Director Mychelle Hopkins got hitched to the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre as an aspiring student actor. Her growth there led to a stint in the circus, a Fulbright scholarship to study Shakespeare’s plays in England, a faculty appointment at her alma mater, Western Michigan University, before becoming director of education at Old Town Playhouse in Traverse City, MI. But the Civic remains a home away from home, she tells Cara Lieurance in an interview about the season-ending musical she will guest-direct: The Wedding Singer, adapted from the popular 1998 Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore film.
The 25-member cast features 10 actors making their Civic debuts, according to Hopkins. She talks about the 8-week process of rehearsal that ends with each member of the company confidently owning their role in the production. One example is Logan Awe, who plays main character Robby. He learned to play the guitar for the part.
The Civic set a new record for making costumes for this production, says Hopkins. Those who remember the 1980s will enjoy the colorful, upbeat styles of the era.
The Wedding Singer opens Friday, May 2. For tickets and further details, visit the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre website.
