CSM Journalism Student Previews Musical Performance
The College of Southern Marylands Theatre Company presents the Gilbert and Sullivan musical production of Pirates of Penzance showing Nov. 11-13 and 18 20, 8 p.m. at CSMs La Plata Campus, Fine Arts (FA) Center, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata.
CSM journalism student Maria Padilla of Chesapeake Beach provided her impressions of the cast and upcoming show after previewing the second act of a recent rehearsal.
I was astonished with how well the actors played their roles and how accurately they took on the personalities of their characters. Acting is something that comes naturally to the cast, which made watching the show more enjoyable and believable.
The actors began rehearsing for the play on Sept. 18, which provided them with less than two months to rehearse and memorize their lines and songs.
While for some of the cast members performing is a hobby, for others it is part of their dream come true. For instance, 12-year-old Greg Kenney, who plays one of the pirates, shared that he had been acting since he was in preschool, and that he would eventually like to pursue a career on Broadway.
Current CSM student and actress Jasmine Felder, who plays Mabel, spends a lot of her free time practicing her lines and songs for the play especially while she is in her car.
Some cast members are former CSM students. For actress Jennifer Robertson, who plays one of Mabels sisters, this is her first performance at CSM. She explained that the cast is almost like a family. Robertson is dedicated to the play and does not take critique of her work personally because she feels that it is for the betterment of the overall performance.
The entire cast seemed to be elated to be part of the performance and that was evident with their performance on stage. They have put a lot of time and effort into the performance and they seemed to be helpful and encouraging with one another.
The performance is funny and entertaining and I highly recommend coming to see it for yourself. It is a must-see that is suitable for all ages.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for youth/seniors. CSM staff and students may contact the Box Office for advance purchase discount at bxoffc@csmd.edu, 301-934-7828, or www.csmd.edu/arts.