Drama teacher Ben Brotzman first discovered the show “The Madwoman of the Chaillot” 15 years ago and was impressed by its incredible music and flawless blend of film noir and absurdism.
He’s thrilled to finally have an opportunity to produce it on the McAfee Center stage and share its magnificence with the community.
“I really wanted to go into something more silly and comedic,” Brotzman said. “It’s more witty than slapstick, but it is a different kind of comedy than we have done before.”
Sophomore Tessie Berger, who plays Madam Constance in this play, said audiences can expect to be shocked, since the play has several surprise elements. “You can expect to laugh really, really hard at some of the things people say, because they are pretty funny.”
The play, written by Jean Giraudoux, contains 33 roles and is set in 20th-century France. Cast members are still deciding whether or not they will speak with an accent. According to Brotzman, the show will involve extravagant costumes and innovative scenery that push beyond the audience’s expectations.
The drama board announced both the fall play and the spring musical earlier this semester. Besides “The Madwoman of the Chaillot” as the fall play, the spring musical will be “Urinetown,” a post-apocalyptic musical written by Greg Kotis centered around the right — or privilege — to use the bathroom.
After three years of more lighthearted spring musicals, Brotzman sought to produce a more uncommon but serious musical for the audience.
The musical is set in a post-apocalyptic world with years of no rain or groundwater. In an effort to keep the streets clean, the government forces citizens to pay to use the government-issued toilets, the only bathrooms in the town. Similar to “The Madwoman of the Challiot,” this show portrays ordinary citizens rising to challenge those in power.
The musical follows Bobby Strong, a working class young man, who leads a revolution to overthrow his society’s oppressive system. With themes of climate change, challenging corrupt systems and romance, the musical features a complex plot.
“If you go past what it seems like from just the title and a little bit about it, it’s making interesting commentary that is very important to think about,” Berger said.
Brotzman said this production offers countless opportunities for both seasoned performers and newcomers to musical theater. With both classical and typical Broadway-style songs and characters ranging from street urchins to millionaires, “Urinetown” is a show that welcomes anyone eager to audition.
“We are trying to push the boundaries of this department and show that we do both amazing and really interesting work,” Brotzman said. “I believe that we are choosing shows that are going to make audiences think hopefully step outside of their comfort zone.”
“The Madwoman of Chaillot” will have performances at McAfee Center on Nov. 7-9 and Nov. 14-15 and “Urinetown” will have performances April 24-May 2, also at the McAfee Center.
The Madwoman of Chaillot Cast List:
Madame Aurelia: Nila Venkataratnam
President: Sahaana Chitrapura
Prospector: Elli Kline
Baron: Gauri Vaidya
Waiter: Makenna Parris
Flower Girl: Shravya Hariharan
Street Singer: Dante Mikailli
Broker: Bhavya Lohani
Ragpicker: Benjamin Davies
Shoelace Peddler: Aditya Cheethirala
Doorman: Sophia Mokhnatkin
Little Man: Tessie Berger
Irma: Leila Mansour
Street Performer: Dhriya Darji
Policeman: Yanika Pai
Police Sergeant: Sarah Musani
Pierre: Patrick Keogh
Therese: Annabelle Co
Paulette: Anika Kalia
Sewer Person: Devin Duong
Deaf-Mute: Devin Duong
Madame Constance: Tessie Berger
Madame Josephine: Anika Kalia
President 2: Devin Duong
Prospector 2: Dhriya Darji
Woman 1: Makenna Parris
Press Agent 1: Sophia Mokhnatikin
Woman 2: Gauri Vaidya
Dr. Jadin: Emily Troy
Mademoiselle Gabrielle: Annabelle Co
President 3: Emily Troy
Press Agent 2: Bhavya Lohani
Man: Aditya Cheethirala
