Did you catch the fall play in early November? Or maybe you watched the orchestra, band, and choir concerts later in the month? Many Lakesiders recently enjoyed these arts events; however, the performances do not end here. The musical, which is generally rehearsed starting in late fall and performed in the late winter, is just beginning. The winter musical has been led for the past ten years by Michael Place (Micky), who also teaches drama and Theater Production. Past performances have included Newsies, Les Misérables, Mean Girls, and Hadestown.
This year’s selection, Anything Goes, is a classic musical written in 1934 by composer Cole Porter and playwrights Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse. Comedic, dramatic, and full of catchy numbers, the story focuses on the events on a cruise ship bound for England, the SS American.
We follow Billy Crocker, a Wall Street broker and stowaway on the ship, as he falls in love with Hope Harcourt, who is a young, engaged heiress. He devises a plan to win over Hope, enlisting the help of Moonface Martin, also known as “Public Enemy Number 13,” and Reno Sweeney, a nightclub singer working on the SS American as a music gig. The show is lighthearted and lively, with numbers like “I Get a Kick Out of You” and “Be Like the Bluebird” that are sure to be stuck in your head for days to come.
In his search for this year’s musical, Micky hoped to find a show that allowed the full company to become completely engrossed in the piece, engaging “their minds, their hearts, their artistry, their athleticism, their joy, their sense of hard work, and perseverance.”
While directing one of his first productions, Newsies, he realized the significance of having an ensemble with individual character arcs, creating a “cohesion of intention from the ensemble.” Micky noted that, from that point onwards, he was “really seeking shows where the chorus had a stake.”
Anything Goes perfectly fits this bill: the ensemble is a crucial element of the show to bring energy, establish the story, and immerse the audience in the world of the SS American.
Despite being written almost a century ago, Anything Goes undoubtedly remains relevant even now. The ubiquity of technology in our modern world, for example, is contrasted in the show by characters seeking sincerity and connection. “It’s really about an open-hearted abandon,” Micky remarks, “to relentlessly pursue the life that you know you can have.” Additionally, throughout the play, Micky notes that “there’s an undercurrent that society values celebrity more than integrity.” Characters often go to extremes to interact with a celebrity, a theme that still resonates today.
Anything Goes is known for its tap dancing, which will be featured in Lakeside’s production. The show will also likely be performed on a double-decker set, allowing for complex, comedic moments and the aforementioned large ensemble. It will also be built in part by a professional set builder, contrary to past years when Micky built the sets.
Devon S. ’28, who was involved in the musical last year, hopes to be a cast member this year because of his appreciation for the welcoming community that he found last year. While the musical is a significant commitment and can be a difficult and exhausting process, seeing the show start as “a concept” and become “this fulfilling moment” was also incredibly special for Devon.
He also noted how being a part of the musical and other productions has helped him “grow with tackling things like grief and fear.” When playing or interacting with characters that have experienced tragedy, Devon is able to learn from them and “become a better person.”
With a grin, he reflected on his favorite musical traditions, like the pre-show warm-up and the cool-down circle, where cast members are able to share emotions about the musical and appreciate the bonds that have been formed throughout the process.
Similarly to Devon, Ada B. ’27, the stage manager for Anything Goes, appreciates seeing something the cast works so hard on become a finished product for the audience to enjoy. She hopes to “walk away feeling like we as a group have created something that we’re proud of, which is something that I think always happens with Lakeside shows.”
As a stage manager, Ada has also been able to see a new side of theater. “It’s given me such an appreciation for cinematography and the intention that goes into theater making and movie making,” Ada noted, “[and] when you watch the process, you understand that every single choice is intentional…it all means something.”
When considering Anything Goes in particular, she anticipates that, since it is common for people to be opposed to classic musicals, one main focus will be on figuring out how to foster an appreciation for the show. “I think we can definitely make people love it and make people leave going ‘Oh yeah, that was really good!’,” she added, “but it might take a little bit more.”
Ada encourages students not involved in the musical to come see it, emphasizing that “it will be cool to see your classmates and people that you walk past every single day do this really impressive and fun thing on stage.”
Rehearsals for Anything Goes began on Dec.1st, and the musical will be performed on March 5th, 6th, and 7th. Don’t miss this production, sure to be full of love, drama, crime, and tap dancing!
