“Singin’ in the Rain” Storms the Lincoln Black Box Theatre

Gallery • 34 Photos

Mr. Manthe makes an appearance as he explains how "talkies" work.

The rain poured inside the Black Box Theatre on Saturday, Oct. 8.  It was not the fault of a leaky ceiling, but rather the special effects used during the performance of the fall 2014 musical, Singin’ in the Rain. The musical, which closes Nov. 15th, is an adaptation of the 1952 MGM film of the same name, which starred Debbie Reynolds and Gene Kelly. The Lincoln performance featured Tyler Bays as Don Lockwood, the silent film actor determined to make it big in the new talking motion picture industry. Lockwood faces obstacles along the way, including his co-star Lina Lamont, played by Heidi Reinheimer, who’s unpalatable voice poses a threat to the success of the movie. However, with the help of his best friend Cosmo Brown, played by Gabriel Richardson, and his love interest Kathy Selden, played by Alexis Maiwald, Lockwood devises a plan to ensure the success of the movie.

Lincoln’s rendition of Singin’ in the Rain was well-executed enough to rival the Broadway version as well as the movie version. From the elaborate costumes, to the breathtaking special effects, the musical was both engaging and exciting. The cast, which included nearly 50 students, performed incredibly well. The musical included complicated tap dances, such as “Moses Supposes,” performed by Lockwood (Bays) and Brown (Richardson), and “Broadway Melody,” performed by the entire cast, that showcased the talents of all the performers. The stunning performance was the product of the hard work and dedication of the cast.

Another very impressive feature of the musical was the special effects used throughout the performance. In accordance with the plot, the show included short films, first a silent film was projected and then a “talkie,” or film with sound, was shown, both worked extremely well with the time period that show was set in and gave the show a very unique quality.  Perhaps the most impressive effect used was the rain that came down during both acts. Actual water was used to create the extremely realistic rain that fell during “Singin’ in the Rain” and “Singin’ in the Rain (reprise).” The use of this magical effect gave the show a lifelike feeling and was well worth the effort. To those concerned about the use of water during the drought, the program for the show mentioned that the rain “is being collected and recycled for the…landscaping on our campus…as well as our heritage rose gardens.” Clearly, the preparation of the performers and the effects was a process that took effort but it definitely paid off.

Lion Tales spoke to one performer, Jessica Amores, who was a member of the ensemble. Amores mentioned that they have been practicing and preparing for “about two months,” and that each and every student must be committed, since rehearsals are so thorough, “We worked for about two hours Monday through Friday every week.”

Lion Tales also spoke to two other cast members, Veronica Farrell, a member of the ensemble, and Josh Pono, who played director Roscoe Dexter. Here is what all the cast members interviewed said about their experiences in the show:

Q: What has been the best part of preparing and performing in the musical?

Pono: The most enjoyable part about preparing for Singin’ In The Rain was watching the rain the first time.

Farrell: The best part has been learning all the dances and songs with the rest of the cast.

Amores: My favorite part of the musical is getting the chance to dance in the rain. It’s so much fun.

Q:What has been the most challenging part in preparing for the show?

Pono: The hardest part about preparing for Singin’ In The Rain was actually singing in the rain when it first came. It was incredibly difficult to do and a lot of people slipped, also, learning the dances.

Farrell: Learning all the dances.

Q:What is your favorite part of performing live? Least Favorite?

Pono: The best thing about performing live is that each show is unique in its own way so that it’s never boring. The worst thing about performing live is having to stay focused on the songs so that you can always be on time for a cue.

Farrell: Hearing the applause of the audience. My least favorite part would be the nerves.

Amores: My favorite part of performing live is being able to show people what we have been working so hard on and being able to see their reaction when the show is all pieced together. The only bad thing about performing live would be the nerves you get when many people are watching and all you can think about is not messing up, but then you overcome that fear and you give it your all and have fun.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about the basic plot of Singin’ in the Rain?

Pono: Singin’ in the Rain is about a love story in the midst of the transition period from silent movies to talking movies called “talkies.”

Q: Is there anything significant about the props and special effects used in the musical?

Pono: The costumes and props are super simple with nothing really important about them to mention. However, the special effects are amazing, including the rain and the silent and talking movies throughout the show.

Farrell: It’s all fun and makes you feel like you’re back in the 1920s.

Q:What would you tell anyone interested in participating in a performance at Lincoln?

Pono: I would tell people interested in participating that they should. It’s a really fun experience and you can make a lot of great friends in the process.

Farrell: You should totally do it! Don’t be nervous, just try your best it’s really fun!

Amores: I would just say do it. Don’t let anyone or anything stop you from showing people what you do. Its important to do something even though you may be scared instead of wishing you could have done this or that.

Singin’ in the Rain plays until Nov. 15th. You can purchase tickets in the Box Office or on the Lincoln Performing Arts website.