Ginny Shimek

Contributing Writer and Cartoonist

The Behrend Theatre Club opened their spring production A Midnight on Broadway: A Music Theatre Cabaret last Friday to a sold out crowd. Students Jennifer Baxter, Beauregard Hernandez, William Mortimore, and Evangeline Samos directed the cast composed of both familiar and fresh faces. While the showcase did not have an overarching narrative, most songs performed shared a dark atmosphere, with something sinister just around the corner. A Midnight on Broadway featured a variety of eerie and grim songs from musicals such as Hadestown, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and Phantom of the Opera. Alongside Friday night, the showcase sold out again on Saturday night and finished their run with a Sunday matinee. 

After the audience assembled in Upper Fasenmyer Hall, A Midnight On Broadway began with the energetic and macabre “The Whole ‘Being Dead’ Thing” from Beetlejuice. Fourth year student Jack McBride led an entourage of the undead and announced the overall modus operandi of the night: “You’re doomed! Enjoy the singing!”. Junior Grace Freer and sophomore Emma Burkett performed a tense duet of Emilie Autumn’s “Nothing” as they were surrounded by a ghostly ensemble dressed in white. The classic Disney villain song “Poor Unfortunate Souls” from the The Little Mermaid received a captivating performance by senior Norah Dana as she not only lured the innocent Ariel into her wicked spell, but the audience as well. Freshman and music director Antony Falk blew audiences away with his performance of “Once Upon a Time” and “Cross” from Bare: A Pop Opera, the latter being a heartbreaking duet with sophomore Taylor Goodyear. Falk states that though “vocal directing while working on the show was very difficult”, he is glad he could portray “a very emotional character and showcase some of his acting.” 

Following a short intermission, act two enthralled the audience with an ensemble coming together to perform the riveting “Ballad of Sweeney Todd” from the acclaimed musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The number that followed, a rendition of “The Mariner’s Revenge” by The Decemberists, was a personal favorite of the night.Sophomore Alec Finn gave a shining but menacing vocal performance alongside the ensemble’s dynamic choreography and vivid staging. A Midnight On Broadway featured two numbers from the musical Jekyll and Hyde. The first was “Facade”, an ensemble number that explored the deceptions of everyday life and the second “Confrontation”, a solo by senior Oliver Brooke as he battled between the two personalities of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. “His acting is really phenomenal,” says castmate Nora Dana “Seeing him as a human being outside of theater, the way that he can put a spin on that character is crazy.” The show came to a close with the full cast coming onstage to sing “Do You Hear the People Sing?” from the well-regarded musical adaptation of Les Miserables. 

When the bows were done, the cast jumped for joy, proud to see the work they had put in finally realized. After the showcase, the Beacon talked to a few of the cast members to see what they thought made the showcase special to them. “When you have one show you have a few characters that have solos and everyone else in the ensemble.” said cast member Taylor Goodyear, “With this, everyone gets their moment to shine and has a song that fits them very well and are really good at.” Nora Dana stated that it was “everyone’s ambition to come

together” that made the show incredible. “Everyone in it was putting in so much time and effort.” said Antony Falk, “It wouldn’t have been the same without.” 

Did you miss A Midnight on Broadway? You can still catch the Studio Theatre at Behrend’s production of the musical Mean Girls based on the iconic movie of the same name April 9-11th and 16-18th. You can buy tickets at https://psbtheatre.ludus.com 

Do you want to support the Studio Theatre at Behrend? You can donate to their fundraiser and help produce more amazing shows on our campus at https://give.psu.edu/support-penn-state-behrend-s-studio-theatre