Shay Michael, a senior musical theatre major from Grapevine, Texas; Cody Myers, a senior psychology and musical theatre double major from Van Buren, Ark.; Allison Smith, a sophomore psychology and musical theatre double major from Jonesboro, Ark.; Blaine Surber, a sophomore musical theatre major from Sulphur Springs, Texas; Garrett Whitehead, a junior musical theatre major from Cleburne, Texas; and Tyler Wisdom, a sophomore musical theatre major from Russellville, Ark.
The production crew includes crew members working on props, lighting, sound, projection, costumes, makeup, publicity and backstage shifts.
C.J. Bernard, a sophomore theatre arts major from Sherwood, Ark., is the props crew head and is assisted by: Chad Burris, a sophomore musical theatre major from Van Buren, Ark.; Bethany Gere, a sophomore musical theatre major from White Hall, Ark.; and Jillian Kaniss, a junior psychology major from Texarkana, Texas.
Cami Willis, a sophomore musical theatre major from Flower Mound, Texas, serves as the light board operator.
Jacob Sturgeon, a junior musical theatre major from Pine Bluff, Ark., is the sound designer, and Aaron Pinion, a freshman theatre arts major from Tulsa, Okla., serves as the soundboard operator.
Tyler Herron, a senior theatre arts major from Rosston, Ark., is the projection designer and Ben Perry, a junior musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark. serves as the projection crew head.
Kayla Esmond, a junior musical theatre major from Burleson, Texas, is the costume designer. The costume crew heads are Elizabeth Wheeler, a freshman musical theatre major from Alexander, Ark., and Betsy Wilson, a senior musical theatre major from Houston, Texas. The costume build and run crew includes: Reed Ashley, a freshman musical theatre major from Booneville, Ark.; Caroline Cain, a freshman theatre arts major from Boise, Idaho; Stacy Hawking, a freshman musical theatre major from Sherwood, Ark.; Shonna Jasperson, a freshman theatre arts major from Houston, Texas; Kelley Lester, a senior secondary education and speech/theatre arts double major from Bismarck, Ark.; Alyssa Reynolds, a senior music major from Sanger, Texas; Jessica Smith, a sophomore musical theatre major from Van Buren, Ark.; and Hailey Weiner, a freshman musical theatre major from Maumelle, Ark.
Jordan Miller, a junior musical theatre major from Rockwall, Texas, is the makeup designer. MaryLacey Thomson, a junior musical theatre major from Plano, Texas, serves as the makeup crew head and is assisted by Nicole Mattson, a junior musical theatre major from Rowlett, Texas, and Lily Taylor, a freshman musical theatre major from Harriman, Texas.
Amanda Murray, a senior musical theatre major from Racine, Wis., is the house manager. Jalin Wesley, a sophomore musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark., serves as the house crew head and is assisted by Lindsey Lederer, a senior musical theatre major from Carrollton, Texas, and Lauren Linton, a junior musical theatre major from Millington, Tenn. Alison Johnson, a senior musical theatre major from Shreveport, La., is thehead of publicity. Members of the publicity and front-of-house crew are: Tara Clem, a freshman musical theatre major from Texarkana, Texas; Shannon Huntsman, a sophomore speech communications major from Little Rock, Ark.; Danielle Love, a freshman musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.; Annie McMurray, a freshman musical theatre major from Lindale, Texas; Kenderick Scorza, a freshman theatre arts major from North Little Rock, Ark.; and Natalie Williams, a freshman musical theatre major from Little Rock, Ark.
Backstage shift members include: Mattie Bogoslavsky, a freshman musical theatre major from North Little Rock, Ark.; Brooke Brackett, a junior musical theatre major from Springdale, Ark.; Truett Dishman, a sophomore musical theatre major from McKinney, Texas; Blakely Knox, a sophomore musical theatre major from Fort Smith, Ark.; and Emily Rankin, a freshman education major from Texarkana, Texas.
Tickets may be purchased at the Jones Performing Arts Center Box Office weekdays from 1-5 p.m. and one hour before show times. Tickets may also be purchased with credit card by phone or online at www.obu.edu/boxoffice. For more information, call the box office at (870) 245-5555 during regular box office hours. Also, each current OBU student may receive one free ticket to the show by presenting his or her OBU ID at the box office.
